Sunny Dots Cardigan

08/27/2025

Level of difficulty

Sizes: 6/9 - 12/18 months (2 - 3/4 - 5/6 - 7/8 years)

Materials:

2 - 3 (3 – 3 – 4 – 4) skeins of Amigurumi yarn – Color: 7563 (Chantilly);

Circular Bamboo Needle with Stainless Steel Cable – 4.0 mm (length: 31.5 in - 80 cm);

Círculo tapestry needle;

1 skein of Maxi Mouline – Colors: 100, 359, 362, 438, 506, 805, 812, 838, 840, 868, 882, 980, and 992;

Embroidery needle with 2 eyes – No. 24;

4 buttons (0.6 x 0.6 in - 1,5 x 1,5 cm);

Tracing paper;

Pencil;

Scissors;

Measuring tape.

Abbreviations: inc.: increase, row.: row, dec.: decreases, decrease, k.: knit, st.: stitch, sts.: stitches, rep.: repeat or repeats, bo.: bind off, next.: next, p.: purl.

Stitches used in knitting: fantasy stitch: follow chart 1 and knit stitch: follow chart 2.

Stitches used in embroidery: backstitch, chain stitch, french knot, lazy daisy stitch,  petal stitch; Buttonhole: 1st row (right side): 1 yarn over, knit 2 stitches together following the stitches; 2nd row (wrong side): follow the pattern stitch.

Swatch: a 4-inch (10 cm) square in knit stitch (chart 2) on 4.0 mm circular needles = 22 sts x 30 rows.

Execution

Transfer the patterns onto tracing paper to use as a reference when making the piece. Note the arrows on the measurement diagram indicating the direction of work. Knit all pieces in rows worked back and forth.

Cardigan - Back: use Amigurumi yarn 7563 (Chantilly) and cast on 66 – 74 (80 – 86 – 92 - 96) sts on 4.0 mm circular needles. Start the piece from the bottom in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches for 2 inches / 5 cm.

On the next row, continue the piece in knit stitch, following chart 2 and the repeat stitches.

At 7.4 – 8.2 (9.4 – 11.4 – 11.8 – 13.4) inches / 19 – 21 (24 – 29 – 30 – 34)  cm from the beginning, decrease 9 – 12 (16 – 20 – 26 - 28) stitches alternately, 57 – 62 (64 – 66 – 66 - 68) stitches remaining. Continue the piece in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches.

At 11.8 – 12.6 (14.2 – 16.2 – 17 – 18.8) inches / 30 – 32( 36 – 41 – 43 – 48) cm from the beginning, bind off all stitches and set the piece aside.

Right front: use Amigurumi yarn 7563 (Chantilly) and cast on 38 – 42 (46 – 48 – 52 - 54) sts on 4.0 mm circular needles. Start the piece from the bottom in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches for 2 inches / 5 cm.

Continue the piece as follows: 11 edge sts (yoke) in pattern stitch (chart 1) and 27 – 31 (35 – 37 – 41 - 43) sts in knit stitch (chart 2).

Note: At the beginning of the right front edge, 0.8 inches / 2 cm from the bottom edge, start the buttonholes. Make a total of 4 buttonholes, spaced 2 – 2 (2.2 – 2.4 – 2.4 – 2.6) inches / 5 - 5 (5.5 - 6 – 6 – 6.5) cm apart starting from the first one.  

At 7.8 – 8.2 (9.4 – 10.6 – 11.4 – 12.6) inches / 20 – 21 (24 – 27 – 29 - 32) cm along the right side of the piece, begin shaping the neckline after the 11 edge sts (yoke) by decreasing 1 st every 2 rows (5 times). There will be 22 – 26 (30 – 32 – 36 – 38) stitches remaining.

At 9 – 9.4 (10.6 – 11.8 – 12.6 – 13.8) inches / 23 – 24 (27 – 30 – 32 – 35)  cm from the beginning, after the 11 edge sts (yoke), decrease 5 – 7 (10 – 12 – 15 - 16) stitches alternately, leaving a total of 17 – 19 (20 – 20 – 21 - 22) knit stitches. Continue the piece in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches.

Continue shaping the neckline after the 11 edge stitches (yoke) by decreasing 1 stitch every 2 rows 5 – 6 (7 – 7 – 8 - 9) times. There will be  12 – 13 (13 – 13 – 13 - 13) stitches.

At 11.8 – 12.6 (14.2 – 16.2 – 17 – 18.8) inches / 30 – 32 (36 – 41 – 43 - 48) cm from the beginning, bind off 12 – 13 (13 – 13 – 13 - 13) stitches on the left side of the piece (shoulder).

Continue working the 11 edge stitches (yoke) for an additional 3 – 3.2 (3.4 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.8) inches / 7.5 – 8 (8.5 – 9 – 9 – 9.5) cm. Bind off all stitches and set the piece aside.

