Kitty

Kitty Cardigan by Stella Ackroyd

What is Being Made

Kitty is a baby cardigan designed by Stella Ackroyd, sized to fit infants aged 6-12 months with a chest measurement of 46-51cm (18-20 inches). The finished cardigan features a chest width of 61cm (24 inches), a length to shoulder of 33cm (13 inches), and sleeve length of 11cm (4¼ inches). This garment is constructed using a top-down knitting method, beginning at the neckline and working downward to create the body and sleeves. The cardigan is fastened with four buttons, making it a practical and charming piece for babies in this age range.

Techniques Used

The Kitty cardigan employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The garment is worked from the neck downwards, a construction method that allows for seamless shaping and easy adjustments during the knitting process. The pattern incorporates increase stitches strategically placed to create shaping, using the make one stitch (m1) technique, which involves working into the back of the strand lying between stitches for invisible increases. Buttonhole rows are worked into the design using yarn forward (yfwd) decreases to create openings for the four buttons. The pattern also includes working through back of loops (tbl), which is used to create textured or twisted stitches for visual interest and structural integrity.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P): Used to create texture and pattern variation
• Make one stitch (m1): An increase technique worked by knitting into the back of the strand between stitches for seamless shaping
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Used in buttonhole rows to create decorative and functional openings
• Through back of loops (tbl): A technique for twisting stitches to add texture and definition
• Decrease stitches (dec): Used for shaping the garment as needed

Materials and Tools

The Kitty cardigan is knitted using West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep Pure yarn in DK (double knitting) weight. The pattern requires 3 balls of 50gm each, totaling 150 grams of yarn. The photographed sample is worked in the colorway Mist 166, which provides a soft, neutral tone suitable for babies. Knitting is completed using one pair of 4.0mm (US 6) needles, which are the appropriate size for achieving the correct tension with DK weight yarn. The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm (4 inches) measured over pattern using the 4.0mm needles. Four buttons are required to complete the cardigan, serving as both functional closures and design details.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond absolute beginners. While the basic stitches employed are fundamental, the combination of techniques—including top-down construction, strategic shaping with increases, buttonhole placement, and pattern work—requires intermediate-level skills and pattern-reading ability. The small finished size and relatively quick completion time make this an excellent intermediate project for those looking to build confidence with garment construction techniques.