Riverstone

Riverstone Children's Cardigan Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Riverstone is a neat, practical cardigan sweater designed for children, created by designer Justine Turner under the JustJussi brand. This pullover features side buttoning construction and is engineered with stretchy ribbing that allows the garment to grow with your child across multiple size ranges. The design accommodates sizes from Newborn through 8 years old, with chest measurements ranging from 41 cm (16.4 inches) for newborns to 66 cm (26.4 inches) for 8-year-olds.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental knitting techniques to create structure and shaping. The pattern utilizes increases via the M1 (make one) method, which involves inserting the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between two stitches and knitting the stitch through the back loop. On purl rows, the needle is inserted from front to back before purling the stitch through the back loop. The pattern also incorporates decreases using k2tog (knit two stitches together as one) to shape the garment. The ribbed sections provide stretch and recovery, making the sweater adaptable as children grow.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The Riverstone pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and techniques:

• k - knit stitch
• k2tog - knit two stitches together (decrease)
• M1 - make one increase
• Cast off/bind off - finishing technique to secure stitches

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Riverstone is worked in Malabrigo Worsted wool yarn, a worsted-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and durability for children's wear. Yardage requirements vary by size: Newborn requires 160 meters (174 yards), while the 8-year size requires 500 meters (546 yards). The pattern specifies 5.5 mm (US 9) circular needles measuring 80 cm (30 inches) or longer, which allows for working in the round or flat as preferred by the knitter.

Design Details

The side-buttoning construction offers practical dressing for young children, while the stretchy rib detailing ensures the sweater accommodates growth without requiring frequent replacements. The intermediate difficulty level makes this project suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping and construction techniques.