Jessica Baby Cardigan - Free Knitting Pattern
Designed by Linda Whaley for Rowan
The Jessica Cardigan is a raglan baby cardigan with an all-over lace pattern and a picot edge, in six sizes from 0-3 months to 2 years. It is a free PDF download, and you can pick up the yarn for it in the right quantity for your size using the button above.
The pattern comes in two versions. The plain cardigan is worked in one shade throughout. The contrast version puts a second shade into the picot cast-on and the neckband cast-off, which reads as a fine line of colour around every edge and takes only one extra 50g ball whatever size you knit. Rowan photographed the plain version in Pure White 417 and the contrast version in Duck Egg 419 trimmed with Pure White 417.
It is knitted flat in five pieces, back, two fronts and two sleeves, then joined at the raglan seams. The lace is given as a 20-row chart with four symbols. The front bands are worked in as you go, with buttonholes made on the right front, and the neckband is picked up and finished at the end.
At a glance
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Sizes (to fit age): 0-3m (3-6m) 6-9m (9-12m) 12-18m (2y)
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Chest: 44 (46) 48 (51) 52 (54) cm
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Length: 17.5 (19) 21.5 (24) 25.5 (29) cm, including the top of the raglan sleeve
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Sleeve length: 13 (15) 17 (19) 21 (23.5) cm
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Yarn: 1 (2) 2 (2) 2 (3) x 50g, plus 1 extra ball for the contrast trim
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Needles: 2.25mm and 3mm straight needles
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Buttons: 4 (4) 5 (5) 6 (6) x 10mm
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Tension: 28 stitches × 36 rows = 10 × 10cm over pattern (3mm needles)
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Skill level: Intermediate. Rowan rates it Skill Level 3
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Format: Free PDF download, 4 pages, charted lace
Techniques used
- Reading a lace chart
- Picot cast-on
- Raglan shaping and seaming
- Eyelet buttonholes
- Picking up and knitting a neckband
Cotton or wool?
We offer this pattern in two yarns, and the choice comes down to what you want the finished cardigan to do.
Rowan Summerlite 4ply is what the pattern was written for. A 100% cotton 4ply at 50g / 175m, it gives crisp lace with every eyelet clearly defined, and a cool, breathable weight that suits a spring or summer baby.
Hjertegarn Armonia knits to exactly the same tension of 28 stitches and 36 rows over 10cm, so you can follow the pattern as written with no adjustment. It is a 75% superfine merino, 25% nylon sock yarn, which sounds an odd choice for a baby cardigan until you handle it. The nylon makes it hard-wearing and machine washable at 40 degrees on a wool cycle, and it is soft enough that it has quietly become one of our favourite yarns for baby knits. At 50g / 200m you get a little more from each ball, and the fabric is warmer with a gentle bloom in the lace.
You can also take the Jessica Cardigan knitting kit, which pairs Summerlite with a printed copy of the pattern.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lace written out row by row, or charted?
It is charted. The lace runs on a 20-row repeat and the chart uses only four symbols, all listed in the key. If you have never worked from a chart, this is a reasonable one to learn on, and we are always happy to talk anyone through it in the shop or at our Tuesday morning class.
Can I knit it in wool instead of cotton?
Yes. Hjertegarn Armonia knits to the same tension, so no adjustment is needed, and it is machine washable, which many people prefer for a baby garment. Choose it from the yarn selector above and the right quantity for your size is worked out for you.
How do I get the yarn for the contrast trim?
The yarn selector gives you the quantity for the plain cardigan. If you want the contrast picot edge and neckband, add one extra 50g ball in your second shade, whatever size you are knitting.
Is it knitted in one piece or seamed?
Seamed. You knit the back, two fronts and two sleeves separately, then join the raglan seams and work the neckband across the held stitches. If you are used to top-down seamless construction, this is a different approach rather than a harder one.
Is this suitable for a beginner?
Not as a first garment. You will be following a lace chart while raglan decreases are happening at the same time. Be comfortable with knit, purl and simple shaping first. A garter stitch baby blanket is a better starting point.
How do I get the pattern?
Add it to your basket and complete checkout at £0.00. A download link is then emailed to you.
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