Little Lamb Cardigan in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino (DE) - RB002-00006-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Little Lamb Cardigan by Erika Knight in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino – Pattern Summary

The Little Lamb Cardigan is a charming baby knitting pattern designed by Erika Knight and published by Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF (reference RB002-00006-DEP), this pattern creates a sweet, delicately textured cardigan sized for babies from 0–3 months through to 9–12 months, making it an ideal handknitted gift for newborns and young infants.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a baby cardigan with a knitted chest circumference ranging from approximately 50.5 cm to 61 cm depending on size. The design is photographed in Nutkin 121, a warm, natural-toned shade of Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, giving the piece its characteristic soft, lamb-like aesthetic that suits its name perfectly. The cardigan is constructed with a structured ribbed border and a shaped, textured body that grows through a series of carefully placed increase rows, building a beautifully sculpted silhouette suited to tiny frames.

Sizes Available

• 0–3 months – knitted chest circumference 50.5 cm
• 3–6 months – knitted chest circumference 54 cm
• 6–9 months – knitted chest circumference 59 cm
• 9–12 months – knitted chest circumference 61 cm

Techniques and Construction

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to develop their skills further. The construction involves working flat in rows, with the pattern guiding the knitter through a series of structured increase rows that shape the body of the cardigan progressively. These increase rows are worked at regular intervals, adding stitches symmetrically across the row to create the characteristic textured, panelled appearance associated with the Little Lamb design.

The increases are worked using both right-leaning increases (ReZun) and left-leaning increases (LiZun) — the German notation used in this edition of the pattern — placed deliberately on either side of stitch panels to create a raised, structured texture reminiscent of a lamb's fluffy coat. This technique of paired increases flanking a central stitch panel is a hallmark of the design and gives the fabric its distinctive dimensional quality.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (rechts / re) – the primary stitch used throughout the body of the cardigan
• Rib stitch – used for the borders, worked consistently over 5 stitches at each edge to create neat, stretchy edgings on the front bands
• Right-leaning increases (ReZun) – worked repeatedly across increase rows to add stitches and build the textured panels
• Left-leaning increases (LiZun) – paired with right-leaning increases to create symmetrical, decorative shaping
• Purl stitch – incorporated as part of the rib sections at the borders

The increase rows follow a precise, repeating formula — for example, working 10 (11: 12: 13) repeats of an increase-and-knit sequence across the row — meaning the knitter must follow instructions carefully for each size. Plain rows are worked between each increase row, allowing the fabric to settle and the stitch count to be confirmed before the next shaping row begins.

Yarn and Materials

The specified yarn is Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, a luxuriously soft 4-ply weight yarn blended for baby garments. Its composition of merino wool and cashmere makes it exceptionally gentle against delicate newborn skin while providing warmth, drape, and a beautiful stitch definition that allows the increase detailing to show clearly. The quantity required is 2 x 50 g balls for the two smallest sizes and 3 x 50 g balls for the two larger sizes.

• Yarn: Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, 4-ply weight