Azanti

Azanti Cardigan by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Azanti is a charming top-down cardigan designed for babies and toddlers, suitable for both boys and girls. This downloadable knitting pattern is available in six sizes ranging from 0-3 months through 3T, with chest measurements from 18 inches to 23 inches. The cardigan is designed to be worn loose and is intended to grow with your baby, making it a practical and long-lasting garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Azanti cardigan features several key knitting techniques that make it an engaging intermediate-level project. The garment is constructed using a top-down construction method, which allows for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the piece as you work. The most distinctive design element is the color work on the yoke, which employs a stranded pattern technique. Despite appearing complicated, the color work is deceptively simple to execute—you work only one color per row while slipping a few stitches, creating the illusion of an intricate multi-color pattern without the complexity of traditional Fair Isle knitting.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

This pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches suitable for an intermediate crafter:

• Garter Stitch – Created by knitting every row, this classic textured stitch forms the foundation of the design
• K (Knit) – The basic knit stitch
• P (Purl) – The basic purl stitch
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) – A decrease stitch used for shaping
• Kfb (Knit into the Front and Back) – An increase stitch that creates additional stitches
• M1L (Make One Left) – An increase technique where you pick up the horizontal strand between needles from front to back and knit through the back loop
• Slp (Slip) – Slipping stitches as required by the color work pattern

Materials Required

The Azanti cardigan is worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium weight that works up quickly and provides excellent drape for a baby garment. Yardage requirements vary by size: the main color ranges from 150 yards for the smallest size (0-3 months) to 400 yards for the largest size (3T), while the contrast color for the yoke requires 30 to 90 yards depending on the size selected.

Knitting needles in US size 7 (4.50 mm) are recommended, though you should verify your gauge and adjust needle size as needed to achieve the correct tension. The pattern calls for a gauge of 18 stitches over 4 inches in the main stitch pattern.

Finishing the cardigan requires three buttons in either ¾ inch or 1 inch size, allowing you to customize the look of your finished piece.

Pattern Details

This intermediate knitting project combines accessible techniques with visual impact, making it ideal for knitters looking to expand their skills with color work without overwhelming complexity. The top-down construction and loose fit make Azanti a forgiving pattern that accommodates the natural variations in gauge and tension that come with learning new techniques.