Free Pattern: Springtime Baby Cardi

This month's free pattern is the Springtime Baby Cardi that is quick to knit out of 1 skein of Berroco Weekend, an easy care Cotton and Acrylic blend, perfect for baby items!

It seems that so many people I know are having babies, and most of them are due for springtime! Pick out a cute pastel color and some matching springtime buttons and you'll have the perfect quick knit for upcoming baby showers!

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Size: 3 months (6 months, 12 months)

Materials:
Berroco Weekend; color: “Clothesline” #5926; 1 (2, 2) skeins
US Size 7 24” circular needles (OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE)
Stitch Markers
4 buttons

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: PurlSt St: Stockinette Stitch
WS: Wrong Side
RS: Right Side
M1: Make One
St(s): Stitch(es)
SSK: Slip Slip Knit
K2TOG: Knit 2 Together
YO: Yarn Over

Seed Stitch (with odd number of stitches):
Row 1: *K1, P1, repeat from * to last stitch, K1.
Repeat Row 1 to desired length.

BACK:
Cast on 47 (49, 51) stitches
Work in seed stitch for 1 inch
Change to stockinette stitch and work until piece measures 6 (6.25, 6.5) inches. Mark last stitch on each side of work. Resume working in St st until piece measures 9.5 (10, 10.5) inches from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Next row: K12, bind off next 23 (25, 27) stitches, K12. Place first 12 stitches on a holder and work each side separately.

LEFT FRONT:
Row 1 (WS): P all sts
Row 2 (RS): K1, M1, K to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows until you reach 23 (25, 27) sts total.

AND AT THE SAME TIME: When work measures 13 (13.5, 13.75)” from cast on edge, mark last stitch on each side of work.

After increasing is complete for the neck line, continue working in st st until front measures 8.5 (9, 9.5) inches. Work 1 inch of seed stitch, bind off in pattern.

RIGHT FRONT: Re-join yarn at other front, ready to work a WS row
Row 1 (WS): P all stsRow 2 (RS): K to last st, M1, K1.
Repeat these 2 rows until you reach 23 (25, 27) sts total.

AND AT THE SAME TIME: When work measures 13 (13.5, 13.75)” from cast on edge, mark last stitch on each side of work.

After increasing is complete for the neck line, continue working in st st until front measures 8.5 (9, 9.5) inches. Work 1 inch of seed stitch, bind off in pattern.

SLEEVES: Pick up and knit 35 (37, 39) stitches between two markers on one side edge.
*Work 5 rows of st st.
Next row (Row 6, RS): K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1.

Repeat from * (work 5 rows st st, work decrease row) until sleeve measures approx. 5(5.5, 6.5) inches from picked up stitches.

Work 1 inch in seed stitch, bind off in pattern.

Work second sleeve the same way, picking up the sts between the markers on the other side of the garment.

NECK AND BUTTON BAND:
With RS facing you and starting at the bottom edge of the right front, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows up along the side of the front, pick up and knit 1 st for every bound-off st at the back of the neck, and pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows down along the edge of the other front.

The exact number of sts you have is not too critical, as long as you picked them up at this ratio, and you should end with an odd number of sts.

Work in seed stitch across all sts for 3 rows (2 rows if making sweater for BOY). On 4^th (3^rd for boy) row:
Buttonhole Row: *K4, K2TOG, YO, repeat from * 3 more times. Complete row as normal, continuing in seed stitch as set.
If making sweater for GIRL: Bind off on next row all sts in pattern.
If making sweater for BOY: Work 1 more row seed stitch, bind of on next row all sts in pattern.

FINISHING:
Sew side and sleeve seams. Weave in all ends on WS. Sew buttons on opposite of button holes. Block if desired.