Cozy cardigan pattern for teenagers

My children Stanley and Daisy are moving into the tween to teenage years and growing more and more independent. As I send them out to explore the world on their own, I wish I could set up a force field around them to keep them safe and feeling loved out there in the great wide open. Warm, fluffy alpaca thread held together with soft Merino wool adds extra warmth but no weight to this cozy cardigan, and the pretty Japanese stitch pattern on the pockets is a sign that the wearer is wrapped up in the love of his or her knitter. This pattern is no-sew.

What you need

Sizes

To fit age: 4-6[6-8:8-10:10-12] yrs

To fit chest: 24[251/2:29:311/2]in (61[65:74:80]cm)

Length to underarm: 83/4[91/2:101/4:11]in (22[24:26:28]cm)

Width at chest: 143/4[173/4:193/4:213/4]in (37.5[45:50:55]cm)

Length to shoulder: 131/2[15:161/2:18]in (34[38:42:46]cm)

Sleeve length: 131/2[151/4:18:193/4]in (34[39:46:50]cm)

Pocket width: 6in (15cm)

Pocket length: 41/4in (11cm)

Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes: where there is only one set of figures this applies to all sizes.

You will need

Lang Yarns Merino 150 100% Merino wool (approx 164yd/150m per 50g)

4[5:5:6] x 50g balls in shade 0119 (A)

Lang Yarns Alpaca Superlight
54% alpaca, 24% nylon, 22% wool (approx 218yd/199m per 25g)

3[4:4:4] x 25g balls in shade 0065 (B)

5.5mm and 4mm circular needles

5.5mm double-pointed needles
(optional)

Stitch holders

Stitch markers

Cable needle

4mm crochet hook

4 x 1in (28mm ) diameter buttons

Note: Yarn amounts given are based on average requirements and are approximate.

Tension

16 sts and 23 rows to 4in (10cm) over
st st using 5.5mm needle with one strand each of A and B held together.

23 sts and 27 rows to 4in (10cm) over
st st using 4mm needle and A only.

Use larger or smaller needles if necessary to obtain correct tension.

Pattern notes

Size 3 is photographed on Daisy, who is a tall nine-year-old.

buttonholes

Only the first buttonhole, on row 7, is referred to in the pattern. Work buttonholes on the following rows:

Size 1: 7, 23, 37, 53

Size 2: 7, 23, 29, 55

Size 3: 7, 25, 41, 59

Size 4: 7, 27, 45, 65

Instructions

Pocket Pattern

Worked over 25 sts and 16 rows

Row 1 (RS): *P1, (k1 tbl, p1) twice*, (k2tog, k1, yo, k1) twice, yo, k1, ssk, k1, yo, k1, ssk; rep from * to * once more.

Row 2: PK1, (p1 tbl, k1) twice, p15,
(k1, p1 tbl) twice, PK1.

Row 3: *(P1, k1 tbl) twice, p1*, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo; rep from * to * once more.

Rows 4, 6 and 8: PK1, (p1 tbl, k1) twice, k1, p13, k1, (k1, p1 tbl) twice, PK1.

Row 5: P1, TW3, p2, yo, k3tog, k1, yo, k2, MB, k2, yo, k1, sssk, yo, p2, TW3, p1.

Row 7: (P1, k1 tbl) twice, p2, k2tog, k1, yo, k7, yo, k1, ssk, p2, (k1 tbl, p1) twice.

Row 9: As row 1.

Row 10: As row 2.

Row 11: As row 3.

Rows 12 and 14: As row 4.

Row 13: P1, TW3, p2, yo, k3tog, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1, sssk, yo, p2, TW3, p1.

Row 15: As row 7.

Row 16: As row 4.

Body

Cast on 131[155:171:187] sts.

Broken rib row 1: (K1, p1) to last st, k1.

Broken rib row 2: Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 2 more times.

Buttonhole row: (K1, p1) twice, cast off 2 sts (1 st left on needle), (p1, k1) to end.

Next row: P to gap, cast on 2 sts over cast-off sts, p to end.

Rep broken rib rows 1 and 2 twice more, then work row 1 again.

Next row (WS – dec): P65[77:85:93], p2tog, p to end. 130[154:170:186] sts.

Rib meas 2in (5cm).

Set Body patt

Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 5 times, k25[31:35:39], pm, k60[72:80:88], pm, k25[31:35:39], (p1, k1) to end.

Row 2: Purl, slipping markers.

These 2 rows set main Body patt with 130[154:170:184] sts: 60[72:80:88] for back, 35[41:45:49] for each front and
10 sts in broken rib at each edge.

Rep rows 1 and 2 once more,
slipping markers.

Set pockets

Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 5 times, *k0[3:5:7], pm, (k1, yo) 24 times, k1, pm*, k to end of back section slipping markers, sm; rep from * to *, k0[3:5:7], (p1, k1)
5 times.

Row 2: P to first pocket marker, sm,
p across pocket sts slipping all yarn overs on to a holder, sm, p to next pocket marker, p across pocket sts slipping all yarn overs on to a separate 4mm circular needle, p to end.

Pocket lining (make 2)

You now have 24 sts on a 4mm needle. With RS of main piece facing and a new ball of A only, work as foll:

**Row 1 (RS – inc): K2, (kfb, k1)
10 times, k2 (34 sts).

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Sl1, k to end.

Row 4: Sl1, p to end.

