Bubbly Baby Cardigan
I love making baby cardigans. They always turn out super cute (maybe that’s just because of the baby size) and work up so fast compared to the adult version.
The bubbly baby crochet cardigan is an easy baby cardigan with a little bubbly texture. The cotton yarn makes it perfect for colder summer evenings. Depending on the colors you chose it is perfect for a little boy or a little girl.
No time right now? Pin the bubbly baby cardigan pattern for later!
Scroll down for the free version but I recommend you purchase the ad-free PDF Pattern to get all the instructions and pictures in a nice PDF you can print and take notes on without relying on your phone or an internet connection, I’ve got you covered!
The Bubbly Baby Crochet Cardigan PDF pattern is available in my shop or on Ravelry. Add it to your cart now, before you forget.
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Before you start
1. Materials
- 3 mm hook
- 2 skeins of Schachenmayr Catania Originals yarn in the main color and 1 skein for the edges. You can also make the cardigan with one color only.
- 4 buttons of 10mm. I’m absolutely in love with the cute wooden buttons with an engraved leave I used. You can find them here.
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
- T-pins for blocking
2. Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- v st = V stitch (refer to special stitches)
The turning ch 2 doesn’t count as a stitch throughout the pattern.
Repeat the instructions in between * the indicated number of times or until the end of the row.
3. Special Stitches
- V stitch : (dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) in the same stitch
- Bobble stitch:
- Start with the first half of a dc st: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops.
- Repeat in the same stitch/space until you have a total of 6 loops on your hook.
- Yarn over, pull through all loops at once. Lock the stitch with an sc in the next st 1.
4. Size
The pattern is available in 2 sizes: 3-6 months and 6-9 months. The baby cardigan crochet pattern is written in the 3-6 months size and the changes for the 6-9 months size is in (). The pictures only give the 3-6 details for better readability.
The Actual Bubbly Baby Cardigan Crochet Pattern
The cardigan is crocheted from the top down. The sleeves are added after crocheting the body. There is no need for buttonholes. The small buttons fit between stitches.
1. The Collar
Using a 3mm hook, ch 71 (81)+ 2
Row 1: Starting in the 3rd ch from the hook, dc 71 (81), ch 2, turn (71, 81 st)
Row 2: 1 dc in the 3rd st from the hook, * 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc *, 0 (1) dc, ch 2, turn (106, 122 st)
Row 3: dc 17 (20), v st, dc 19 (22), v st, dc 30 (34), v st, dc 19 (22), v st, dc 17 (20), ch 2 turn (114, 130 st)
To make the following rows easier and avoid counting I place a stitch marker in each V stitch. The next rows V stitch is always in the previous row ch 1 space of the below V stitch.
Row 4 – 7: *dc until st marker, v st in previous row ch 1 space*, dc until end of row, ch 2 turn. (146, 162 st)
Form the separation between sleeves and body
Sick of all the yarn jargon and conversions?
US vs UK, abbreviations, imperial vs metric, yarn weights, etc?
Row 8: dc 22 (25), dc in the ch 1 space, skip 29 (32), dc in the ch 1 space, dc 40 (44), dc in the ch1 space, skip 29 (32), dc in the ch 1 space, dc 22 (25), ch 2 turn (88, 98 st).
2. The Cardigan Body
Each row is now 88 (98) st.
Row 1: 88 (98) dc, ch 2, turn.
Row 2: 2 dc, 1 sc, bobble, 1 sc, *3 dc, 1 sc, bobble, sc 1* repeat times 14 (15) times, 2 (4) dc, ch 2, turn.
Row 3: 88 dc, ch 2, turn
Row 4: 4 dc, sc 1, *bobble, sc 1, 3 dc, sc 1* repeat times 14 times, (2 dc) ch 2, turn.
Row 5 – 16: Repeat row 1 to 4 2 (3) times.
Row 17 – 18: Repeat row 1 to 2.
Before switching colors, make sc along the vertical edge of the cardigan to give it a neater finish. You can do this at the end too but I like to do it now to avoid weaving in too many ends.
Row 19 – 20: switch to grey yarn and repeat row 3 and 4.
Finish with a couple of sc along the vertical edge as we did with the blue part.
3. The Cardigan Sleeves
Both sleeves of the baby crochet cardigan are constructed the same way. They are crocheted in the round. Each round is started by a ch 2 and joined by a slip stitch in the 2nd ch st.
Join the yarn in the armpit so the junction will be less visible.
Round 1: ch 2, dc in each of the 29 (32) st we had skipped in row 8 from the body. Add
3 dc in the armpit before joining the round with a ss (32, 35 st)
Round 2 – 12: ch 2, 32 (35) dc, joining the round with a ss (32, 35 st) for 11 (12) rounds.
Switch to grey yarn.
Round 13: repeat round 2
Round 14: ch 2, 1 (2) dc, * 1 sc, bobble, 1 sc, 3 dc * repeat 5 times, 1 (3) dc, join the round with a ss (32, 35 st).
Round 15: repeat round 2
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Blocking and Finishing Touches
You’re done with the crocheting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your stitch pattern even prettier and help even your stitches, block your project lightly.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help. Once your Bubbly Baby Cardigan is completely dry, sew 4 buttons equally spaced. Try to put them on a row without bobbles. It is easier and they will stay flat this way.
I hope you liked the Bubbly Baby Cardigan. Please share it with your yarnie friend.
Je cherchais désespérément un patron pour realiser un cardigan de bébé. Je sais pas pourquoi j’ai pas pensé à toi plus tôt (un bug de cerveau sûrement). Je t’envoie des photos quand j’ai fini ! (hé oui… C’est ma cokotteuse Caro qui se met au bébé)
Can you recommend another yarn For the one listed for the pattern Baby Bubble Cardigan? The one listed is out of stock on Amazon. Thank you.
I recently completed and gifted this delightful Bubbly Baby Sweater. I enjoyed every stitch as it was exciting to see the sweater unfold before my eyes. I plan to post photos now that it has been gifted. Did you recently announce that you had created booties to match? Did I dream this? If so I’ve been unable to locate it. Thanks for some of my favorite patterns!
Hi Valerie, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the pattern! Unfortunately, I’m not sure where you got that from but I don’t have a matching bootie pattern. You could adapt the Happy Feet Baby socks (https://knittingwithchopsticks.com/happy-feet-baby-socks/) by switching the eyelets for bobbles and using DK weight yarn and one size smaller than what you actually need. Let me know if you need help!