Cloudwatching

Cloudwatching Cardigan by Meghan Jackson

What Is Being Made

Cloudwatching is a soft and whimsical little cardigan designed for babies and toddlers. This knitted garment is constructed using a top-down, seamless method, creating a finished piece intended to become a cherished heirloom. The cardigan features a simple, elegant construction that works across six size options, ranging from newborn through 6 years, with finished chest measurements from 18 inches to 27 inches.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques that define its construction:

• Top-down seamless construction: The cardigan is knit from the top down in one piece, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous garment
• Circular needle knitting: The design uses circular needles throughout, allowing for seamless in-the-round and flat knitting as needed
• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric texture, created by alternating knit and purl rows, produces the smooth, classic appearance
• Stitch holder technique: Stitches for the sleeves are placed on holders or waste yarn during the body construction, then worked later
• Button band finishing: The cardigan features a button band closure with three small buttons (0.5" to 0.75" in size)

Stitches Used

Stockinette stitch forms the foundation of this design, worked over a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows per 4-inch square after blocking. This classic stitch creates the smooth, refined fabric suitable for a heirloom piece.

Materials and Yarn

Cloudwatching is designed to be knit with The Uncommon Thread Lush Sock yarn, a premium blend of 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. This yarn provides 365 yards per 100-gram skein. The pattern calls for two colors: Cumulonimbus (a grey shade for the main color) and Frozen (a white shade for contrast). Smaller sizes require 1 skein of each color, while sizes 4 and 6 years require 2 skeins of the main color.

Needles and Notions

The project requires US #3 (3.25 mm) circular needles for the main fabric and US #2 (2.75 mm) circular needles or double-pointed needles for ribbing and finishing details. Additional supplies include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, waste yarn or stitch holders for managing sleeve stitches during construction, and three small buttons measuring between 0.5" and 0.75" in diameter for the cardigan closure.