Baby Top-Down Raglan Cardigan
A little hdc cardigan worked in one piece from the neck, with a shaped front neck and sc button bands.
- Yarn
- DK (3) soft superwash wool or cotton blend.
- Hook
- G-6 (4 mm)
- Sizes
- Baby 3–24 months (baby size chart). Example: 12 months, chest 18 in, finished 20 in (51 cm), upper arm about 7 in.
- Example gauge
- 16 sts and 12 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in hdc
- Yarn needed
- About 330 yd (300 m) DK for 12 months.
US terms. The UK name follows in brackets the first time each stitch appears. Turning chains don’t count as stitches unless a step says so. See US vs UK crochet terms and crochet abbreviations.
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body (B) | (chest + 2 in) × sts per in | 20 × 4 = 80 | Cast-On Calculator |
| Back at split | B ÷ 2 − underarm (4) | 36 | By hand |
| Sleeve at split | (upper arm + 1.5 in) × sts per in − 4 | 34 − 4 = 30 | Size Charts |
| Neck | fronts 4, sleeves 10, back 16, + 4 corner sts | 48 sts (ch 50) | By hand |
| Increase rows | back: (36 − 16) ÷ 2 | 10 rows | By hand |
| Front neck increases | 18 − 4 − 10 | 4 each front | By hand |
Materials
- DK (3) yarn (see yarn needed)
- G-6 (4 mm)
- Locking markers
- 5 buttons, 1/2 in (12 mm)
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Hdc swatch.
Instructions
Neck
Ch 50. Row 1 (WS): Hdc (UK htr) in 3rd ch from hook and each ch (48). Mark corner sts 5, 16, 33 and 44.
Yoke
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, turn. *Hdc to the corner st, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in it; rep from * 3 more times, hdc to end.
Rows 3–11: Ch 1, turn. *Hdc to the corner ch-1 sp, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in it; rep from * 3 more times, hdc to end.
Neck shaping: On rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 also work 2 hdc in the first and last st.
Work 2 rows plain. Check: fronts 18, sleeves 30, back 36.
Split
Ch 1, turn. Hdc across the front, ch 4, skip the sleeve, hdc across the back, ch 4, skip the sleeve, hdc across the front (80).
Body
Hdc rows for 6 in (18 rows). Work 2 rows of sc (UK dc). Fasten off.
Sleeves
Join at the underarm. Hdc around (34), joining each round with a sl st, then ch 1 and turn. Hdc2tog (UK htr2tog) at the underarm every 4th round, 4 times (26). Work to 6 in, then 2 rounds of sc.
Bands
Sc evenly up one front, around the neck and down the other. Buttonhole row: on the right band (for a girl) or left (for a boy), make 5 buttonholes (ch 2, sk (UK miss) 2) evenly spaced. Work 1 more sc row.
Finishing
- Sew on buttons.
- Weave in ends and block.
Designer’s notes
- Crochet raglans increase every row, which is why a baby yoke needs only 10 rows.
- Measure the baby’s upper arm, or a cardigan that fits, for the sleeve maths.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: yoke rows (goal 10 + 2). Counter 2: sleeve rounds.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.