Key Cardigan Junior Knitting Pattern - PetiteKnit
📬 Printed Booklet (Posted to You)
Key Cardigan Junior — PetiteKnit knitting pattern
A two-colour stranded cardigan with a raglan yoke. Knit from the top down, shaping the neckline with short rows. Work yoke and body back and forth, sleeves in the round, then add front and neck plackets.
English printed pattern booklet, posted to you. Yarn, needles, buttons and the finished garment are not included. This is not a PDF download.
Size and fit
The designer describes a roomy fit of approximately 25 cm positive ease. Compare your child’s actual chest with the finished measurements, as ease varies by size. A 59 cm chest in size 5–6 years has 25 cm of ease.
| Size | To fit chest (cm) | Finished chest (cm) | Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 53 | 72 | 36 |
| 2–3 years | 54 | 76 | 38 |
| 3–4 years | 56 | 80 | 42 |
| 4–5 years | 57 | 84 | 43 |
| 5–6 years | 59 | 84 | 45 |
| 6–7 years | 62 | 88 | 48 |
| 7–8 years | 64 | 88 | 49 |
| 8–9 years | 68 | 92 | 50 |
| 9–10 years | 72 | 96 | 52 |
| 10–11 years | 75 | 100 | 53 |
| 11–12 years | 78 | 104 | 54 |
Length is measured mid back, excluding the neck edge. Finished dimensions depend on matching gauge.
Gauge, needles and materials
Gauge: 20 stitches × 28 rows in colourwork and stocking stitch on 4 mm needles = 10 × 10 cm.
Needles: 4 mm circulars: 40 and 60 or 80 cm; 3.5 mm circulars: 40 and 60 or 80 cm; 3 mm circular: 60 cm; 4 mm and 3.5 mm double-pointed needles, unless using Magic Loop.
Buttons: 6 buttons, 18–20 mm diameter.
Designer difficulty: 4 out of 5. Preparation includes raglan increases, short rows, two-colour stranded knitting worked flat and in the round, and picking up plackets.
Stocked designer yarn options
Option 1: Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt, knitted single stranded. Use separate main and stripe colours. Metres below are converted from the designer’s quantities at 91 m per 50 g.
| Size | Main colour (m) | Stripe colour (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 273 | 182 |
| 2–3 years | 364 | 182 |
| 3–4 years | 364 | 273 |
| 4–5 years | 364–455 | 273 |
| 5–6 years | 455 | 273 |
| 6–7 years | 455 | 364 |
| 7–8 years | 455 | 364 |
| 8–9 years | 546 | 364 |
| 9–10 years | 546 | 455 |
| 10–11 years | 546 | 455 |
| 11–12 years | 637 | 546 |
Option 2: Sandnes Garn Double Sunday, also a designer-listed single-strand choice. These are its own quantities, converted at 108 m per 50 g; choose one yarn option for the project.
| Size | Main colour (m) | Stripe colour (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 324 | 216 |
| 2–3 years | 324 | 216 |
| 3–4 years | 432 | 324 |
| 4–5 years | 432 | 324 |
| 5–6 years | 432 | 324 |
| 6–7 years | 432 | 324 |
| 7–8 years | 540 | 432 |
| 8–9 years | 540 | 432 |
| 9–10 years | 540 | 432 |
| 10–11 years | 648 | 540 |
| 11–12 years | 648 | 540 |
Check a washed and blocked swatch in both stocking stitch and colourwork. Allow extra yarn for swatching, added length or changed stripes; choose enough of each colour from one dye lot.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cardigan need steeking?
The cardigan body is worked back and forth with an open front, then the front and neck plackets are added. The construction does not require cutting the fabric open.
Can I use either stocked yarn without a companion strand?
Yes. The designer lists Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt and Sandnes Garn Double Sunday as separate single-strand choices for the junior cardigan. Follow the metre table for your chosen yarn; the requirements differ.
How many buttons does the junior cardigan need?
Six buttons, 18–20 mm in diameter, are specified across the size range.