Little Squares Baby Cardi

A new baby jacket, the Little Squares Baby Cardi, inspired by the Little Squares Scarf.  (And hello to all the visitors from Vanessa's space, please leave me a note, I'd love to visit your blogs!).  In case we have a girl, I wanted her to have an Easter sweater, since Little Guy got one his first Easter.  And in case of a boy, he will get to wear a handmade hand-me-down!

 

This is sized for a newborn, and was really fun to make!  You could easily adapt this to make it larger, you basically just add more squares!  Let me explain how you can make your own:

Finished jacket measurements: 16" around the chest, approximately newborn

The jacket is crocheted in individual squares which are seamed together to create one back, two fronts, and two sleeves, which are then sewn together for the sweater.  Each square measures 1 1/4", using a size G crochet hook, and DK weight yarn, in this case Rowan Handknit DK.  I used six different shades, and just randomly made my squares.

For this jacket, you will need to make 90 squares; this seems like a lot, but they go so quickly, you could easily make enough in two evenings worth of time.

Make a square as follows:

Make a slip knot, chain 4, slip stitch into first chain to join into a ring.

Chain 4, 3 dc (double or treble crochet).

Chain 2, 3 dc.

Chain 2, 3 dc.

Chain 2, 2 dc, join into 3rd chain at beginning of round with a slip stitch, and bind off.

That's it!  Now make 89 more:)

Now you will create your jacket pieces using the squares.  Each sleeve will be 3 squares x 5 squares.  Each front will be 4 squares x 4 squares.  The back is 4 squares x 7 squares.  Lay your squares out in a colorful arrangement that looks pleasing to you.

Get to seaming: this can be a little fiddly at first, but is very easy once you get the hang of it.  I like to seam as follows:

 

Start at #1 and work your way to the left; in this diagram, you will be joining the blue square to the above purple square.  Proceed down the row, joining the brown square above the green square.  Only the tops and bottoms of the squares will be seamed, you will go back later and seam the sides together.  Follow the arrows and numbers to seam your squares together.  Then weave all your ends in.  

Once your pieces are complete, lay your two fronts on top of the wrong side of the back, matching the sides.  One row of the fronts should overlap in the middle.  Seam at the shoulders, joining just the side two squares of the fronts, leaving three squares open for the back neck, and two on each front for the front necks.  Now, take your sleeves, find the center, and place it at the shoulder seam.  Pin and seam the sleeves to the fronts and backs.  Then, seam at the underarms.

Your jacket is complete!  You can add a button at the top neck if you want using the hole that is already created in the square, or you can leave it open.

Make one for your favorite girl-baby for Easter!

Comments

[vanessa]

Oh WOW! This is so exciting to see! I love what you've done with the little squares, absolutely LOVE it! I'm so impressed, and so flattered you were inspired by my little squares scarf to make this gorgeous baby jacket, the thought of it leading to this is just wonderful. I'll put a link to this post of yours in my blog post today. And congratulations on the birth of your little girl, will we ever get to see a photo of her wearing her jacket? I hope so. I imagine you're going to get lots of people making this little jacket, it's a real gem.
Love Vanessa xxx

[Petit Filoux]

That is so so pretty!! Oh what will it take to make buy a crochet hook and learn how to crochet??!!!

[gill]

i love your little squares jacket - so sweet!!
gill
ps i came over from vanessa (doyoumindifiknit) so expect lots of visitors won't you!!

[jude]

oh..wow..my daughter is expecting in June, guess what I may have to make one....it's beautiful..thanks for sharing and good luck.

[Catherine]

I just came over from Vanessa...wow...the jacket is GORGEOUS!!!!!! I also love the rest of your blog! Glad I dropped by. Cx

[Bibliosophy]

Thanks, Vanessa!

[Barbara]

I just found your blog via Vanessa and love the little cardigan so much, the design and the gorgeous colors, thank you for sharing, so very pretty and dainty!

[Isolde]

What a sweet little cardigan.
Wish you good last weeks of your pregnancy !!!

[Lynne]

Hi, I've just come over from Vanessa's. What a beautiful jacket! Truly scrumptious, and the colours, and the way it goes with the dress, very scrummy.
I love the colours in your art work as well. In fact I thought the scissors were real. I wish I could draw.

[Jak]

Hi, I too, popped over from Vanessa's. The jacket is sooooooo cute and I love the colours. I hope everthing goes OK with the baby.
Jak x

[Joyce Stewart]

Lovely little jacket...congratultions on the new arrival.

[jelibe]

I really love your little squares cardi. It's sooo cute. I maybe making this for my sister if she is having a girl. We'll be finding out in a few weeks, so fingers crossed :D
In the meantime I posted a link to this on my fb page so she can see it :D
jelibe-spritegirl.blogspot.com is my blog.
jelibee is my twitter

[Jill]

I'm yet another visitor directed here from Vanessa's blog - I'm loving your little cardie - here's to hoping that you have a little girl so that she may enjoying wearing it and you can admire your handiwork.
Wishing you all the best for the remainder of your pregnancy.

[Nicola]

Another one from Vanessa's blog. Very cute cardigan. Would love to have you visit my blog at nicolaknits.wordpress.com

[Janice Perkin]

this is sooooooo cute1 - iam waiting for my first grand daughter any day now and might do her one too - good luck - i wonder who will arrive first!

[Bibliosophy]

Thanks for visiting!  If you end up making the cardi, do let me know!

[Bibliosophy]

Thanks Jill; and I love the name of your blog!

[Bibliosophy]

Thanks for visiting!

[Bibliosophy]

Congratulations, Janice!  Ill bet youre ready for her with lots of pink!

[Bibliosophy]

Thank you!

[Bibliosophy]

Thank you for the nice compliments!

[Bibliosophy]

Thank you for your well wishes!

[Baa-me Kniits]

oh that is so lovely.....I was inspired by Vanessa to make a scarf ( it is on the list of To Do ) and your jacket is so lovely I will have to give one a go! My sister in law is expecting a new baby at the end of the month so if she is a girl I know what I can send....Thankyou for sharing, my blog is www.baamekniits.blogspot.com Jenni

[Rohaise]

I just love this. I need to adapt it to suit a 3 year old!! I too came over here from Vanessa's blog. I do hope you do have a girl - she will look absolutely lovely in this.

[Bibliosophy]

Good to have you visit; congrats about your new niece or nephew!