Pippa - Girl's heart and stripe cardigan

Pippa Girl's Heart and Stripe Cardigan

Garment Overview

Pippa is a charming girl's cardigan designed by Jennifer Lee, featuring a classic round neckline and decorative heart motifs. This knitted cardigan includes one heart on each front panel and two hearts positioned on the back, creating an adorable focal point. The design incorporates 1x1 striped rib bands throughout, adding visual interest and structure to the edges. The cardigan fastens with buttons down the front, making it practical and easy to put on and take off.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is constructed using an efficient one-piece knitting method for the body. The back and front panels are knitted together as a single piece up to the armholes, which streamlines the construction process and reduces the amount of seaming required. Set-in sleeves are then added to create a well-fitted garment that sits properly on the shoulders. This construction method is ideal for beginners as it minimizes finishing work while producing a professionally finished cardigan.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The primary stitch used throughout the cardigan is stocking stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. The 1x1 striped rib bands—featuring alternating knit and purl stitches in two colors—provide elastic edging around the neckline, front opening, and cuffs. The heart motifs are created using stranded colorwork technique, where two yarn colors are worked simultaneously. When knitting the hearts, colors are carried loosely across the wrong side rather than woven in, with colors caught in securely at the side edges to prevent loose floats.

Sizing and Fit

Pippa is available in four sizes accommodating children aged 1 to 6 years. Chest measurements range from 50cm (19¾ inches) for size 1 year up to 65cm (25½ inches) for size 6 years. The garment itself measures slightly larger for comfortable wearing, from 58cm (23 inches) to 74cm (29 inches) across the chest. Length varies from approximately 33cm (13 inches) for the smallest size to 48cm (19 inches) for the largest size. Sleeve lengths progress from 19cm (7½ inches) to 33cm (13 inches), accommodating growth across the age range.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn (also known as 8ply), specifically Lincraft 8ply DK, which knits at approximately 310 meters per 100g ball. Yarn requirements vary by size: the smallest size requires 2 balls of main color and 1 ball of contrast color, while larger sizes need 2-3 balls of main color and 1 ball of contrast color. The DK weight provides a lightweight, drapey fabric suitable for children's wear.

Tools and Notions

Construction requires a pair of 4.00mm knitting needles (UK size 8, US size 6), which are the appropriate size for achieving the correct tension with DK weight yarn. A stitch holder is necessary for holding stitches while working other sections, and a wool needle is needed for sewing seams and weaving in ends. The cardigan features 6 to 8 buttons depending on size, providing secure closure down the front opening.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10cm (4 inches) when working stocking stitch with 4.00mm needles. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their gauge matches these specifications, as variations in tension will affect the final garment dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Pippa is rated as an easy pattern, making it suitable for beginner knitters. The straightforward construction, simple stitch patterns, and minimal finishing requirements create an approachable project that builds confidence. While the pattern includes stranded colorwork for the hearts, the technique is introduced in an accessible way, and the instructions provide clear guidance on managing multiple colors without weaving them in.