Holger Cardigan

Name: Holger Cardigan
Brand: PetiteKnit
SKU: T0296-en
Price: 14.7 NZD
Availability: InStock

$14.70 - $14.70

$14.70

$14.70 - $14.70

$14.70

Availability:

2+ in stock, ready to be shipped

The Holger Cardigan by PetiteKnit is a playful, colour-blocked statement cardigan for kids that brings instant personality to everyday layering. Featuring a classic striped body paired with contrasting solid sleeves, button plackets, and neckband, it’s a fun, stash-busting project that looks super sharp while giving active kids plenty of comfy room to move.

Please note: This is a knitting pattern only. Yarn, needles, buttons, and extra notions must be purchased separately.

Pattern Overview

Skill Level: 3 out of 5 (Intermediate)
Size Range: 1–2 years to 12–14 years
Construction: You’ll work this cardigan seamlessly from the top down in stockinette stitch. It begins with the back yoke worked flat using short rows to shape the shoulder slope while working the stripes. Next, each front shoulder is worked separately before joining front and back at the underarms to knit the striped body back and forth. Finally, you’ll pick up stitches around the armholes to knit each solid-coloured sleeve in the round, and finish by picking up stitches along the fronts and neckline for the contrasting ribbed button plackets and neckband.

Sizing & Fit Guide

The Holger Cardigan is designed with a roomy, relaxed fit offering roughly 20–25 cm of positive ease (meaning the finished cardigan sits about 20–25 cm wider than the child's actual chest). Before you cast on, grab a measuring tape and measure around the child's chest to choose the best size. For example, a chest measurement of 62 cm matches a size 6–7 years, giving a finished circumference of 86 cm and 24 cm of easy, comfortable layering space. If the child is taller or shorter than average, you can easily adjust the body and sleeve lengths to suit.

Size	To Fit Chest Circumference (cm)	Finished Chest Circumference (cm)	Total Length (cm)
1–2 years	53	72	36
2–3 years	54	74	38
3–4 years	56	78	42
4–5 years	57	82	43
5–6 years	59	82	45
6–7 years	62	86	48
7–8 years	64	88	49
8–9 years	68	92	50
9–10 years	72	96	52
10–11 years	75	98	53
11–12 years	78	104	54
12–14 years	82	108	56

(Note: Total length is measured down the centre back excluding the neck edge.)

Gauge & Suggested Tools

Gauge: 20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch on 4 mm needles.
Circular Needles: 4 mm (60 or 80 cm) & 3.5 mm (40 cm, and 60 or 80 cm).
Double-Pointed Needles: 4 mm and 3.5 mm DPNs (only needed if you prefer not to use the Magic Loop method for the sleeves).
Notions: 5 buttons (18 mm diameter).

Yarn & Materials Chart

This cardigan uses 7 different colours of DK / 8-ply wool (approx. 91–108 m per 50 g)—two colours for the striped body, plus individual contrasting shades for the hem ribbing, left sleeve, right sleeve, neck edge, and front plackets.

Size	Body Stripes (each of 2 colours)	Body Rib Hem (1 colour)	Sleeves (each of 2 colours)	Neck Edge (1 colour)	Front Plackets (1 colour)
1–2 years	65 g (~118–140 m)	23 g (~42–50 m)	31 g (~56–67 m)	11 g (~20–24 m)	20 g (~36–43 m)
2–3 years	74 g (~135–160 m)	23 g (~42–50 m)	36 g (~66–78 m)	11 g (~20–24 m)	22 g (~40–48 m)
3–4 years	79 g (~144–171 m)	25 g (~46–54 m)	40 g (~73–86 m)	11 g (~20–24 m)	22 g (~40–48 m)
4–5 years	84 g (~153–181 m)	25 g (~46–54 m)	45 g (~82–97 m)	11 g (~20–24 m)	25 g (~46–54 m)
5–6 years	89 g (~162–192 m)	27 g (~49–58 m)	50 g (~91–108 m)	12 g (~22–26 m)	27 g (~49–58 m)
6–7 years	102 g (~186–220 m)	27 g (~49–58 m)	52 g (~95–112 m)	12 g (~22–26 m)	29 g (~53–63 m)
7–8 years	110 g (~200–238 m)	27 g (~49–58 m)	54 g (~98–117 m)	12 g (~22–26 m)	29 g (~53–63 m)
8–9 years	116 g (~211–251 m)	29 g (~53–63 m)	57 g (~104–123 m)	12 g (~22–26 m)	30 g (~55–65 m)
9–10 years	120 g (~218–259 m)	29 g (~53–63 m)	61 g (~111–132 m)	13 g (~24–28 m)	32 g (~58–69 m)
10–11 years	128 g (~233–276 m)	30 g (~55–65 m)	64 g (~116–138 m)	13 g (~24–28 m)	32 g (~58–69 m)
11–12 years	136 g (~248–294 m)	33 g (~60–71 m)	67 g (~122–145 m)	14 g (~25–30 m)	34 g (~62–73 m)
12–14 years	145 g (~264–313 m)	33 g (~60–71 m)	71 g (~129–153 m)	14 g (~25–30 m)	34 g (~62–73 m)

Note: Gram figures above represent approximate actual consumption per section based on the designer's guidelines (with meter ranges calculated using 91–108 m per 50 g of DK-weight wool). Because you’ll need full 50 g balls for each section—and may want extra yarn for swatching or lengthening—be sure to round up to full balls per colour.

Crucial Swatching Tip

Take a little time to knit, wash, and block a stockinette swatch before casting on. Hitting that 20-stitch by 30-row gauge ensures your finished cardigan matches the measurements in the table above and gives the fabric a soft, even drape across the stripes. Adjust your needle size up or down if your stitch count is slightly off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good project for using up leftover yarn? Yes! Since the neck edge, front plackets, and hem ribbing each only use around 11–34 g of yarn, it’s a fantastic pattern for dipping into your DK stash alongside full balls for the body stripes and sleeves.
Do I have to use double-pointed needles for the sleeves? Not at all. You can easily knit the sleeves in the round from the armholes down using the Magic Loop technique on a long circular needle instead of DPNs.
Are there any seams to sew at the end?Zero seaming required. Everything is constructed seamlessly from the top down, and the plackets and neckband are picked up and knitted right onto the edges—leaving just button sewing and weaving in your ends at the finish.