A-line Jumper and Cardigan in Stylecraft Bambino DK - 9606 - Downloadable PDF

A-line Jumper and Cardigan in Stylecraft Bambino DK – Pattern 9606

This Stylecraft pattern 9606 is a downloadable PDF containing instructions for two classic baby and toddler knitwear designs: a round neck A-line jumper and a V-neck A-line cardigan. Both garments are sized from birth up to 5 years, covering chest measurements of approximately 36–61 cm (14–24 inches), making this a versatile pattern that can grow with a child through their earliest years. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to tackle decorative stitch work such as cables and lace.

Design 1: Round Neck A-line Jumper

The first design is a round neck jumper worked in a classic A-line silhouette, meaning the body is gently shaped to be wider at the hem and tapers toward the underarm. This flattering and practical shape gives babies and toddlers plenty of room to move while maintaining a neat, fitted appearance at the shoulders.

Construction and Shaping

The jumper is worked in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — using 4 mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles. The back begins with a thumb method cast-on, followed by an initial section of stocking stitch (st st) before transitioning into a mock rib border created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence. This gives the hem a neat, structured finish without a traditional ribbed cuff. Side shaping is worked simultaneously with the decorative hem border, contributing to the A-line profile.

Stitches and Techniques

• Stocking stitch – the main body fabric, smooth on the right side and textured on the wrong side
• Mock rib – a K1, P1 rib variation used at the lower hem border for structure and stretch
• Cable stitch (C6B) – a six-stitch back cable worked with a cable needle, creating a classic twisted rope effect within the hem border panel
• Lace stitches – including yfwd (yarn forward), ssk (slip, slip, knit), K2tog (knit two together), and sk2po (slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over), which together create an elegant openwork lace pattern within the hem border
• A-line side shaping – decreases worked as the piece progresses upward to shape the silhouette
• Round neck shaping – worked at the upper front to create the finished neckline
• Stitch holders – used to hold stitches while other sections are worked, a standard intermediate technique

The combination of cable and lace in the hem border is a particularly attractive detail, giving the jumper a delicate, heirloom quality that makes it suitable for gifting as well as everyday wear. The cable and lace rows alternate on right-side rows, with wrong-side rows purled throughout the border section.

Finishing Details

The jumper features 3 buttons, likely used at a shoulder or back neck opening to allow easy dressing of babies and young toddlers — a highly practical consideration for infant garments. Stitch holders are used during construction to manage live stitches at the neck and shoulders.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Stylecraft Bambino DK 100g balls — 1 ball for sizes 0–6 months and 6–12 months, 2 balls for 12–24 months and 2–3 years, 3 balls for 4–5 years
• Colour shown: Vintage Pink 3944
• Needles: 1 pair 4 mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles
• Notions: Cable needle, 3 stitch holders, 3 buttons