Halima Cardigan - Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Eco Baby

Halima Cardigan – Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Eco Baby

The Halima Cardigan is a beautifully structured children's cardigan knitting pattern published by Debbie Bliss in 2018 as part of the Eco Baby collection. Designed for children aged 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and 9–10 years, this pattern produces a classic, wearable cardigan with a neat ribbed texture, garter stitch edging, and shaped neckline. It is an intermediate-level knitting project, making it ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to work on a more structured garment construction.

Finished Measurements

• Chest: 72 (81, 90, 99) cm / 28½ (32, 35½, 39) in
• Length to shoulder: 54 (58, 63, 69) cm / 21¼ (22¾, 24¾, 27¼) in
• Sleeve length: 24 (28, 32, 36) cm / 9¼ (11, 12½, 14¼) in

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a seamed, flat-knitted cardigan for children, worked in separate pieces — a Back, a Left Front, a Right Front, and Sleeves — which are then joined together. The cardigan features a shaped front neckline, upper arm shaping, and a consistent garter stitch border running along the front edges for a tidy, professional finish. The construction is traditional and seamed, meaning all pieces are knitted flat and sewn together, which gives the finished garment excellent structure and durability.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting (worked flat): All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making this accessible to knitters who prefer straight needles.
• Seamed construction: The individual garment pieces are seamed together after knitting, a traditional method that produces a sturdy, well-shaped cardigan.
• Front neck shaping: Decreases are worked progressively over multiple rows to create a smooth, angled neckline on both front panels.
• Upper arm shaping: Cast-off sequences shape the sleeve cap and upper arm for a fitted, comfortable fit.
• Wrap and turn (short rows): The pattern includes both wrap 1 on a knit row and wrap 1 on a purl row techniques, where stitches are slipped, yarn repositioned, and wraps are later picked up and worked together with their wrapped stitches to avoid holes — a technique commonly used for smooth short-row shaping.
• Make one increase (m1): Stitches are increased by picking up and knitting into the back of the loop lying between stitches, creating a neat, nearly invisible increase.
• skpo decrease: Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over — a left-leaning single decrease used in shaping.
• k2tog decrease: A right-leaning decrease worked during neck shaping for symmetrical results.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch: Knit every row; used for the cast-on border rows and the front button band edging, providing a firm, non-curling edge.
• Rib pattern (k2, p1 rib): The main body fabric is formed by a two-row repeat combining knit and purl stitches in a k2, p1 arrangement, giving the cardigan a subtle, textured appearance with gentle elasticity.
• Stocking stitch elements: Purl rows are worked on the wrong side in certain sections, particularly during shaping sequences.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Eco Baby in Citrus 57 — a sport weight yarn