There is something especially nice about knitting for a new baby!
The projects are small, the yarn can come straight from your stash, and you get to make something that feels genuinely useful for someone you care about.
A friend of mine recently had a baby, which gave me the perfect reason to cast on the Estrela d’Alva Baby Cardigan by Sandra Magalhães of Agasalhos e Bugalhos.
I made the 3-month size using a soft 100% alpaca DK-weight yarn that had been sitting in my stash, and this turned out to be such a sweet little project.
But the thing that surprised me most wasn’t really the finished cardigan, but it was the pattern itself!
The Estrela d’Alva Baby Cardigan Pattern
If you like a knitting pattern that explains everything, this one is worth looking at.
The Estrela d’Alva Baby Cardigan is a wrap-style, neutral baby cardigan worked primarily in garter stitch. It’s knit from the top down with drop shoulders, and the pattern includes optional short rows in the shoulders and sleeves to improve the fit.
Sandra rates the pattern for an advanced beginner, and I think that’s an important distinction.
The cardigan itself isn’t covered in complicated stitch patterns. Much of its charm comes from simple garter stitch and thoughtful construction. But there are enough techniques involved that a newer knitter can learn something while making it.
The pattern includes:
11 sizes from tiny preemie/newborn sizes through 18–24 months
step-by-step written instructions
photos for important construction steps
color-coded instructions for each size
metric and imperial measurements
optional short rows
instructions and video support for some techniques
yarn and needle recommendations
safety information for knitting baby garments
The PDF is very thorough. Mine was around 20 pages, and there are instructions and options throughout rather than leaving you to figure out the little details yourself.
For a tiny cardigan, there is a surprising amount of information packed into this pattern.
One Pattern, A Lot of Options
This was probably my favorite part!
Baby knitting can be tricky because babies don’t stay one size for very long, and every knitter has slightly different preferences for how they like to construct a garment.
Sandra gives you a lot of choices.
The pattern includes optional short-row shaping in the shoulders and sleeves, for example, so you can add some extra shaping rather than being locked into one exact construction method.
There are also an unusually large number of sizes.
The pattern starts with several newborn sizes based on approximate baby weights before moving into 0–1 month, 1–3 month, 3–6 month, 6–9 month, 9–12 month, 12–18 month and 18–24 month sizing.
That makes this one of those patterns I could easily see using again.
Instead of buying a pattern for one specific baby size, you have quite a bit of room to come back later and knit another.
The Size I Made
For this project, I chose the 3-month size for a friend who recently had a baby.
Baby knits are one of my favorite opportunities to use stash yarn because they simply don’t require the quantities of an adult sweater or shawl.
And this time, I already had exactly what I needed.
The Yarn: 100% Alpaca From Wayne Trace Farms
I used a 100% alpaca DK-weight yarn from Wayne Trace Farms that had been waiting in my stash.
Tracey from Wayne Trace Farms and I have crossed paths a few times at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan and through mutual fiber friends online, so it was especially nice to finally use this yarn for something meaningful.
Wayne Trace Farms is a family farm in Indiana that raises livestock with a particular focus on quality fiber. Their current sheep flock includes breeds such as Lincoln, Border Leicester, Romney and CVM/Romeldale, among others.
I believe this particular alpaca yarn is no longer available, or at least I couldn’t find the same yarn currently listed, so I wouldn’t send you searching for this exact skein.
And you really don’t need it to make this cardigan.
The important thing is finding a yarn that gives you the fabric and gauge you’re looking for.
What Yarn Does the Estrela d’Alva Cardigan Use?
The pattern calls for DK/sport-weight yarn and gives a gauge of:
24 stitches × 48 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in garter stitch
using US 4 / 3.5 mm needles.
There are a few suggested yarns within the pattern, but I found gauge relatively easy to obtain with any natural fiber DK weight yarns.
The pattern estimates approximately 190–550 meters (208–601 yards) depending on the size you’re knitting.
Rather than worrying too much about matching one particular yarn, I would focus on gauge and the fabric you’re creating.
Especially with a baby garment, think about how the finished yarn feels, how it will be cared for, and whether that makes sense for the person receiving it.
My alpaca created an incredibly soft little cardigan, although alpaca behaves differently than wool and requires different care. A washable wool or wool blend may be a more practical choice if easy laundering is important to the recipient.
Always swatch your specific yarn rather than assuming that every DK or sport yarn will behave the same way.
What You’ll Need
Along with your yarn, the pattern recommends:
US 4 / 3.5 mm needles — circular or straight needles can be used.
For the I-cord, you’ll need US 2.5 / 3 mm double-pointed needles, or Sandra gives the option of using a 3.5 mm crochet hook.
You’ll also want the usual notions: a tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape, stitch holders or scrap yarn, and detachable stitch markers.
Is This a Good Beginner Baby Knitting Pattern?
I would put this in the confident beginner category.
If you already know the basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to move beyond a very basic scarf or dishcloth, this could be a really satisfying next step.
You’ll encounter increases, decreases, garment construction and potentially short rows, depending on the options you choose.
But you aren’t just handed abbreviated instructions and expected to know what the designer means.
The detailed photos, written directions and tutorial support make the pattern feel much more approachable.
And because so much of the cardigan is garter stitch, there is still plenty of simple knitting between the parts that require a little more attention.
A Small Project With a Little More Meaning
I’ve talked a lot on Knitting Wellness about knitting being a tool - not a cure or an answer to everything.
This project was a good example of another part of knitting that I really value: it gives us a practical way to make something for another person.
A few skeins that had been sitting in my stash became a tiny cardigan for a friend’s new baby. It was simply a good yarn, a thoughtful pattern and a reason to make something for someone else!
If you’re looking for a baby cardigan knitting pattern, particularly one with very detailed instructions and a wide size range, the Estrela d’Alva is definitely one I’d keep in your Ravelry favorites.
And if you have a beautiful skein of soft DK or sport-weight yarn sitting in your stash without a plan yet, this might be a very good reason to finally use it.
This post is not sponsored. Pattern and yarn were purchased/owned by me unless otherwise noted. Some links on Knitting Wellness may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you.