Parfait

Parfait Cardigan by Kathleen Sperling

What is Being Made

Parfait is a beginner-friendly knitted cardigan designed for infants and children, available in nine sizes ranging from 3-month to 10-year. This scrumptious little cardigan features finished chest circumferences from approximately 18 inches for the smallest size up to 31 inches for the largest size, with corresponding lengths ranging from 8 inches to 22 inches. The cardigan is constructed as a single continuous piece, eliminating the need for seaming after knitting is complete.

Construction and Techniques

The Parfait cardigan is worked all in one piece, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking to minimize finishing work. This seamless construction method simplifies the finishing process significantly—once knitting is complete, the maker simply needs to weave in the ends, sew on a button, and the cardigan is ready to wear. The pattern uses size-specific instructions written in bracket notation, allowing knitters to easily identify which measurements and stitch counts apply to their chosen size while following directions that apply universally to all sizes.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Parfait cardigan incorporates a gauge pattern that measures 18 stitches over a specific width. This gauge pattern forms the foundation for the cardigan's fabric and is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements across all nine sizes.

Materials

The Parfait cardigan is knitted using James C. Brett "Marble" yarn, a 100% acrylic fiber that offers durability and easy care for children's garments. The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, which produces a fabric with good drape and structure suitable for a fitted cardigan silhouette. The pattern specifies yarn quantities that vary by size, with the 3-month size requiring 1 skein and larger sizes requiring 2 skeins. Knitters will need appropriate needles for DK weight yarn to achieve the specified gauge of 18 stitches.

Size Range and Fit

• 3-month: finished chest 18 inches, length 8 inches
• 6-month: finished chest 20 inches, length 9.5 inches
• 12-month: finished chest 20.5 inches, length 12.25 inches
• 18-month: finished chest 21.25 inches, length 12.25 inches
• 2-year: finished chest 23.5 inches, length 12.5 inches
• 4-year: finished chest 26.5 inches, length 15.5 inches
• 6-year: finished chest 28 inches, length 15.5 inches
• 8-year: finished chest 30 inches, length 18.5 inches
• 10-year: finished chest 31 inches, length 22 inches

The pattern provides actual chest and hip circumference measurements for proper fit selection, ensuring the cardigan will have appropriate ease and comfort for the intended wearer.