🧶 Crochet Baby Cardigan (12–18 Months)

Sure! Here’s a detailed guide on how to crochet a cardigan for a 12- to 18-month-old baby girl, suitable for intermediate beginners and up. It includes measurements, yarn recommendations, stitch patterns, and step-by-step construction instructions.

🧶 Crochet Baby Cardigan (12–18 Months)

📏 Finished Size (approximate):

Chest: 20–21 inches (51–53 cm)
Length: 10–11 inches (25–28 cm)
Sleeve length: 8–9 inches (20–23 cm)

🧵 Materials Needed:

Yarn: DK (Double Knitting) or Light Worsted Weight Yarn (Category 3)
(Approx. 300–400 yards)
- Recommended fiber: Cotton or cotton blend for softness
Hook size: 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Buttons (optional): 3–5 small (½-inch) buttons

🧶 Gauge:

16 double crochet stitches x 10 rows = 4″ x 4″ (10 x 10 cm)

🪡 Stitches & Abbreviations (US Terms):

ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
inc – increase (2 dc in same stitch)
dec – decrease (dc2tog)

🧩 Construction Style:

We will use a top-down yoke construction — no seaming needed.

🧷 Instructions:

🧷 1. Yoke (Top Down):

Foundation Chain:
Ch 60 (adjustable, as multiples of 10 + 10)

Row 1:

Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. (You should have 57 dc)
Turn.

Row 2 (mark raglan points):

Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in next 8 sts, place stitch marker (PM) in next st (raglan point)
Dc in next 9 sts, PM in next st
Dc in next 19 sts, PM in next st
Dc in next 9 sts, PM in next st
Dc in remaining sts. (You should have 4 stitch markers placed)

Row 3–9:

Ch 2, dc until 1 st before marker, dc-inc in that stitch and in stitch after marker.
Repeat for each raglan point (increasing 8 sts per row).
Continue until you have:
- 22 dc for each front
- 36 dc for back
- 14 dc each for sleeves (or similar proportions)

🧷 2. Split for Body and Sleeves:

Row 10:

Work dc up to first marker (front)
Skip stitches between 1st and 2nd markers (sleeve), ch 4 (armhole), continue dc from 2nd to 3rd marker (back)
Skip next sleeve, ch 4, and finish front.

You should now have one continuous row for body only.

🧷 3. Body:

Rows 11–20 (or desired length):

Ch 2, dc in each stitch (including chains from underarm).
Optional: For the last 2–3 rows, switch to hdc or sc for a neater edge.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

🧷 4. Sleeves:

Attach yarn to underarm area.

Round 1:

Dc evenly around the armhole (approx. 28–30 sts), join with sl st.

Rounds 2–12 (or desired length):

Dc in each stitch around, join each round with sl st.
Optional: Decrease one stitch every 3–4 rounds to taper the sleeve.

Last 2 rounds: switch to hdc or sc for neat cuff.

Repeat for second sleeve.

🧷 5. Button Band / Front Border:

Attach yarn at bottom front edge.

Work 2–3 rows of sc up one side, across the neckline, and down the other front edge.
On second or third row, space out buttonholes (ch 2, skip 2 sts) every 1.5–2 inches.
Fasten off and weave in ends.