Thick and lofty, this child’s saddle-shoulder cardigan features a modified brioche rib pattern that flows horizontally across the shoulder saddles and vertically down the body and sleeves. The airy brioche stitch pattern is worked with two different needle sizes—a smaller needle for right-side rows, which alternate knit one (in the row below the needle) and purl one, and then a larger needle for wrong-side rows, which are purled. 

The sweater begins with the shoulder saddles from which stitches are picked up for the back, and then the upper back is worked down to the armholes. Stitches are picked up along the other side of the saddles for the fronts, which are worked separately down to the armholes At the underarms, the fronts and back are joined, and the lower body is worked in one piece to the lower edge. The sleeve caps begin with stitches picked up around the armholes and are shaped with short-rows, then the sleeves are tapered to the cuffs in rows.

The only seams between the sleeve cuffs and underarms. The edges are worked in a single rib pattern in which the larger needle is used for all rows or rounds. 

Instructions are given for placing the buttonholes on either the left front (for males) or right front (for females).

Finished Measurement: About 27 (29, 30 1/2, 33 1/4, 35 1/4)“ (68.5 73.5, 77.5, 84.5, 89.5 cm) chest circumference, buttoned with 1” (2.5 cm) front bands overlapped. To fit approximately 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years. Sweater shown in the smallest size.
Yarn: Julie Asselin Leizu DK (90% superwash Merino, 10% silk; 260 yards 238 meters/4 oz 115 grams): 3 (4, 4, 5, 6) skeins.
Needles: Size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) for right-side rows and size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm) for wrong-side rows and edgings.
Notions: Stitch holders; markers; removable markers; tapestry needle; six (six, six, seven, seven) 5/8” (1.5 cm) buttons; sharp-point sewing needle and matching thread.
Gauge: 20.5 stitches and 48 rows = 4” (10 cm) in modified brioche stitch, after blocking.