Cardigan and Sweater in Stylecraft Bambino Prints DK - 9844 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigan and Sweater in Stylecraft Bambino Prints DK – Pattern 9844

Stylecraft pattern 9844 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two classic designs for babies and young children: a cardigan and a sweater (jumper). Both garments are worked in Stylecraft Bambino Prints DK yarn, a soft double knit weight yarn well suited to delicate baby and toddler knitwear. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and covers five sizes, from newborn through to age four to five years, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's collection.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is sized to fit children aged 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, 2/3 years, and 4/5 years, corresponding to chest measurements of 41 cm, 46 cm, 51 cm, 56 cm, and 61 cm (approximately 16–24 inches). Actual garment measurements are slightly larger to allow for ease of movement. The cardigan has actual measurements ranging from 46 cm to 68 cm and full lengths from 24 cm to 42 cm, while the sweater has actual measurements from 48 cm to 68 cm. Sleeve lengths range from 15 cm to 29 cm across the size range. Knitters are advised to circle their chosen size before beginning.

What Is Being Made

• Cardigan: A classic button-front cardigan for babies and toddlers, featuring a neat ribbed hem, cuffs, and button band. The open-front construction makes it easy to dress young children and is a timeless wardrobe staple for newborns through pre-schoolers.
• Sweater: A pullover jumper worked in the same yarn and stitch structure, offering a coordinating or alternative design. Like the cardigan, it features ribbed welts for a tidy, stretchy finish.

Yarn and Materials

Both designs are worked in Stylecraft Bambino Prints DK, a double knit weight yarn. The DK weight provides excellent stitch definition while remaining lightweight and soft against a child's skin — qualities particularly important for baby garments. The Prints colourway adds gentle colour variation without the knitter needing to manage multiple yarn ends or complex colourwork, making it an appealing choice for an intermediate-level project.

• Needle sizes used: 3.25 mm needles for the ribbed welts and cuffs, and 4 mm needles for the main body fabric
• Yarn: Stylecraft Bambino Prints DK

Techniques Used

The pattern employs a range of standard knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate knitter. The construction is worked in separate pieces — back, fronts (for the cardigan), and sleeves — which are then seamed together, a traditional flat-knitting approach that gives the finished garment excellent structure and durability.

• Casting on using a standard cast-on method
• Ribbing: The welts and cuffs are worked in k1, p1 rib, a classic two-row repeat that creates a stretchy, self-finishing edge ideal for garments that need to fit snugly at hems and cuffs
• Increasing: The pattern uses M1 (make one) increases worked on a specific increase row to transition from the ribbed welt to the main body stitch count, shaping the garment smoothly from the narrower rib into the body width
• Changing needle size: Knitters switch from 3.25 mm to 4 mm needles after completing the rib section, a standard technique for achieving the correct tension in the body of the garment
• Flat knitting: All pieces are worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round
• Seaming: Finished pieces are joined using standard knitting seam techniques

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the foundation stitch used throughout the main