Rainbow Cardigan Knitting Pattern (K3000)
📥📬 Available as Digital Download or Printed Copy (choose option below)
Rainbow Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern — Naturally K3000
A cotton baby cardigan with flowing gradient colour, a five-button front and garter stitch edging. Sesia Iride lets the yarn create the colour changes while you work the stocking stitch fabric.
Construction and skill guidance
The fronts and back are knitted flat and joined at the shoulders. Sleeve stitches are picked up at the shoulders and worked down to the cuffs. Picked-up neck and front bands, buttonholes and side and sleeve seams complete the cardigan. Intermediate: shaping, picking up stitches, ribbing, buttonholes and seaming.
Sizes and fit
| Size | To fit chest (cm) | Body length to shoulder (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Premature | 35 | 17 |
| 3 months | 40 | 20 |
| 6 months | 45 | 24 |
| 12 months | 50 | 27 |
Chest values are body measurements to fit, not finished garment circumferences. Body lengths are specified in the knitting instructions from the cast-on edge. The leaflet does not give a finished chest circumference. Choose by measurement rather than age alone.
Before starting with Iride
The white leader at each end of an Iride cake is waste yarn. Remove it before a centre pull, or stop before it when working from the outside. Do not knit or crochet the white leader into your project.
Yarn requirements
The original recommended Sesia Iride 4ply organic cotton provides approximately 450 m per 125 g cake. Work with one strand.
| Size | Iride (m) |
|---|---|
| Premature | 450 |
| 3 months | 450 |
| 6 months | 450 |
| 12 months | 450 |
Approximate allowance for one cardigan, converted from the leaflet’s quantities at the verified 450 m per cake. Allow extra for swatching or adjustments.
Gauge and preparation
28 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm in stocking stitch on 3.00 mm needles.
Make a washed and blocked swatch before starting, adjust needle size to match both stitch and row gauge, and allow extra yarn for swatching.
Needles and notions
- 2.75 mm and 3.00 mm knitting needles
- Four stitch markers and five buttons
- A tapestry needle for sewing up
Pattern format
Choose Printed Pattern – Posted or Digital PDF – Emailed below. This purchase is for the pattern only; yarn, needles and notions are purchased separately.
Frequently asked questions
Are the sleeves knitted separately and sewn in?
No. They are picked up at the shoulders and knitted down to the cuffs, then seamed underneath.
Do I need several yarn colours for the rainbow effect?
No. One gradient Iride colourway creates the colour changes.