$8.00

How to Buy

How to Buy

Child's Garden Maze Cardigan

PATTERN DETAILS

First appeared in Winter 2002 issues of INKnitters magazine.

RELEASE DATE:  December 2002, Revised January 2005.

DESCRIPTION:  This is a garter stitch, zigzag striped, button-front child’s sweater knitted in a complicated maze-like manner.  The cast on edge begins at the bottom of the left center front edge and goes up the front, around the neckline, and down to the bottom of the right center front edge.  The pattern is in 3 sizes, expanded from the small size in two different methods:  the medium size uses the same size needles and yarn and has the stitch counts adjusted, the large size is worked exactly like the medium size but uses thicker thread and larger needles.  If desired, you can make an even smaller size by using finer yarn and smaller needles.  Button holes are worked on both edges so the cardigan can be easily suited to a girl or a boy.

SIZE:  Small (20”/51 cm., size 1), Medium (24”/61 cm., size 2-4), Large (27”/69 cm., size 8).  Finished measurements, 24(26,31)”/61(66,79) cm.  The size is entirely dependent on your knitting gauge – because of the way the pattern is written, a smaller or larger gauge will result in an overall larger or smaller sweater with sleeves and body length in proportion.  The garter stitch also increases the size versatility even more than I expected – I tried the medium sweater on both an 18-month-old and a 4-year-old, and it fit both of them!

SKILL REQUIRED:  Advanced.

MATERIALS:

• YARN:  From 2 to 14 colors of yarn, all of sport weight or similar thickness for the S or M size – look on ball labels for yarns that suggest you use about size 5 (5.75 mm) ndls.  For the L size use worsted weight yarn – look for yarns that suggest you use about size 7 (4.5 mm) or size 8 (5 mm) ndls.  The yarns do NOT need to be the same brands and types, and not even exactly the same gauge – as long as they’re close.  The yarns should all be washable in the same way.  I like to use cotton yarns for the sweater, so that it is machine washable & dryable – it makes it easier on the mom & dad!  Washable wools or acrylics would work well, too.
  • If you choose 2 colors:
    • Main color (first color used & I-cord edging):  250 (280, 340) yards
    • Contrast color (for second color used):  290 (320, 390) yards
  • If you choose more colors (up to 14 colors):  This is a good project for using up partial skeins of yarn.  You’ll need at LEAST as many yards on hand as indicated above, probably significantly more in order to ensure that you have enough to complete 2 full rows in each color (you never change colors in the middle of a row or on a wrong side row).
• NEEDLES:  1 long circular needle (30”/75 cm. or more) and one set of double point needles, all of the same size.  It’s best if the double point needle set has 5 ndls rather than 4, but you can always use the circular needle as a fifth double point needle if you need to.
  • For small or medium size – Size 6 (4.25 mm) ndls or size to achieve gauge.
  • For large size – Size 8 (5 mm) ndls or size to achieve gauge.
• MISCELLANEOUS, for both

  • Round st markers (rings or small yarn loops)

  • 2 flexible st holders long enough to each hold 74 sts (lengths of yarn work well) and 2 smaller st holders.

  • Small safety pins for corner markers (they also work great for counting rows – you can attach one to every tenth row to help you keep track).

  • Five 3/4- to 7/8-inch (1.9-2.2 cm) buttons.

GAUGE:  Varies with the size you choose to make

• For small or medium size (sport weight yarn):  about 20 sts and 20 garter ridges per 4 inches, after laundering or resting.
• For large size (worsted weight yarn):  about 18 sts and 18 garter ridges per 4 inches, after laundering or resting.

2 sizes (small, small, medium) front to back

Back of small size

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