Totora Baby Jacket Pattern

The Totora Cardigan is an ideal project for beginners in garment crochet. It is worked from the yoke in one piece, and then the sleeves are added. The result is a light, fluffy cardigan with a beautiful mottled effect.

🎥 Follow the step-by-step video tutorial at the bottom of this page

✨ Materials

• Baby yarn.
• Crochet hook 3 mm (for crocheting the garment).
• Crochet hook 4 mm (only for casting on initial chains, so they don't get too tight).
• 3 buttons, 2cm.
• Other accessories: stitch markers, tapestry needle for finishing ends, scissors, sewing needle.

📐 Sizes

The pattern is available in four sizes:

• 0-3 months -> 1 skein
• 3-6 months -> 1 skein
• 6-9 months -> 2 skeins
• 9-12 months -> 2 skeins

Throughout the pattern, stitches and rows are indicated by size in that order, followed by "/". For example, if "crochet 4/6/8/10 stitches" is indicated, for size 0-3m, 4 stitches should be crocheted; for size 3-6m, 6 stitches should be crocheted; for size 6-9m, 8 stitches should be crocheted; for size 9-12m, 10 stitches should be crocheted.

📐 Gauge swatch

With a 3 mm crochet hook, my swatch in 10x10cm in double crochet is:

• 16 stitches
• 9 rows

It is important to check your gauge. If you crochet tighter or looser, you can try a larger or smaller hook to match the swatch.

Step-by-step

1. Yoke (top of the cardigan)

• With the 4 mm hook, chain 54/59/64/70 stitches.
• Change to the 3 mm hook.
• Distribute the stitches by placing markers to separate the yoke sections:
  • 7/8/9/10 chains → front
  • 1 marker
  • 10/11/12/13 chains → shoulder
  • 1 marker
  • 16/17/18/20 chains → back
  • 1 marker
  • 10/11/12/13 chains → shoulder
  • 1 marker
  • 7/8/9/10 chains → front

• Work in double crochet for 7/9/9/9 rows with the following considerations:
  • At the beginning of each row, chain 2 stitches, which do not count as a stitch.
  • At each marker (raglan), work the following: 1 double crochet + 1 chain + 1 double crochet in the same stitch → this will be your raglan increase.
  • Note that in each row you will increase 8 stitches (2 for each raglan).
  • At the end of the last row, you will have 110/131/136/142 stitches in total.

2. Body

• Next, we will join the armholes to continue with the body (we will leave the sleeves for later). To do this, we continuously work the front, back, and other front. Here's how to work this joining row step-by-step:
  • Work 14/17/18/19 double crochet stitches (front).
  • Work 1 double crochet in the raglan. Work 1 double crochet in the next raglan (skipping the sleeve without working).
  • Work 30/35/36/38 double crochet stitches (back).
  • Work 1 double crochet in the raglan. Work 1 double crochet in the next raglan (skipping the sleeve without working).
  • Work 14/17/18/19 double crochet stitches (front).
• At the end of this joining row, you will have the body of the cardigan with 62/73/76/80 double crochet stitches.
• Work a total of 11/12/13/14 rows in double crochet (including the joining row).

3. Cardigan edge

Once the body is complete, your crochet will be at the bottom corner of one front. With the right side of the garment facing you, work a complete row of single crochet around the entire inner edge (front, neck, and the other front) with the following considerations:

• At the neck corners, work: single crochet + 1 chain + single crochet in the same stitch to make the turn smooth and rounded.
• When going up and down the sides (where the double crochet stitches are laid flat): work 2 single crochet stitches around each double crochet stitch.
• When you reach the end, chain 1 and close with a slip stitch into the next stitch for a clean finish.

4. Sleeves

• Pick up the stitches of one sleeve (the ones left on hold).
• Start from the back raglan of the armhole.
• Work as follows:
  • 1 double crochet in the first raglan.
  • All stitches on hold for the sleeve (24/29/30/31 double crochet stitches).
  • 1 double crochet in the next raglan.
  • Add 1 extra double crochet in the gap between the two raglan stitches.
    
• Work 8/9/9/10 rows of double crochet (including this first row), with the following considerations:
  • Work in rows (not in the round), just as we did for the body.
  • Remember to chain 2 at the beginning of each row (which do not count as a stitch).
  • Close each row with a slip stitch in the first stitch, turn your work, and continue.
  • Place a marker in the first and last stitch of each row to keep track.
• At the cuff, finish with 1 row of slip stitch on the right side.
• Repeat the same for the other sleeve.

5. Finishing

To finish your cardigan, use a tapestry needle to weave in all the remaining yarn ends among the stitches, making sure they are well secured and not visible on the right side of the work.

Next, sew three buttons on the front, spacing them evenly opposite the buttonholes we left.

6. Blocking and garment care

Washing: machine wash max. 30ºC
Drying: lay flat to maintain shape (do not tumble dry)
Do not iron

🎉 And you're done!

You have now finished your Totora Cardigan. A lightweight, practical, and very special garment for babies, perfect for beginners who want to move on to garments with yokes and sleeves.

🎥 Follow the step-by-step video tutorial: