Sunny Meadow Baby Cardigan: A Free Knitting Pattern for Spring

Wrap your little one in the softness of a hand-knitted cardigan with a fresh, modern chevron pattern that evokes sunny spring days. This cozy, lightweight design is perfect for layering and makes a thoughtful handmade gift. The alternating stripes of butter yellow and mint green create a cheerful, eye-catching zigzag that will brighten any wardrobe. Whether you're a seasoned knitter or a confident beginner looking for a rewarding project, this pattern is designed to guide you through every step with clarity and ease.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following materials to ensure a smooth knitting experience. All items are readily available at your local yarn shop or online.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
  • Main Color (MC): Soft butter yellow – approximately 250 yards
  • Contrast Color (CC): Fresh mint green – approximately 150 yards
• Needles: US Size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and 5 small round buttons
• Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). Always knit a swatch to check your gauge before starting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, with sleeves picked up and knitted separately. The chevron pattern is created by alternating increases and decreases in a simple repeat, making it both beautiful and meditative to knit. Follow the instructions carefully, and you'll have a gorgeous cardigan in no time.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

This pattern includes four sizes to fit babies from 6 to 24 months. Choose the size that matches your little one's measurements.

• 6 months: Finished chest 18 inches
• 12 months: Finished chest 20 inches
• 18 months: Finished chest 22 inches
• 24 months: Finished chest 24 inches

Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these standard knitting abbreviations before you begin:

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two stitches together (decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (decrease)
• YO = yarn over (increase)
• MC = main color (butter yellow)
• CC = contrast color (mint green)
• St(s) = stitch(es)

Pattern Notes

The cardigan body is worked in one piece to the armholes, then divided into three sections: right front, back, and left front. The sleeves are knitted flat and seamed, then set into the armholes. The chevron pattern is a simple 12-stitch repeat that creates the zigzag effect. Pay close attention to the color changes—you'll alternate MC and CC every two rows to create the striped chevron design.

Body (Worked in One Piece to Armholes)

Cast On: With MC, cast on 108 (120, 132, 144) sts.

Garter Border: Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 4 rows. This creates a neat, non-curling edge at the bottom of the cardigan.

Begin Chevron Pattern:

• Row 1 (Right Side): With MC, K2, *K2tog, K4, YO, K1, YO, K4, SSK, repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2. (This creates the chevron points.)
• Row 2 (Wrong Side): With MC, Purl all sts.
• Row 3: With CC, K2, *K2tog, K4, YO, K1, YO, K4, SSK, repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2.
• Row 4: With CC, Purl all sts.

Repeat Rows 1-4, alternating MC and CC every two rows, until the piece measures 7 (8, 9, 10) inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row. This will give you a beautiful striped chevron fabric.

Divide for Armholes

Next Row (Right Side): Work across the first 26 (29, 32, 35) sts for the right front, bind off the next 8 sts for the armhole, work across the next 40 (44, 48, 52) sts for the back, bind off the next 8 sts for the armhole, and work the remaining 26 (29, 32, 35) sts for the left front. Place the stitches for the fronts and back on stitch holders or scrap yarn to keep them safe while you work each section separately.

Right Front

Continue in the chevron pattern on the right front stitches only. At the armhole edge (the side where you bound off), decrease 1 stitch every right-side row 3 times. This shapes the armhole. Work even (without decreases) until the armhole measures 3 (3.5, 4, 4.5) inches, ending at the neck edge (the front edge of the cardigan).

Shape Neck: At the neck edge (front edge), bind off 5 (6, 7, 8) sts once, then bind off 2 sts once, then decrease 1 st every right-side row 2 times. This creates a gentle curve for the neckline. Work even until the armhole measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5) inches. Bind off the remaining shoulder stitches loosely.

Left Front

Work the same as the right front, reversing the shaping. This means you'll decrease at the armhole edge on the left side, and shape the neck at the front edge on the right side. Follow the same measurements and decrease counts as the right front.

Back

Work in the chevron pattern on the back stitches, decreasing 1 stitch at each armhole edge every right-side row 3 times. This shapes both armholes symmetrically. Work even until the armhole measures the same as the fronts (5 (5.5, 6, 6.5) inches from the start of the armhole shaping). Bind off all stitches loosely.

Sleeves (Make 2)

Cast On: With MC, cast on 30 (34, 38, 42) sts.

Garter Border: Work in garter stitch for 4 rows.

Begin Chevron Pattern: Work in the chevron pattern (same as the body) while increasing 1 stitch at each edge every 4th row. Continue increasing until you have 42 (46, 50, 54) sts on your needle. This creates a gently tapered sleeve that fits the armhole perfectly.

Work Even: Continue in the chevron pattern without increases until the sleeve measures 7 (8, 9, 10) inches from the cast-on edge. Bind off loosely.

Finishing

Sew Shoulder Seams: Use a tapestry needle and matching yarn to sew the shoulder seams of the fronts to the back. Weave in the ends securely.

Sew Sleeve Seams and Set In: Sew the sleeve seams, then set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the center of the sleeve cap to the shoulder seam. Sew them in place with a neat mattress stitch or whip stitch.

Pick Up and Knit Edging: With MC, pick up and knit stitches along the right front edge, around the neckline, and down the left front edge. Work 4 rows of garter stitch. On the second row, make 5 buttonholes on the right front (or left front, depending on the gender of the baby) by binding off 2 sts and casting on 2 sts on the next row. Space them evenly, with the first and last about 1 inch from the edges.

Bind Off: Bind off all stitches loosely. Sew the buttons opposite the buttonholes. Weave in all remaining ends.

Block Gently: Lay the cardigan flat, gently shape it to the correct measurements, and allow it to dry. This will even out the stitches and give the cardigan a professional finish.

Your Sunny Meadow Baby Cardigan is now complete! This charming piece is perfect for spring layering, baby showers, or as a heartfelt handmade gift. The chevron pattern is both classic and modern, and the soft yellow and mint green colors are sure to delight. Enjoy watching your little one wrapped in the love and care you knitted into every stitch.