Little Carrot Cardigan

A quick and easy baby pattern you can whip together in one weekend
I used this pattern by Joy Jannotti as a starting off point and then made my own revisions so that it was a seamless sweater and had a ribbed button band (instead of a garter one).
Supplies:

• Size 8 24” circular needles
• Size 7 24” circular needles
• Size 8 double pointed needles
• Size 7 double pointed needles
• 340 yards of worsted weight yarn (I used ‘Vanna’s Choice’ by Lion Brand, 1 skein of green and 1 skein of cream)
• 5 buttons (3/4” size)
• (2) 12” pieces of scrap yarn (stitch holders for sleeves)
• Darning needle (to attach buttons)
• Scrap yarn to attach buttons

Gauge:

4 stitches = 1” on size 8 needles

Size:

6 months (12 months)

Abbreviations:

• Sts = stitches
• K = knit
• P = purl
• Pm = place marker
• M1 = make one stitch by picking up horizontal bar in between sts. See this tutorial on how to do this if you’re familiar with this type of increase.
• Stockinette = When working back and forth, it’s working a purl row after a knit row. When working in the round, it’s knitting every row.
• Color A = green
• Color B = cream

DIRECTIONS

To create the stripe pattern, work one yarn color for 2 rows, then switch to second yarn color for 2 rows, etc. You do not need to cut yarn each time. Keep yarn hanging at the end (because your switching colors every 2 rows, it’s a short enough distance to not cause any pulling)

Neckband:

• Using color A, cast on 37 sts onto size 7 circular needles
• Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * across
• Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * across
• Repeat the above 2 rows 2 more times
• Row 7: *K1, P1; repeat from * across

Raglan Increases:

• Change to size 8 circular needles and begin striping pattern
• Row 1: P6, pm, P4, pm, P17, pm, P4, pm, P6
• Row 2: *Knit to within one st of marker, M1, K1, slip marker, K1, M1; repeat from * to last marker, then purl to the end
• Row 3: Purl entire row, slipping marker from left needle to right needle as you reach them
  Repeat rows 2 & 3 until the back has 45 (47) sts, ending on a wrong side row

Dividing Row:

K20 (21), remove marker, K32 (34), remove marker and slip left sleeve sts onto scrap yarn, K45 (47), K32 (34), remove marker and slip right sleeve sts onto scrap yarn, K20 (21)

Body:

• Work stockinette until measures 11.5” (or 1” before desired length) from cast on edge
• Switch to size 7 needles and using just color A
• Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * to end
• Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * to end
• Repeat rows 1 &2 until bottom ribbing measures 1”
• Bind off in pattern

Sleeves (these directions are for both left and right sleeves):

• Using size 8 DPN’s, pick up sts that are on scrap yarn; 32 (34) sts. Place marker.
• Pick up and knit 4 underarm sts (in the arm pit area)
• Work stockinette until measures 4” from armpit
• Switch to size 7 DPNs and use just color A
• Row 1:*K1, P1; repeat from * to marker
• Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * to marker
• Repeat rows 1 & 2 until cuff measures 1”
• Bind off in pattern

Button Band (I choose the right side to be the button side):

• Using color A, pick up and knit 64 sts (you can pick up a different number of sts, so long as you’re picking up 3 sts every 4 rows and the end number is divisible by 2). Make note of this number on a piece of paper.
• *K1, P1; repeat from * across
• Repeat above ribbing 2 more times (for a total of 3 rows)
• Using safety pins, mark where you want each buttonhole. End buttonholes should be placed 3 sts in. You should plan on having a total of 5 buttonholes
• Row 4 (button hole row): Working in set ribbing pattern (K1,P1), work 3 sts, YO, K2tog, *work to safety pin, remove pin, YO, K2tog; repeat from * to end, work 3 sts
• Row 5 & 6: *K1, P1; repeat from * across
• Bind off in pattern

Left Side Band:

• Using color A, pick up and knit the same number of sts as for the right band
• *K1, P1; repeat from * across
• Repeat above ribbing for 5 more rows
• Bind off in pattern

Finishing:

• Attach buttons using darning needle and scrap yarn
• Weave in all ends

Block (I blocked by using a spray bottle and then pinning sweater to desired shape)