Note: this 3 – 3.2 (3.4 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.8) inches  / 7.5 – 8 (8.5 – 9 – 9 – 9.5) cm yoke extension will be half of the neckline finishing on the back piece. Set the piece aside.

Left front: use Amigurumi yarn 7563 (Chantilly) and cast on 38 – 42 (46 – 48 – 52 - 54) sts on 4.0 mm circular needles. Start the piece from the bottom in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches for 2 inches / 5 cm.

Continue the piece as follows: 27 – 31 (35 – 37 – 41 - 43) sts in knit stitch (chart 2) and 11 edge sts (yoke) in pattern stitch (chart 1).

At 7.8 – 8.2 (9.4 – 10.6 – 11.4 – 12.6) inches / 20 – 21 (24 – 27 – 29 - 32) cm along the left side of the piece, begin shaping the neckline before the 11 edge sts (yoke) by decreasing 1 stitch every 2 rows (5 times). There will be 22 – 26 (30 – 32 – 36 – 38) stitches remaining.

At 9 – 9.4 (10.6 – 11.8 – 12.6 – 13.8) inches / 23 – 24 (27 – 30 – 32 – 35)  cm from the beginning, before the 11 edge sts (yoke), decrease 5 – 7 (10 – 12 – 15 - 16) stitches alternately, leaving a total of 17 – 19 (20 – 20 – 21 - 22) knit stitches. Continue the piece in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches.

Continue shaping the neckline before the 11 edge stitches (yoke) by decreasing 1 stitch every 2 rows 5 – 6 (7 – 7 – 8 - 9) times. There will be  12 – 13 (13 – 13 – 13 - 13) stitches. 

At 11.8 – 12.6 (14.2 – 16.2 – 17 – 18.8) inches / 30 – 32 (36 – 41 – 43 - 48) cm from the beginning, bind off 12 – 13 (13 – 13 – 13 - 13) stitches on the left side of the piece (shoulder).

Continue working the 11 edge stitches (yoke) for another 3 – 3.2 (3.4 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.8) inches / 7.5 – 8 (8.5 – 9 – 9 – 9.5) cm. Bind off all stitches and set the piece aside.

Note: this 3 – 3.2 (3.4 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.8) inches / 7.5 – 8 (8.5 – 9 – 9 – 9.5) cm yoke extension will be half of the neckline finishing on the back piece. Set the piece aside.

Sleeve: use Amigurumi yarn 7563 (Chantilly) and cast on 31 – 33 (35 – 35 – 37 - 40) sts on 4.0 mm circular needles. Start the piece at the cuff in pattern stitch, following chart 1 and the repeat stitches for 2 inches / 5 cm. On the next row, continue the piece in knit stitch, following chart 2 and the repeat stitches.

At the first knit stitch row, increase 10 stitches alternately, for a total of 41 – 43 (45 – 45 – 47 - 50) stitches.

At 3.2 inches / 8 cm from the beginning, increase 1 stitch on each side every 9 rows: 3 – 3 (4 – 4 – 5 - 6) times. There will be 47 – 49 (53 – 53 -  57 - 62) stitches.

At 9.4 – 10.6 (12.2 – 13.8 – 15.4 – 16.2) inches / 24 – 27 (31 – 35 – 39 - 41) cm from the beginning, bind off all stitches. Make the second sleeve the same way and set both aside.

Assembly and finishing: use a tapestry needle and Amigurumi yarn 7563 (Chantilly). Sew the seams using basting stitches.

Join the shoulders for 2.2 – 2.4 (2.4 – 2.4 – 2.4 – 2.4) inches / 5.5 - 6 (6 – 6 – 6 – 6) cm and sew the yoke extensions of the right and left fronts around the neckline of the back piece.

Sew the sides of the body for 7.4 – 8.2 (9.4 – 11.4 – 11.8 – 13.4) inches / 19 – 21 (24 – 29 – 30 - 34) cm, leaving a 4.4 – 4.4 (4.8 – 4.8 – 5.2 – 5.6) inches / 11 – 11 (12 – 12 – 13 - 14) cm opening for the armholes.

Sew the sleeves and cuffs closed for 6.2 – 10.6 (12.2 – 13.8 – 15.4 – 16.2)  inches / 24 – 27 (31 – 35 – 39 - 41) cm, and attach them around the armholes.

Sew the buttons onto the edge of the left front.

Embroidery: use 3 strands of Maxi Mouline thread with an embroidery needle No. 24. Embroider the cardigan’s right front, left front, and bottom following the illustrations, color key, and stitch guide.

Sunny Dots Cardigan.pdf

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Designer: Vilma Maurer

 Disclaimer: measurements are approximate due to differences between centimeters and inches, needle sizes and tension. All care has been taken to allow accurate completion of the pattern.

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