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If you loved Baby Wheat Cardigan you’ll love her big sister, Youth Wheat Cardigan. The same beautiful lace, super soft yarn, drop sleeve, crew neck, button up gorgeousness but in bigger sizes.
Baby Wheat Cardigan covered sizes 0-3 months through 24 months. Her big sister, Youth Wheat Cardigan, covers sizes 3 years through 14 years.
Although I know not every sibling loves it, my daughters LOVE to match. They think it’s so fun. And it makes for some priceless pictures. Those matching clothing pictures are the ones you pull out for years and years to come. And how precious is it that something you made by your own two hands with so much love for those special babies (young and old) be an integral part of those memories. It’s one of the reasons I knit, pouring out my love through the work of my hands.
Okay, I’d better stop, because I’m getting emotional.
Back to the sweater: Youth Wheat Cardigan is not going to be the last of the Wheat Line. I currently also have socks for ages Baby-Large adult on my needles, a cowl is coming, as is the adult version of Wheat Cardigan. Although it will take me a little time to get them all completed, when I do I will be sure to edit this post to link them. You can also always find all of my free patterns on the Free Pattern page here.
You can pick up the yarn for this pattern, KnitPicks Capretta, here.
Materials and Info
Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14)
Materials: Approximately 4, 5 (5, 5) 5, 6 (6, 7) 7, 8 (8, 8) balls of KnitPick Capretta (230y/50g) , 7, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (8, 8) 9, 9 (10, 10) 3/8in buttons, yarn needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 1(US) 2.5mm & 2(US) 3mm straight and dpn
Gauge (tension): 32sts & 40 rows to make 10cm square, using size 2(US) 3mm needles
Chest Measurement: 55, 57, (59, 61) 63, 66 (69, 72) 75, 78 (81, 84) cm
METHOD
This pattern is for a drop sleeve style that is worked flat from the bottom up with 10cm of ease.
WHEAT LACE PATTERN
Row 1 – k5, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 2 – purl across
Row 3 – k4, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 4 – purl across
Row 5 – k3, k2tog, k5, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 6 – purl across
Row 7 – k2, k2tog, k6, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 8 – purl across
Row 9 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k4
Row 10 – purl across
Row 11 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k3
Row 12 – purl across
Row 13 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k5, ssk, k2
Row 14 – purl across
Row 15 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k6, ssk, k1
Row 16 – purl across
Note: when increasing or decreasing be sure there is a decrease for every increase so your stitch counts remain correct
Youth Wheat Cardigan Pattern
BACK
Cast on 106, 110 (112, 116) 118, 124 (128, 134) 138, 142 (148, 152) sts using the smaller circular needles
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 4, 6 (7, 2) 3, 6 (1, 4) 6, 1 (4, 6) sts, work in lace pattern until you have 4, 6 (7, 2) 3, 6 (1, 4) 6, 1 (4, 6) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on each end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53, (55, 57) cms from cast on edge ending after completing a wrong side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts at the beginning of the next row, work 14, 14 (14, 14) 14, 16 (15, 17) 16, 18 (18, 19) sts put remaining sts on a stitch holder or spare yarn
Turn and bind off 5sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 10, 10 (10, 10) 10, 12 (11, 13) 12, 14 (14, 15) sts
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to the sts on the stitch holder/spare yarn, bind off 44, 39 (46, 46) 48, 52 (52, 54) 56, 56 (58, 60) sts, work remaining 23, 24 (24, 25) 25, 27 (27, 29) 29, 31 (32, 33) sts.
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off 5sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 10, 10 (10, 10) 10, 12 (11, 13) 12, 14 (14, 15) sts
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 51, 53, (54, 56) 57, 60 (62, 65) 67, 70 (72, 74) sts using smaller needle
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 5, 6 (6, 0) 1, 2 (3, 5) 6, 0 (1, 2) sts, work in lace pattern until you have 4, 5 (6, 0) 0, 2 (3, 4) 5, 0 (1, 2) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on the left end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 31, 31.5 (33.5, 35) 37, 39 (41, 42.5) 44.5, 46 (48, 50) cms from cast on edge ending after completing a right-side row.
