Newborn

Vertebrae

Newborn Vertebrae is a frontless cardy

one size only – newborn (approximately 3.5kg - 4.5kg birthweight)
4ply/fingering weight yarn

page 1
 Pattern information
WHY CHOOSE A FRONTLESS CARDY?
Newborn Vertebrae is a frontless cardy to keep your little ones back and arms warm. If you have ever
been mama to a bub with reflux (or just a spilly babe) you will understand how frustrating it is to keep
washing the dirty fronts of cardigans and sweaters.
Newborn Vertebrae is most perfect for baby wearing, and sharing skin to skin cuddles with your
newborn.

CONSTRUCTION SIZING
Newborn Vertebrae is cast on at the neckline. The To fit a newborn with birthweight of 3.5kg - 4.5kg
upper back, and top half of the sleeves are all (or 7lb - 10lb in the imperial system)
worked in one piece (initially flat) utilising raglan finished sleeve length
shaping, until a specific stitch count is obtained. of garment: 12cm
From here the arm stitches are put onto waste (from underarm to cast off edge)

yarn (or a stitch holder) and the body finished.

Once the body is completed the sleeves are finished body length
returned to the needles and worked in the round. of garment: 25cm
Finally, stitches that frame the body of the knit are (from top of shoulder to cast off edge)

picked up and ribbed edging is knit on.

You will need to know how to:
cast off in a loose manner (important for ribbing)
knit small circumferences in the round (sleeves)
pick up stitches (for ribbed edging which frames the body)
work top down raglan construction
If you are not familiar with these techniques you may need
to reference a knitting guide book, or view videos on the
internet.
GAUGE/TENSION (in stocking stitch, blocked)
28sts/10cm on 3.25mm needles
finished chest circumference of garment: 41cm
(worn with a small amount of positive ease)
NEEDLES
3.25mm and 2.75mm needles
or size required to obtain gauge, plus one 2 sizes smaller
The larger sized needle is used for the chest, body, and upper sleeves. This
can be either a pair of flat needles, or a circular needle of any length. Plus
you will need double pointed needles or a long circular needle for working
the small circumference sleeves in the round.
The smaller sized needle is used for the body ribbed hem and body edging.
For comfort, this should be a circular needle of at least 60cm in length. Plus
you will need double pointed needles or a long circular needle for working
the small circumference sleeve ribbing in the round.

To achieve fit as per pattern it is important to achieve the

stitch gauge. The row gauge is not as important, as lengths NOTIONS REQUIRED
are provided in the pattern to knit to rather than a specific 4 stitch markers, tape measure, scissors,
number of rows. darning needle (for sewing in ends)

YARN REQUIREMENTS ABBREVIATIONS

Please select yarns that are soft for wear against a baby's k - knit p - purl RS – Right Side of work
delicate skin. This pattern is suitable for use with plant or
animal fibres kfb - knit into the front and back of a stitch
(an increase)
4PLY/FINGERING WEIGHT YARN (100g/350-400m) sl1p - slip 1 stitch as if to purl
up to 1 skein (approx. 0.5 skein) WS – Wrong Side of work

