"Leah Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern For Babies in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - DBS072

Leah Cardigan – Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

The Leah Cardigan is a charming, classically styled baby cardigan knitting pattern designed to fit infants from 3–6 months through to 18–24 months. Published under the Debbie Bliss label and worked in the beloved Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn, this pattern produces a soft, cosy, and beautifully finished little garment that is perfectly suited to a baby's delicate skin. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters who are ready to cast on straight away.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Leah Cardigan is graded across five sizes to accommodate growing babies:

• 3–6 months: Finished chest 50 cm / 19¾ in, length to shoulder 24 cm / 9½ in, sleeve length 14 cm
• 6–9 months: Finished chest 53 cm / 20¾ in, length to shoulder 26 cm / 10¼ in, sleeve length 16 cm
• 9–12 months: Finished chest 56 cm / 22 in, length to shoulder 29 cm / 11½ in, sleeve length 18 cm
• 12–18 months: Finished chest 60 cm / 23½ in, length to shoulder 32 cm / 12½ in, sleeve length 20 cm
• 18–24 months: Finished chest 63 cm / 24¾ in, length to shoulder 36 cm / 14¼ in, sleeve length 22 cm

Instructions are written for the smallest size first, with larger sizes following in round brackets — a standard convention that makes it easy to highlight your chosen size before beginning.

Construction Method

The Leah Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat approach, meaning each piece — the back, left front, right front, and sleeves — is knitted separately from the lower edge upward. The pieces are then seamed together using finishing techniques such as mattress stitch or backstitch to create a neat, structured garment with clean, professional edges. This traditional construction method is well suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable working flat pieces and assembling a finished garment, and it results in a cardigan with excellent shape retention and durability.

Techniques Used

This is rated as an intermediate difficulty pattern, and it draws on a satisfying range of knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: All pieces begin at the cast-on edge and are worked upward toward the shoulder, allowing the knitter to shape armholes, necklines, and sleeve caps in a logical sequence.
• Working flat: Stitches are worked back and forth on straight or circular needles, producing a fabric with right-side and wrong-side rows rather than in the round.
• Seaming: Finished pieces are joined at the shoulders, side seams, and sleeve seams, giving the cardigan a structured, tailored silhouette typical of classic baby knitwear.
• Buttonholes: The pattern includes worked buttonholes on one of the front bands, a key skill for any cardigan knitter. Buttonholes are typically created using a simple yarn-over and decrease method or a two-row bind-off and cast-on technique, producing neat openings sized to accommodate the chosen buttons.
• Buttons: The finished cardigan is fastened with buttons sewn to the corresponding button band, adding a decorative and functional closure. Button choice can be a lovely opportunity to personalise the finished garment.
• Shaping: Standard increases and decreases — including techniques referenced in the pattern such as kfb (knit into front and back), m1 (make one), skpo (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over), k2tog, and ssk — are used to shape the armholes, sleeve caps, and neckline.

Stitches Used

The pattern references several standard stitch types and techniques familiar