NECK
Next row – Bind off 14, 14 (15, 15) 15, 16 (17, 17) 18, 18 (18, 19) sts, work to end of row [37, 39 (39, 41) 42, 44 (45, 48) 49, 51 (54, 55) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at the neck edge of the next 6, 6 (6, 6) 7, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (8, 8) rows. [31, 33 (33, 35) 35, 37 (38, 41) 42, 44 (46, 47) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at neck edge every right-side row 5, 5 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) times [26, 28 (28, 30) 30, 32 (33, 35) 36, 38 (40, 41) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53 (55, 57) cms from cast on edge, ending after completing a wrong side row
SHOULDERS
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off remaining 10, 10 (10, 10) 10, 12 (11, 13) 12, 14 (14, 15) sts
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 51, 53 (54, 56) 57, 60 (62, 65) 67, 70 (72, 74) sts using smaller needle
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 4, 5 (6, 0) 0, 2 (3, 4) 5, 0 (1, 2) sts, work in lace pattern until you have 5, 6 (6, 0) 1, 2 (3, 5) 6, 0 (1, 2) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on the right end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 31, 31.5 (33.5, 35) 37, 39 (41, 42.5) 44.5, 46 (48, 50) cms from cast on edge, ending after completing a wrong side row.
NECK
Next row – Bind off 14, 14 (15, 15) 15, 16 (17, 17) 18, 18 (18, 19) sts, work to end of row [37, 39 (39, 41) 42, 44 (45, 48) 49, 51 (54, 55) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at the neck edge of the next 6, 6 (6, 6) 7, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (8, 8) rows. [31, 33 (33, 35) 35, 37 (38, 41) 42, 44 (46, 47) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at neck edge every right-side row 5, 5 (5, 5) 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) times [26, 28 (28, 30) 30, 32 (33, 35) 36, 38 (40, 41) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53 (55, 57) cms from cast on edge ending after completing a right-side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off 8, 9 (9, 10) 10, 10 (11, 11) 12, 12 (13, 13) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off remaining 10, 10 (10, 10) 10, 12 (11, 13) 12, 14 (14, 15) sts
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Cast on now 52, 54 (54, 56) 62, 64 (64, 64) 66, 66 (68, 68) sts on smaller needles and join in the round and place beginning of round marker.
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles
Start the lace pattern as follows:
Knit 5, 6 (6, 0) 3, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) work lace pattern to last 5, 6 (6, 0) 3, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (6, 6) knit across
Work 3 more rows in lace pattern.
Next row: inc 1 sts on each side every 4th row 17, 18 (20, 21) 14, 15 (22, 25) 25, 28 (30, 33) times, then inc 1 st on each side every 6th row 0, 0 (0, 0) 6, 6 (2, 1) 2, 1 (0, 0) times . [86, 90 (94, 98) 102, 106 (112, 116) 120, 124 (130, 134) sts]
Continue working in lace pattern until work measures 24, 26.5 (28, 29) 28, 29.5 (31.5, 33) 34.5, 38 (39, 40.5) cms from cast on edge. Bind of all stitches.
NECK
Join both shoulder seams, using yarn on a tapestry/yarn needle.
With right side facing and smaller needles pick up and knit 14, 14 (15, 15) 15, 16 (17, 17) 18, 18 (18, 19) sts along right from bind off edge, 20, 22 (22, 22) 22, 24 (24, 25) 25, 27 (27, 27) sts up right front of neck, 54, 54 (56, 56) 58, 60 (62, 64) 66, 66 (68, 70) sts from back neck, 20, 22 (22, 22) 22, 24 (24, 25) 25, 27 (27, 27) sts up left front and side of neck, 14, 14 (15, 15) 15, 16 (17, 17) 18, 18 (18, 19) sts along left from bind off edge. [122, 126 (130, 130) 132, 140 (144, 148) 152, 156 (158, 162) sts]
Work 2, 2 (2.5, 2.5) 2.5, 2.5 (2.5, 2.5) 2.5, 2.5 (2.5, 2.5) cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
FRONT RIB EDGES
LEFT FRONT EDGE
Pick up and knit 109, 115 (121, 126) 133, 140 (147, 154) 159, 167 (169, 178) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 10 rows of rib (k1, p1).
Bind off in established rib pattern.
RIGHT FRONT EDGE
Pick up and knit 109, 115 (121, 126) 133, 140 (147, 154) 159, 167 (169, 178) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 4 rows in k1p1 ribbing
Buttonhole row: Work 2sts in established rib pattern, k2tog yo, *work 15, 16 (15, 16) 17, 17 (18, 19) 17, 18 (16, 17) sts in established rib pattern, work k2tog, yarn over*, repeat from * to * to the last 3 sts, work 3 sts in rib.
Work 4 rows in k1p1 ribbing
Bind off in established rib pattern.
FINISHING
Sew the sleeves on, side seams and sleeve seams. I prefer to use the mattress stitch because it almost appears seamless. Weave in all ends. Sew the 6 buttons on along the left front edge across from the buttonholes
Abbreviations
ABBREVIATIONS
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
YO – yarn over
SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together
M1R – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from back to front, then knit this strand
M1L – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from front to back, then knit this strand through the back loop
Download Youth Wheat Cardigan PDF