Newborn designed by Kelly van Niekerk

Vertebrae published 2011, re-published 2018 page 2
 Pattern instructions
PART A: Upper back & upper sleeves
Using larger needle, cast on 45 stitches
Row 1 (WS): purl all stitches
Row 2 – marker placement row (RS):
kfb, place marker, kfb, k9, kfb, place marker, kfb, k19,
kfb, place marker, kfb, k9, kfb, place marker, kfb
(2 / 13 / 23 / 13 / 2) (53)
Row 3 (WS): purl all stitches
Row 4 (RS): kfb, k1, slip marker, kfb, k11, kfb,
slip marker, kfb, k21, kfb, slip marker, kfb, k11, kfb,
slip marker, kfb, k1 (3 / 15 / 25 / 15 / 3) (61)
Row 5 (WS): purl all stitches
Row 6 (RS): kfb, k2, slip marker, kfb, k13, kfb,
slip marker, kfb, k23, kfb, slip marker, kfb, k13, kfb,
slip marker, k1, kfb, k1 (4 / 17 / 27 / 17 / 4) (69)
Row 7 (and all WS/odd rows): purl all stitches
Row 8 (RS): knit to first marker, slip marker, (kfb,
knit to 1 stitch before next marker, kfb, slip marker)
work stitches within ( ) 3 times in total, then knit to
end of row
(stitch count increases by 6 stitches every RS row)
Repeat Rows 7 & 8 until you have 159 stitches on
your needles, divided as follows: 4 / 47 / 57 / 47 / 4
End having just worked a Row 7 (WS/odd row)
Sleeve separation row (RS): k4, remove first
marker. Place the 47 stitches between the removed
marker and the next marker (left sleeve) onto waste
yarn.
Remove this marker, and k57 to the next marker.
Remove this marker. Place the 47 stitches between
this removed marker and the next marker (right
sleeve) onto waste yarn.
Remove final marker, and k4 to end of row.
65 stitches live on needles
47 stitches on each piece of waste yarn
PART B: Body
Work in stocking stitch (knit on RS rows, purl on WS
rows) until body measures approximately 22.5cm
from the top of the shoulder.
End having just worked a RS/knit row.
Newborn
Vertebrae
PART C: Body hem
Change to smaller needle. If using a contrast
colour for the ribbed edgings, also change now.
Set up row (WS): purl all stitches
Row 1 (RS): k2, (p1, k1) repeat stitches within ( )
until 1 stitch remains, k1
Row 2 (WS): p2 (k1, p1) repeat stitches within ( )
until 1 stitch remains, p1
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until the ribbed body hem
measures approximately 2.5cm
Cast off loosely using larger needle, in the
established rib pattern
PART D: Sleeves
Return the 47 stitches (do not knit) from one piece of
waste yarn to the larger needle
The sleeve will be worked in the round, so the sleeve stitches
should be worked on double pointed needles, or with a long
circular needle for “magic loop”
Pick up and knit 1 stitch from the base of the
armhole (the underarm or armpit area), placing a stitch
marker between this stitch and the other stitches.
Knit across stitches already on the needle (which you
released from the waste yarn) until you reach the stitch
marker. Your work should be joined in the round
48 stitches stitch marker indicates the start/end of the sleeve round
Work in Stocking Stitch (knit all stitches, for every
round) until the sleeve measures approximately
10cm from the underarm (or armpit area)
You may choose to work some decreases on the underside
of the sleeve for a more tapered, slimmer fit sleeve.
designed by Kelly van Niekerk
published 2011, re-published 2018 page 3
PART D: Sleeves continued
Change to smaller needle. If using a contrast
colour for the ribbed edgings, also change now.
Knit one round
Work in 1x1 ribbing (k1, p1, across all stitches in the
round) for 2-3cm
Cast off loosely using larger needle, in the
established rib pattern
Repeat instructions for second sleeve
PART E: Body ribbed edging
Using smaller needle, pick up and knit 3 of every 4
stitches along the ‘raw’ edge of knitting (framing the
body opening), and stitch for stitch along the cast on
edge (back of neck). This should be an even number.
Work in 1x1 ribbing for approximately 3cm
Cast off using larger needle, in the established rib
pattern
FINISHING
Sew in all ends. There may be a small hole
beneath each armhole; use the yarn tail that you
will be sewing in this area to close any gap.
Wash in a gentle wool wash, then lay flat and in
shape to dry (blocking). You will need to pin the
body ribbed edging flat to dry (it has a tendency to
curl towards the neckline)
Newborn
Vertebrae
Baby Vertebrae, Kiddy Vertebrae,
& Mama Vertebrae
So you’ve enjoyed knitting the Newborn Vertebrae,
but your baby is getting too big to squeeze in any
longer?
Visit www.ravelry.com/designers/kelly-van-niekerk
to find more information about the comprehensive
versions of Newborn Vertebrae; more sizes (from
newborn up to adult), and written for more than one
yarn weight
Newborn
Vertebrae
a knitting pattern designed by Kelly van Niekerk
©2011 Kelly van Niekerk all rights reserved
re-published 2018
Need pattern support/assistance? visit
www.ravelry.com/groups/pekapekadesign-studio
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#NewbornVertebrae
designed by Kelly van Niekerk
published 2011, re-published 2018 page 4
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