Flower Show Sweater In Hayfield Blossom Chunky - 5573P - Downloadable PDF

Flower Show Sweater in Hayfield Blossom Chunky – Pattern 5573 (Downloadable PDF)

This charming knitting pattern from Hayfield produces a cosy, easy-to-knit children's sweater sized for ages 1 to 4 years. Worked in the brand's own Hayfield Baby Blossom Chunky yarn, the design is an ideal project for beginner knitters who want a quick, satisfying make. The chunky weight yarn and straightforward construction mean the sweater knits up quickly, making it a practical choice for gifting or building a young child's wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

The pattern creates a classic children's pullover sweater with set-in style sleeves and a neat neckline. Four sizes are provided, covering chest measurements from 49 cm (19¼ inches) up to 59 cm (23¼ inches), with full lengths ranging from 34 cm to 40 cm and sleeve lengths from 21 cm to 27 cm. The sweater is designed to be a comfortable, everyday garment for toddlers and young children.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Hayfield Baby Blossom Chunky, shade 354 Posie – a 100 g ball in a chunky weight. The shade features a distinctive pink and green spotted colourway, and the pattern includes a helpful tip for checking which colour spot appears first when unwinding the ball, so the knitter can ensure a consistent look from the very start.
• Quantity: 2 balls for ages 1–2 years; 3 balls for ages 3–4 years.
• Needles: A pair of 6½ mm (UK 3 / USA 10.5) knitting needles for the main fabric, and a pair of 5½ mm (UK 5 / USA 9) needles for any finer detail sections.
• A 40 cm or 60 cm circular needle in 5½ mm, or a set of four 5½ mm double-pointed needles, is also required – useful for picking up and working the neckline neatly in the round.
• Stitch holders are needed to keep live stitches secure while other sections are worked.

Techniques Used

The sweater is worked entirely in garter stitch throughout – meaning every row is simply knitted, with no purling required. This makes the pattern exceptionally accessible for beginners, as there is no need to switch between knit and purl stitches or manage a stocking stitch fabric. Garter stitch also produces a pleasingly thick, squishy fabric with natural stretch, which is ideal for children's knitwear.

• Garter stitch (g-st): Every row knitted, creating a ridged, reversible fabric. The entire body and sleeves are worked in this stitch.
• Casting on additional stitches mid-row: Used when shaping the sleeves, where stitches are cast on at the end of rows to create the sleeve extension – a simple but effective technique for integrated sleeve shaping.
• Decreasing (k2tog): A basic right-leaning decrease used to shape the neckline. Stitches are reduced by knitting two together at the neck edge on specified rows.
• Working from stitch holders: Sections of the garment are placed on hold while other parts are completed, then returned to the needles – a standard technique in sweater construction.
• Circular or double-pointed needle work: Recommended for finishing the neckline, allowing stitches to be picked up and worked seamlessly in the round.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch – the only stitch required for the main fabric, as the entire garment is worked in garter stitch.
• K2tog (knit two together) – the decrease stitch used at the neck shaping to reduce stitch counts smoothly.
• Cast-on mid-row – used during sleeve shaping to add stitches at the end of a row.

Tension

The stated tension is 13