Holger Cardigan - Petite Knit (Child 8ply)

The Holger Cardigan is a beautifully practical children’s cardigan with a relaxed, oversized fit and playful stripe detailing. It is worked from the top down, allowing you to adjust the length as you knit and making it ideal for growing kids.

The body is worked flat in stockinette stitch with stripes, while the sleeves, front plackets, and neckline are worked in solid colours for contrast. Shoulder shaping is created using short rows in the back yoke for a comfortable fit, before the fronts and back are joined at the underarms. Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round, and the cardigan is finished with a ribbed neckline and front bands with buttonholes.

This design is both hard-wearing and cosy, making it an excellent everyday layer for cooler climates.

Size & Fit

The Holger Cardigan is designed with approximately 20–25 cm of positive ease, giving it an intentionally roomy, comfortable fit.

Sizes:
1–2 (2–3) 3–4 (4–5) 5–6 (6–7) 7–8 (8–9) 9–10 (10–11) 11–12 (12–14) years

Finished chest circumference:
72 (74) 78 (82) 82 (86) 88 (92) 96 (98) 104 (108) cm

Length (mid back, excluding neck edge):
36 (38) 42 (43) 45 (48) 49 (50) 52 (53) 54 (56) cm

Gauge

20 stitches × 30 rows = 10 × 10 cm
in stockinette stitch on 4 mm needles, after washing and blocking.

Needles

• 4 mm circular needles (60 or 80 cm)

• 3.5 mm circular needles (40–80 cm)

• 3.5 mm and 4 mm double-pointed needles (or Magic Loop)

Yarn Information (Important – Read This)

This pattern was originally designed using a basic, robust Norwegian wool yarn — the kind made for daily wear, durability, and warmth.

That makes it an excellent match for New Zealand and Australian pure wool yarns, which perform beautifully in our climates and hold up well to real life with kids.

Recommended Yarn Type

• 8-ply / DK / light worsted

• Pure wool (or wool-dominant blend)

• Approx. 90–110 metres per 50 g

• Good elasticity and stitch definition

• Not overly soft or drapey — this is a structured, practical cardigan

NZ and Australian wools are particularly well suited to this pattern.

Yarn Quantities (Converted to Metres)

The Holger Cardigan uses 7 colours total:

• striped body colours

• solid colours for sleeves, plackets, neckline, and hem

Quantities below are approximate metreage per colour.

Stripe colours (body) – each colour

• 1–2 yrs: ~120 m

• 2–3 yrs: ~135 m

• 3–4 yrs: ~145 m

• 4–5 yrs: ~155 m

• 5–6 yrs: ~165 m

• 6–7 yrs: ~190 m

• 7–8 yrs: ~205 m

• 8–9 yrs: ~215 m

• 9–10 yrs: ~230 m

• 10–11 yrs: ~245 m

• 11–12 yrs: ~260 m

• 12–14 yrs: ~275 m

(Multiply by the number of stripe colours you choose.)

Solid colour – sleeves (each sleeve colour)

• ~60–140 m per colour, depending on size

Solid colour – neck edge & front plackets

• ~70–90 m total

Solid colour – rib hem

• ~45–70 m

Tip: If simplifying colours, you can combine neck, plackets, and hem in one solid colour.

Buttons

• 5 buttons

• Approx. 18 mm diameter

Difficulty

★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5)

Suitable for confident knitters comfortable with top-down construction, short rows, and colour changes.

Wool Shop Note

This cardigan was designed around a workhorse Scandinavian wool, not a luxury yarn. A good NZ or Australian 8-ply pure wool is not just a substitute — it’s an excellent, climate-appropriate choice that will wear beautifully and last.