Azra Cardigan in Berroco Remix Light - Downloadable PDF

Azra Cardigan in Berroco Remix Light — Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The Azra Cardigan, designed by Åsa Buchta and published by Berroco, is a sweet, easy-to-knit baby cardigan sized for infants from 3 months through 24 months. It features a clean, classic silhouette with set-in-style sleeves and a single button closure at the neckline. The pattern is thoughtfully designed so the buttonhole can be placed on either the right front (traditionally for girls) or the left front (traditionally for boys), making it a wonderfully versatile handmade gift or wardrobe staple for any new baby. Finished chest measurements range from 18 inches (45.5 cm) at the smallest size up to 22 inches (56 cm) at the largest, with lengths ranging from approximately 8½ inches to 10¾ inches depending on size.

Construction Method

The Azra Cardigan is worked flat — meaning back and forth in rows rather than in the round — which makes it particularly approachable for beginner and newer knitters who are still building confidence with their craft. The construction follows a clever top-down-adjacent approach: knitting begins at the lower back, works upward, then additional stitches are cast on at each side to form the sleeves. The fronts are then divided at the neckline and worked downward. Once all pieces are complete, the sleeves and side seams are seamed together using a tapestry needle, giving the finished cardigan a neat, structured finish. This seamed construction also adds durability, which is especially practical for baby garments that will be laundered frequently.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter Stitch: The entire cardigan is worked in garter stitch — knitting every row on both the right side and the wrong side. This produces a fabric with a distinctive ridged texture that lies flat without curling, making it ideal for a garment worked flat without borders or edging. Garter stitch is one of the most beginner-friendly stitch patterns in knitting, requiring only the knit stitch.
• Flat Knitting: All pieces are worked back and forth in rows, making this accessible to knitters who are not yet comfortable with circular knitting techniques.
• Sleeve Shaping via Cast-On: Sleeves are shaped by casting on a large number of stitches at the beginning of two consecutive rows, a straightforward technique that avoids complex shaping math.
• Dividing for Fronts: The neckline is created by dividing stitches and working each front section separately, a simple technique that introduces knitters to the concept of working on a subset of stitches.
• Buttonhole Placement: A single buttonhole is worked into one of the front bands, with the pattern offering flexibility on which side it is placed.
• Seaming: Sleeve and side seams are joined using a tapestry needle, introducing beginner knitters to the essential finishing skill of seaming.
• Blocking: The pattern specifies that gauge should be measured after blocking, making wet or steam blocking an important finishing step for achieving accurate sizing.

Materials — Yarn

The pattern calls for Berroco Remix Light, a DK weight yarn, in colorway #6901 Birch. Berroco Remix Light is a unique recycled blend yarn known for its soft, slightly heathered appearance and its eco-conscious composition. It is sold in 100-gram balls, and most sizes of the Azra Cardigan require only one ball, with the largest size (24 months) requiring two balls — making this an economical project as well as a quick one. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in size 3 months.

Materials — Needles and Notions

• Knitting Needles: Size US 4 / 3.5 mm straight or flat needles, or the size needed to achieve gauge.
• Gauge: 22 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in garter stitch, measured after blocking.
• Waste