"Jessica Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton

Jessica Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Helena Rosen for MillaMia

The Jessica Cardigan is a charming children's knitting pattern designed by Helena Rosen for MillaMia, worked in the brand's Naturally Soft Cotton yarn. This is a beautifully detailed intarsia cardigan featuring a striking asymmetric diagonal colourwork motif — a more unusual and eye-catching design compared to a standard regular diamond pattern. The result is an impressive, heirloom-quality garment perfectly sized for little ones.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is written to fit children aged 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, and 4–5 years, with actual chest measurements of 63, 67, 71, and 75 cm (24¾–29½ in). Back length to shoulder ranges from 32 to 41 cm (12½–16¼ in), and sleeve length from 21 to 27 cm (8½–10½ in), making it a versatile pattern that grows with your child.

What Is Being Made

The Jessica Cardigan is a seamed, flat-knitted children's cardigan worked from the bottom up. It features a front opening fastened with 7 buttons, making it practical as well as beautiful. The standout feature is the intarsia colourwork panel worked from a chart, creating an asymmetric diagonal colour design across the body of the garment.

Techniques Used

• Intarsia colourwork: Separate small amounts of yarn are used for each colour area. Yarns are twisted on the wrong side when changing colour to avoid holes — a hallmark of true intarsia technique, as opposed to stranded colourwork. This requires careful attention and is one of the reasons this pattern is rated Experienced level.
• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is begun at the lower edges and worked upward, with pieces seamed together on completion.
• Worked flat: All pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — are knitted flat in rows rather than in the round.
• Seamed finishing: Individual pieces are joined using seaming techniques to create the finished garment structure.
• Buttonhole construction: Buttonholes are worked into the front band to accommodate the 7 buttons.
• Chart reading: The colourwork is followed from a printed chart. On the back piece, odd-numbered rows are knit rows read right to left, and even-numbered rows are purl rows read left to right. On the fronts, odd-numbered rows are read left to right and even-numbered rows right to left — an important distinction knitters must follow carefully.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) forms the main fabric of the cardigan body and sleeves, and is the stitch used for tension/gauge measurement.
• Ribbing or border stitches are implied through the use of smaller needles at the lower edges and cuffs, typical of MillaMia children's patterns in this range.
• Knit (k) and purl (p) rows are the fundamental stitches throughout, worked flat.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated Experienced / Advanced. As the pattern notes state, it is "definitely one for the experienced knitters" — the asymmetric diagonal intarsia design demands close attention during every colour change. Knitters who are comfortable with intarsia technique, chart reading, and seamed garment construction will find this a rewarding and impressive project.

Materials — Yarn

The pattern calls for MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton, a sport weight yarn, in four colours:

• Baby Blue (323) — the main colour (A), used in 2(2:3:3) × 50g/1¾oz balls
• Seaweed (350) — contrast colour B, one ball
• Tomato (332) — contrast colour C, one ball