Kawaii Cardi

Kawaii Cardi by Rian Anderson

What is Being Made

The Kawaii Cardi is a flared cardigan designed for babies and toddlers, available in four sizes to fit newborns through two-year-olds. The garment features a charming A-line silhouette that flares gently from the body, creating a sweet, playful aesthetic. This cardigan is worked primarily in one piece, minimizing seaming and construction time, making it an efficient project for knitters of all experience levels.

Garment Specifications

The Kawaii Cardi is offered in the following four sizes:

• Size 1: To fit chest 40 cm (newborn – 3 months); garment underarm measurement 46 cm; length 21 cm; sleeve seam 13 cm
• Size 2: To fit chest 45 cm (3 – 6 months); garment underarm measurement 51 cm; length 24 cm; sleeve seam 16 cm
• Size 3: To fit chest 51 cm (6 – 12 months); garment underarm measurement 57 cm; length 28 cm; sleeve seam 20 cm
• Size 4: To fit chest 55 cm (1 – 2 years); garment underarm measurement 62 cm; length 31 cm; sleeve seam 24 cm

Knitting Techniques Used

The Kawaii Cardi employs several intermediate knitting techniques that work together to create a well-fitted, professionally finished garment. The design uses short rows as the primary shaping method, allowing the knitter to add depth and contour to the cardigan without complex decreases or increases across multiple rows. This technique is particularly effective for creating the flared silhouette and ensuring proper fit across the chest and shoulders.

The pattern provides instructions specifically for the Japanese short row method, which is valued for its clean finish and ease of execution. Unlike traditional short row techniques that require yarn wrapping to prevent holes, the Japanese method eliminates wrapping entirely, resulting in neat, invisible transitions and a smoother fabric appearance.

Construction is streamlined through a one-piece knitting approach, where the garter stitch bands are worked sideways. This method reduces the amount of finishing work required, as most seaming is eliminated or minimized. The pattern includes instructions for a three-needle cast off, a professional seaming technique that creates strong, neat joins between pieces. An optional provisional cast on is also provided, offering flexibility in how knitters begin their project and allowing for seamless integration of stitches.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure featured in the Kawaii Cardi is garter stitch, which forms the bands and main fabric of the garment. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row, producing a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. This stitch is ideal for baby garments because it is durable, provides excellent stretch and recovery, and creates a soft, squishy fabric that is gentle against delicate skin. The garter stitch bands worked sideways contribute to the cardigan's structured edges and help define the flared shape.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Kawaii Cardi is designed to be worked with two contrasting yarns, allowing for creative color combinations and visual interest.

Main Yarn: A long color-change yarn in 7–8 ply or thin DK (double knitting) weight is used for the primary piece. This yarn weight is approximately 125–136 meters (or 136 yards) per 50-gram ball. Yardage requirements vary by size: Size 1 requires approximately 60 grams; Size 2 requires approximately 85 grams; Size 3 requires approximately 110 grams; and Size 4 requires approximately 140 grams. The color-change yarn adds visual dimension and eliminates the need for frequent color changes during knitting.

Contrast Yarn: A plain-colored yarn in 8–12 ply weight is used for the bands and accents. This yarn should have a yardage range between 100–109 meters (or 109 yards) to 65–71 meters (or 71 yards) per 50-gram ball, depending on thickness. The pattern notes that if a thicker yarn is chosen, it must be soft to ensure comfort against a baby's skin. The contrast yarn provides structural support and visual definition to the cardigan's edges.

Knitters will also require appropriate needles for DK-weight yarn, typically in the