Round Neck Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly Baby Cashmere Merino DK - 5241 - Downloadable PDF

Round Neck Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly Baby Cashmere Merino DK – Pattern 5241

This pattern (Design No. 5241) from Sirdar provides instructions for knitting a classic round neck cardigan for babies and toddlers. Rated intermediate in difficulty, it is a beautifully refined baby garment worked in Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino DK, a luxuriously soft double knitting yarn blended from natural merino wool and cashmere. The result is a timeless, button-front cardigan with set-in sleeves, perfectly suited as a special handknitted gift or an everyday wardrobe staple for little ones.

Sizes and Measurements

The pattern covers four sizes to suit babies and young toddlers:

• 0–6 months: 41 cm (16") chest, 46 cm (18") width, 20 cm (8") full length, 15 cm (6") sleeve length
• 6–12 months: 46 cm (18") chest, 50 cm (19¾") width, 24 cm (9½") full length, 17 cm (6½") sleeve length
• 1–2 years: 51 cm (20") chest, 57 cm (22½") width, 28 cm (11") full length, 20 cm (8") sleeve length
• 2–3 years: 56 cm (22") chest, 61 cm (24") width, 33 cm (13") full length, 24 cm (9½") sleeve length

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a round neck cardigan featuring a neat button band running the full length of the front opening, a classic round neckline, and long sleeves. The cardigan is designed to be a neat, fitted shape appropriate for babies from birth up to three years of age. With five buttons fastening the front, it is easy to put on and take off — a practical consideration for dressing young children. The clean lines and excellent stitch definition of the yarn make this a garment that looks polished and professional when finished.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino DK (shade 470 Leaf shown), reference F229, 50g balls. Quantities required: 3 balls (0–6 months), 3 balls (6–12 months), 4 balls (1–2 years), 5 balls (2–3 years).
• Needles: One pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles and one pair of 3¼mm (UK10 / USA3) knitting needles
• Notions: 5 buttons (Sirdar Elegant Button, code B5611-0121) and safety pins

Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino is described as Sirdar's most luxurious baby yarn blend. It has been rigorously tested to be kind to a baby's tender skin and to remain soft and gentle wash after wash. The natural merino and cashmere content gives the yarn exceptional stitch definition, making it ideal for a structured garment like this cardigan. The shade shown on the pattern cover is 470 Leaf, a soft green tone, though the pattern is also available to knit in shades including 471 Teal, 460 Orange, and 451 Cream.

Tension and Gauge

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm / 4" over pattern using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential when knitting garments for babies, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished size. Knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size if necessary.

Knitting Techniques Used

As an intermediate-level pattern, this cardigan requires a solid foundation in basic knitting skills as well as some more advanced shaping techniques. Knitters working this pattern can expect to use:

• Knit and purl stitches — the fundamental building blocks of all knitted