Little Explorer Cardigan

Little Explorer Cardigan

A comfortable, top-down raglan cardigan designed for a 3-4 year old boy.

Materials

• DK weight yarn, 100% Merino Wool, approximately 750 yards (685 meters)
• 4.0 mm (US G/6) crochet hook
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• 5-7 buttons, 15-20mm diameter

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• inc: increase (2 dc in same stitch)
• sk: skip

Pattern Instructions

Foundation

Ch 64. Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

Body

Rnd 1: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc in each ch around. Sl st to join. (64 sts) Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in first 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc, dc in next 7 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (72 sts) Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in first 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc, dc in next 8 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (80 sts) Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in first 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc, dc in next 9 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (88 sts) Rnd 5: Ch 2, dc in first 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc, dc in next 10 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (96 sts) Rnd 6: Ch 2, dc in first 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc, dc in next 11 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (104 sts) Rnd 7: Ch 2, dc in first 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc, dc in next 12 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (112 sts) Rnd 8: Ch 2, dc in first 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc, dc in next 13 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (120 sts) Rnd 9: Ch 2, dc in first 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc, dc in next 14 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (128 sts) Rnd 10: Ch 2, dc in first 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc, dc in next 15 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (136 sts) Rnd 11: Ch 2, dc in first 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc, dc in next 16 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (144 sts) Rnd 12: Ch 2, dc in first 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc, dc in next 17 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (152 sts) Rnd 13: Ch 2, dc in first 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc, dc in next 18 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (160 sts) Rnd 14: Ch 2, dc in first 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc, dc in next 19 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (168 sts) Rnd 15: Ch 2, dc in first 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc, dc in next 20 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (176 sts) Rnd 16: Ch 2, dc in first 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc, dc in next 21 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (184 sts) Rnd 17: Ch 2, dc in first 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc, dc in next 22 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (192 sts) Rnd 18: Ch 2, dc in first 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc, dc in next 23 sts, inc. Sl st to join. (200 sts) Rnd 19: Ch 2, dc in next 28 sts (front panel), sk next 44 sts (first sleeve), ch 8 (underarm), dc in next 56 sts (back panel), sk next 44 sts (second sleeve), ch 8 (underarm), dc in next 28 sts (front panel). Sl st to join. (128 sts) Rnd 20: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Sl st to join. (128 sts)

Assembly / Finishing

Weave in all loose ends. Try the cardigan on the child to determine the desired length for the body and sleeves. Continue Rnd 20 until desired body length is reached. For sleeves, join yarn to underarm, dc around, working 2 dc into each ch of the underarm chain. Continue in rounds until desired sleeve length. Add a button band to the front opening by working sc rows along one front edge, then creating buttonholes on the opposite front edge by chaining 2 and skipping 2 sc where a buttonhole is desired. Sew buttons opposite the buttonholes.

Tips

Remember to crochet a gauge swatch to ensure your finished cardigan matches the intended size. The stitch counts are math-verified, but fit is not guaranteed without checking your personal gauge.

Pattern by YarnCro · yarncro.com