1351 Sweetie - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Babies in Valley Yarns Easthampton and Valley Superwash Sport

Pattern Summary: 1351 Sweetie – Striped Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

The 1351 Sweetie is a charming baby cardigan knitting pattern designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This cheerful, rainbow-striped baby jacket is crafted at an advanced beginner skill level, making it an excellent project for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore more interesting construction techniques. The finished garment is a delightful, practical piece suited to three-season wear and makes an ideal addition to any baby layette or gift basket.

What Is Being Made

The Sweetie pattern produces a baby cardigan jacket featuring a buttoned, asymmetrical wrap front and raglan shoulder shaping. It is available in four sizes to fit babies from 0–6 months through 18–24 months, with finished chest measurements ranging from 20 to 24 inches when wrapped and buttoned. The design is intended to be worn with 2–4 inches of positive ease, giving it a comfortable, relaxed fit on growing babies. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Size 6–12 months.

The cardigan's most eye-catching feature is its use of long-gradient rainbow stripes created naturally by the self-striping main color yarn, complemented by solid-color contrast bands at the hem, cuffs, and borders. The asymmetrical wrap front fastens with buttons — the pattern encourages knitters to raid their stash for their cutest buttons, adding a personal, playful touch to each finished piece.

Construction Techniques

The Sweetie cardigan uses a thoughtful combination of construction methods that keep the project engaging while remaining approachable for advancing knitters. Key techniques include:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is begun at the lower edge and worked upward toward the shoulders, a classic approach that allows for easy length adjustments.
• Seamless and seamed elements: The pattern incorporates both seamless knitting and seamed finishing, giving knitters experience with two distinct construction styles within a single project.
• Worked in the round: Portions of the cardigan are knitted in the round, which produces a smooth, continuous fabric and reduces finishing work.
• Worked flat: Other sections are worked flat on straight or circular needles, particularly for the front bands and shaped pieces.
• Raglan shoulder shaping: The classic raglan construction creates a smoothly fitted yoke that grows from the body and sleeves simultaneously, a technique well-suited to baby garments for its comfortable, flexible fit.
• Stripes: The gradient color runs of the main yarn create natural, rainbow-effect stripes throughout the body, while the contrast color is used strategically for bands, hems, and cuffs to frame the design.

Stitches Used

As an advanced beginner pattern, 1351 Sweetie relies on fundamental knitting stitches and techniques that build confidence while producing a polished result. The construction involves standard knit and purl stitches to create the fabric, along with raglan increase and decrease shaping. The contrast color bands and cuffs provide an opportunity to practice clean color changes and neat finishing. Buttonbands are worked as part of the flat sections, introducing knitters to picking up stitches and working neat, even borders.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for two Valley Yarns yarns, both chosen to complement each other beautifully in weight and fiber content:

• Main Color (MC): Valley Yarns Easthampton — a sport weight yarn composed of 75% Extrafine Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, available in long-gradient self-striping colorways. The pattern uses Color 05 – Dawn. Each cake contains approximately 439 yards per 100 grams, and the pattern requires 1 cake for the three smallest sizes and 2 cakes for the largest size. The nylon content adds durability, making this an especially practical choice for baby garments that will see frequent washing and wear.
• Contrast Color (CC): Valley Superwash Valley Superwash Sport — a sport weight yarn made from 100% Extra Fine Merino, used in a solid color to anchor the striped main fabric. The pattern uses Color 15 – Blue Mist