"Hanna Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Hanna Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Children's Striped Cardigan in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

The Hanna Cardigan is a charming children's knitting pattern by MillaMia, designed to fit ages 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years. This delightful cardigan is worked in a vibrant striped colourway and features decorative garter stitch bows as a playful finishing detail. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Beginner / Improving, making it an excellent project for knitters who are building their confidence and ready to explore a few new techniques alongside straightforward construction.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a seamed children's cardigan with set-in or structured sleeves, worked in a colourful stripe sequence. The cardigan features a neat button band and is embellished with small knitted bows made using short row shaping in garter stitch. The design is described as fun and vibrant in its suggested colourway, but the pattern notes that it would also look elegant and refined in more muted tones, giving knitters flexibility in their colour choices.

Actual finished chest measurements range from 58 cm (23 in) for the smallest size up to 76 cm (30 in) for the largest, with lengths to shoulder ranging from 28 cm to 44 cm and sleeve lengths from 21 cm to 31 cm, ensuring a comfortable, wearable fit across all five sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The Hanna Cardigan uses a combination of construction methods that give beginner and improving knitters a well-rounded experience:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the cast-on edge upward, a traditional and intuitive approach that allows knitters to try the garment on as they go.
• Worked flat: The main body pieces and sleeves are knitted flat on straight needles, producing the individual panels that are later seamed together.
• Worked in the round: A circular 3mm (US 2) needle is used for certain sections, most likely the button band or neckband, giving a smooth, even finish.
• Seamed construction: The finished pieces are joined using seaming, a classic technique that gives the cardigan structure and a professional, tailored appearance.
• Stripes: The design incorporates a multi-colour stripe sequence worked across the body and sleeves, requiring knitters to manage yarn changes neatly.
• Buttons: The cardigan fastens with buttons worked through a knitted button band, adding a practical and decorative element.
• Short row shaping (garter stitch): The decorative bows are shaped using garter stitch short rows. The pattern helpfully advises knitters who are new to this technique to seek guidance on garter stitch short row shaping to avoid unwanted holes — a reassuring note for those tackling it for the first time.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – used for the decorative bows and likely for borders and bands, creating a firm, textured fabric that lies flat without curling.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette) – the primary stitch used for the body and sleeves, producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric ideal for showcasing the stripe pattern.
• Ribbing – typically used for cuffs, hems, and neckbands in children's cardigans of this style to provide stretch and a neat finish (consistent with standard MillaMia construction).
• Short rows – a shaping technique used within the garter stitch bows to create three-dimensional form without casting off and on again.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino, a sport weight yarn available in 50g / 1¾oz balls. This yarn is celebrated for its softness and suitability for children's garments, as pure merino wool is gentle against sensitive skin while still being durable and easy to care for.