Little Coffee Bean Cardigan & matching big bro/little bro hats

Little Coffee Bean Cardigan & Matching Hats for newborn and toddler

I have enjoyed knitting this easy pattern by Elizabeth Smith.  I needed a quick and easy cardigan pattern to knit for my newest little grandson.  This gem of a pattern is knit from the top down.  The sleeves are sitting on scrap yarn, with live stitches waiting for me to pick them up when the time comes.  That means no seaming, yay!

First I’d like to talk about the cardigan and then I will show you how I knit the hats.

Yarn

Choosing yarn for this project is important because it’s for a new baby.  Parents find acrylic yarn is simplest in terms of ease of care.  This little sweater is knit with Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn.  I really like how soft this yarn is and I know from experience that baby blankets and sweaters can be washed and dried over and over and this yarn truly holds up.

These are the 2 colors I chose for the sweater and matching hat:

medium blue

Ivory

Needles

Knitpicks Nickel Options Circular Interchangeable Needles

The pattern calls for size 7 and 8 needles.  But I am such a loose, relaxed knitter, that I have to go down 3 sizes to meet gauge of 4.5 stitches per 1″.  That’s why it is so important to know your gauge!

Knitpicks says it best: The Nickel Plated Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set is the ultimate in knitting versatility! Mix and match knitting needle tips with cables to easily create the circular needle that you need for your next project.

Featuring smooth joins, perfectly tapered tips and flexible cables, this set includes 9 of our bestselling needle tips and 2 sizes of purple cables – all of which are stored in a handy vinyl case. Two small cable keys are included, which allow you to tighten your needle tips to the cables. Working on multiple projects that call for the same needle size? Use the included endcaps to safely store your project as you start the next.

Our nickel-plated needles have a slick, glass-like surface which allows your stitches to move freely while the hollow brass tube is extremely lightweight for hours of comfortable knitting.

Pattern

The pattern is Little Coffee Bean by Elizabeth Smith.  You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

I followed the pattern as written until I got to the sleeves.  I changed to size 4 needles because I prefer it when the sleeves are not so wide and roomy.  After I knit 3 sets of stripes, I k2tog the first 2 stitches and the last 2 stitches of the round to bring the stitch count to 32.

When I got to the wristband, I decreased evenly to 24 stitches.  Then I k1, p1 for the wristband for 5 rows, then bound off.

Next time I make this sweater I will make the sleeves about 30 stitches and decrease to 24 stitches at the end.

Here is the sweater before I added the sleeves and waistband:

I ordered the Silver Buffalo Nickel buttons from Buttons.com.  Aren’t they so cute?  I think buttons add so much to a cardigan.

Newborn Stocking Cap Pattern

This little stocking cap is striped like the sweater.  I thought it would be fun to make it a little longer with a pompom, just like an old fashioned stocking cap.

Using the Main Color (MC) of the Little Coffee Bean Sweater, cast on 48 stitches.  Be sure your gauge is 4 stitches to 1″ for a 12″ diameter 0-3 months hat.  If you want to make it bigger, simply add 4 more stitches for each size.

Purl one row and join in the round.

K1 TBL, P1 * repeat to end of round (TBL means ‘through the back loop’)

Continue until ribbing is 3/4″.

Knit one row.

Change to Contrasting Color (CC) and knit 2 rows.

Change to MC and knit 2 rows.

Continue until hat measures 5″ long.

Change needles for Magic Loop or DPN‘s, whichever you prefer.

Change colors and keep in 2 row striping pattern.

K2, K2tog * repeat to end of round

Knit 3 rounds, remembering to change colors for stripes.

K1, K2tog * repeat to end of round

Knit 3 rounds, changing colors for stripes

K2tog * repeat to end of round

Knit 3 rounds, changing colors for stripes

Cut yarn, use a tapestry needle to thread thru remaining stitches and pull tight.  Secure.

Weave in ends.

Make a pompom!

Big Brother Matching Hat

Pick a circular 16″ needle that gives you a 4 stitches/inch gauge.  Most knitters would use a 7 or 8 for the worsted weight hobby lobby yarn that I used for this project.  Gauge is important!

Cast on 60 stitches with MC.  Do not join in the round yet.

Knit for 3″ in garter stitch (knit every row).  Join in the round and knit 1 row.

Next row: Increase by 4 stitches evenly for a total of 64 stitches on the needles.

Knit 1 more row.

Change to CC and knit 3 rows.

Change to MC and knit 3 rows.

Change to CC and knit 3 rows.

Change to MC and knit 3 rows.

Change to CC and knit 3 rows.

Change to MC and knit 3 rows.

Change to CC and K2, k2tog

Knit 2 rows

Change to MC and k1, k2tog * repeat to end

Knit 1 row

k2tog * repeat to end

Knit 1 row

Cut yarn, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.  Secure and weave in ends.

Seam the 3″ brim.

Make a pompom!

After finishing up the sweater and beanies, I headed over to the Etsy site and ordered some clothes for the new baby.  How cute are these leggings?

I hope you have enjoyed reading about knitting this little cardigan and matching hats.  If you’d like to save this for another day, go ahead and pin it now!