vanilla baby pattern from Ravelry

This pattern says it’s knit from the top down. I’m knitting size 4-6. The pattern says to cast on 60 stitches then [make three rows of garter stitch]. The fourth row is a buttonhole row. I’m doing this, but it seems like this will make a huge neckline. It is big enough for my adult-size neck! Am I knitting the neck line or am I knitting the lapel? Maybe my gauge is off–way off. This pattern is in garter stitch and the gauge is 16sts=4 inches. I measured the gauge in stocking knit since the pattern didn’t specify that the gauge was in garter stitch.

Hello

This design just does have a wide neck. If you look at the projects on ravelry where the cardigan is being worn they all show a wide neck and the clothes beneath can be seen at the neckline (there is also a pic of an older child the neck almost reaches the shoulders).
A baby head width is around 15.5 inches at this age and that’s about adult size neck. The baby’s neck will be a lot smaller. As it’s a cardigan it doesn’t need to fit over the head but is big enough to be put on without undoing the buttons.
I think you are going the right way for this design. If you wanted a design with a more fitted look on the collar then I would choose a different design.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the information about toddler heads :smile: and the encouragement. I have proceeded with the sweater and am now working on the sleeves. I’m knitting them simultaneously using a long circular needle. Also, I’m using the Portuguese knitting style. In Portuguese knitting, garter stitch = purl every row. This worked for the body but is not working for the sleeves. I’m getting reverse stockinette instead of garter stitch. Any idea what happened and how to achieve a true garter stitch?

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Working two sleeves at a time (two cardigan fronts, too) is a clever way to make sure the two are the same. Just be sure to finish both the row on both sleeves ratheer than putting down your work between the two sleeves.
Did you inadvertanly relax into knitting and start alternating knit and purl rows? Purling every row should give you garter stitch. You’re working the sleeves flat, that is knitting back and forth not working them in the round like two at a time socks?
Maybe seeing a photo of the front and back of the sleeve will help us.

You’re working the sleeves in the round, correct? Whatever knitting style you use in the round garter stitch is alternating knit and purl rounds.

I did a baby sweater from a pattern and the neck was too small. I agree this one seems a bit large. I liked Portuguese knitting except it made my thumb sore.

Thanks for your response. I know I did not alternate knit and purl rows because I love the easy Portuguese purl method. I’m including a photo. I worked in a circle using separate balls for each sleeve so that the sleeves would not become connected. I started purling at the armpit of the first sleeve and continued purling clockwise around the first sleeve. Then I started the second sleeve at the armpit and purled counterclockwise to the bottom of the second sleeve. Is this working in the round? I didn’t connect the sleeves, so I didn’t think I was working in the round. I’ve worked in the round to make hats, but never socks so I’m not sure now if I worked flat or in the round, lol. I’m sending a picture showing the front of the sweater, the outside of the first sleeve, the outside of the second sleeve, and the inside of the second sleeve. Hope it makes things clearer.

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I apologize for the giant pictures. Just click on the image to see reasonbly sized better images.

No problem with the photos. Each sleeve knit with separate balls of yarn is in the round and that’s the reason for the reverse stockinette. As GG mentioned, when you want to knit garter stitch in the round you need to alternate one round of knit with one round of purl on each sleeve. That will give you garter stitch.
It’s a very pretty knit, nice and even. It’ll look adorable on some lucky baby!

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Well you’ve just blown my mind with this knitting two sleeves at once, in the round, on one circular needle! I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight after seeing that. I can’t even knit one sleeve in the round.
Try not to mention this to me again.

The cardigan looks lovely. The rev stockinette on the sleeve looks like a nice design feature and no one will ever know any different.

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