"Louis Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern in Willow and Lark Nest

Louis Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Willow and Lark Nest Double-Breasted Baby Cardigan

The Louis Cardigan is a beautifully crafted double-breasted baby cardigan knitting pattern from Willow and Lark, part of The Poppet Collection. Designed specifically using Willow and Lark Nest yarn, this charming pattern produces a classic, polished garment suitable for everything from a woodland ramble to a formal Christening. With its elegant shawl collar and double-breasted button front, the Louis Cardigan strikes a perfect balance between timeless style and practical wearability for babies and infants.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is written to fit four infant sizes, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's collection:

• 0–3 months – to fit chest 41 cm / 16 in; actual measurement 46 cm / 18 in
• 3–6 months – to fit chest 46 cm / 18 in; actual measurement 52 cm / 20½ in
• 6–12 months – to fit chest 51 cm / 20 in; actual measurement 57 cm / 22½ in
• 12–18 months – to fit chest 56 cm / 22 in; actual measurement 63 cm / 24¾ in

Length to back neck ranges from 20 cm / 8 in (smallest size) to 32 cm / 12½ in (largest size), and sleeve seam measurements range from 13 cm / 5 in to 26 cm / 10¼ in, ensuring a well-proportioned fit across all sizes.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a double-breasted baby cardigan featuring a distinctive shawl collar. The double-breasted front creates an overlapping button band that gives the garment a sophisticated, tailored appearance rarely seen in infant knitwear. The shawl collar adds a soft, cosy frame around the baby's face, making it as practical as it is stylish. The finished cardigan is closed with five buttons, which are set into carefully worked buttonholes.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Louis Cardigan is rated as an intermediate difficulty pattern, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to develop their skills further. The construction method and techniques include:

• Bottom-up construction – the garment pieces are worked from the lower edge upward, which is a traditional and widely understood approach that gives the knitter good control over length adjustments
• Worked flat – all pieces are knitted back and forth in rows on straight needles rather than in the round, keeping the technique accessible for knitters who prefer flat knitting
• Seamed construction – the individual pieces (body panels and sleeves) are joined together using seaming techniques, producing a structured, neat finish that is characteristic of classic garment construction
• Buttonholes – the pattern includes instructions for creating neat, functional buttonholes to accommodate the five buttons on the double-breasted front band

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the body of the Louis Cardigan is stocking stitch (stockinette), which creates the smooth, classic fabric surface seen in the finished garment. The pattern also incorporates additional stitch work to form the shawl collar and button bands. Standard knitting abbreviations used throughout the pattern include knit (K), increases, decreases, and various row-by-row instructions written in a clear, size-bracketed format.

Yarn and Materials

The Louis Cardigan is designed specifically for Willow and Lark Nest, a luxurious DK weight yarn with a fibre composition of 69% Wool, 11% Cashmere, and 20% Tencel, sold in 50 g / 1¾ oz balls. This blend combines the warmth and elasticity of wool with the softness of cashmere and the subtle sheen and drape of Tencel, making it an especially appealing choice for a baby garment where next-to-skin comfort is a priority. Yarn quantities required are: