My Heart Pockets

My Heart Pockets Cardigan by Margot Taylor

What is Being Made

My Heart Pockets is a downloadable knitting pattern for a baby cardigan designed by Margot Taylor. This garment is worked as a single piece construction, making it an efficient project for knitters. The cardigan is sized to fit babies from birth through 2 years, with four distinct size options: Birth, 3 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months, 1 Year, and 2 Years. The finished cardigan features a classic button-front closure with two 1.5cm buttons and includes decorative heart-shaped pockets as a signature design element.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level cardigan employs several fundamental knitting techniques suitable for crafters with some experience. The pattern uses one-piece construction, where the entire garment is knitted continuously rather than as separate pieces that are later seamed together. This method reduces finishing work and creates a more cohesive finished product. The pattern incorporates sleeve shaping through strategic cast-on increases at the beginning of rows to expand the stitch count for the arm openings. Neck shaping is achieved through casting off stitches at the center front and working each shoulder separately. The pattern also utilizes stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches during construction, allowing the knitter to return to them later for finishing details.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The My Heart Pockets cardigan is primarily constructed using garter stitch, a fundamental knitting stitch created by knitting every row. Garter stitch produces a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges and is ideal for baby garments due to its softness and flexibility. The pattern employs the following stitches and abbreviations:

• K – Knit stitch
• P – Purl stitch
• K2tog – Knit two stitches together, used for decreasing
• yo – Yarn over, creates a decorative eyelet or lace hole
• KFBF – Knit in the front, back, and front of the same stitch, a method for increasing stitches
• slp – Slip stitch
• psso – Pass slipped stitch over
• ywfd – Yarn forward
• inc – Increase
• sts – Stitches

Materials and Tools Required

The My Heart Pockets cardigan is knitted using Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply knitting wool, a medium-weight yarn classified as DK weight. A single 200g ball of yarn is sufficient to complete the garment across all size ranges. The pattern calls for 4.00mm needles as the primary tool for construction. A tapestry needle is required for weaving in yarn ends and finishing seams. The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches over 10 centimeters, which is essential for achieving the correct finished garment dimensions. Two buttons measuring 1.5cm are needed to complete the button-front closure.

Pattern Construction Overview

The cardigan begins with a cast-on of 50 to 66 stitches depending on size, worked in garter stitch for the body foundation. The pattern measures between 11 and 17.5 centimeters before sleeve shaping begins. Sleeve increases are accomplished by casting on 28 to 46 stitches at the beginning of consecutive rows, bringing the total stitch count to between 106 and 158 stitches. The sleeves continue in garter stitch for 9 to 11.5 centimeters before neck shaping is introduced. Neck shaping involves knitting approximately 44 to 68 stitches and placing them on a stitch holder, casting off the center 18 to 22 stitches, then continuing to work the remaining stitches for 10 to 14 rows to complete the shoulder and neckline shaping.