Rep rows 3 and 4 another 13 times.**

Slip these sts on to a holder, slip 24 sts held for other pocket lining to 4mm circular needle, then using the same separate ball of A only, work from ** to ** once more.

Pocket linings meas 41/4in (11cm).

Set seamless pockets

Return to main piece and, using 5.5mm needles and 1 strand each of A and B held together, work as foll:

Set-up row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 5 times,
k to 1 st before pocket marker,*PK1, sm, (p1, k1) twice, p2, k13, p2, (k1, p1) twice, sm, PK1*, k to 1 st before next pocket marker; rep from * to *, k to last 10 sts, (p1, k1) 5 times.

Set-up row 2: P to pocket marker,
*sm, p1, k1, p1, k2, p13, k2, p1, k1, p1, sm*, p to next pocket marker; rep from * to * once more, p to end.

Row 1: (K1, p1) 5 times, k to pocket marker, *sm, work row 1 of Pocket Patt, sm*, k to next pocket marker; rep from * to *, k to last 10 sts, (p1, k1) 5 times.

Row 2: P to pocket marker, *sm, work row 2 of Pocket Patt, sm*, p to next pocket marker; rep from * to *, p to end.

These 2 rows set Pocket Patt.

Cont in patt as set until you have worked all 16 rows of patt, then work rows 1-8 once more.

End pockets

Next row (RS): (K1, p1) 5 times, *k to pocket marker, remove marker, slip pocket sts to holder then work on lining sts as foll: k4, (k2tog, k1) 8 times, k2tog, k4, remove pocket m; rep from * once more, k to last 10 sts, (p1, k1) 5 times. 130[154:170:184] sts: 60[72:80:88] for back and 35[41:45:49] for each front.

Next row: Purl.

Now cont in Body patt for 10[12:16:22] more rows.

Body meas approx 83/4[91/2:10:11]in (22[24:25:28]cm)

Set aside.

Left Sleeve

With 5.5mm circular or double-pointed needles and 1 strand each of A and B held tog, cast on 26[26:30:30] sts.
Join to work in the rnd, taking care not to twist sts, and pm for beg of rnd.

Broken rib rnd 1: (K1, p1) around.

Broken rib rnd 2: Knit.

Rep rnds 1 and 2 a further 7[8:9:9] times. Piece meas 2[21/4:23/4:23/4]in (5[6:7:7]cm).**

Thumbhole row: (K1, p1) twice, cast off 4 sts (1 st left on needle), (p1, k1)
to end.

***Next row: K to gap, cast on 4 sts over cast-off sts, k to end.

Cont in broken rib for 8[12:16:16] more rnds until rib meas 4[41/4:51/2:51/2]in (10[11:14:14]cm), ending with rnd 2.

Set main patt and incs

Next rnd: Knit.

Next rnd (inc): K1, m1L, k to last st, m1R, k1 (inc 2).

Knit 3 rnds.

Rep last 4 rnds 6[10:11:13] more times. 40[48:54:58] sts.

Cont straight in st st until Sleeve meas 91/2[11:121/2:141/4]in (24[28:32:36]cm) from end of ribbed cuff.

Slip 5[6:6:7] sts on each side of beg of rnd marker to a holder – 10[12:12:14] sts on hold for underarm.

Set aside.

Right Sleeve

Work as Left Sleeve to **.

Thumbhole row: (K1, p1) to last 8 sts, cast off 4 sts (1 st left on needle),
(p1, k1) to end.

Work as Left Sleeve to end.

Yoke

Join Body and Sleeves

With RS facing, 5.5mm needles and
1 strand each of A and B held tog, beg at edge of Body sts, work as foll:

Set-up row: (K1, p1) 5 times, k20[25:29:32] (right front), pm, slip next 10[12:12:14] sts on to a holder for underarm, k across 30[36:42:44] sts
for right Sleeve, pm, k50[60:68:74] for back, pm, slip next 10[12:12:14] sts on to a holder for underarm, k across 30[36:42:44] sts for left Sleeve, pm, k20[25:29:32], (p1, k1) 5 times (left front).

170[202:230:246] sts: 50[60:68:74] for back, 30[35:39:42] for each front and 30[36:42:44] for each Sleeve.

Next row: Purl.

Set raglan decreases

Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 5 times, ssk, *k to
3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk; rep from * 3 more times, k to last
12 sts, k2tog, (p1, k1) 5 times (dec 10). 160[192:220:236] sts.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: (K1, p1) 5 times, *k to 3 sts
before m, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk; rep from * 3 more times, k to last 10 sts, (p1, k1) 5 times (dec 8). 152[184:212:228] sts.

Row 4: Purl.

Rep last 4 rows 5[7:8:9] more times.

62[58:68:66] sts: 26[28:32:34] sts for back, 12[11:12:12] sts each front and 6[4:6:4] sts for each Sleeve.

Sizes 1, 3 and 4 only

Next row (RS): (K1, p1) 4 times, k1, sssp, sm, *k1[-:1:0], ssk, k2tog,
k1[-:1:0]*, sm, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sm; rep from * to * once more, sm, p3tog, k1, (p1, k1) to end.

Size 2 only

Next row (RS): (K1, p1) 4 times, k1,
ssp, sm, *ssk, k2tog*, sm, k1, ssk, k to
3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sm; rep from * to * once more, sm, p2tog, k1,
(p1, k1) to end.

All sizes

52[50:58:56] sts rem: 24[26:30:32]
for back, 10 for each front and 4[2:4:2] for each Sleeve.

Next row: Purl.