Whether you need an easy crochet baby sweater pattern for a baby shower gift, you want to make handmade baby clothes for your own baby or just as great gift for a friend or family member you’re in the right place. My Evelyn Cardigan baby sweater crochet pattern is a beginner-friendly pattern that creates a beautifully textured baby sweater.
The free written pattern includes the instructions to make a cute little sweater in size 3 months. Looking for crocheted baby sweaters in larger sizes? The printable PDF version of the pattern contains instructions for 5 different sizes: 3 months through 24 months. Grab you copy in Ravelry and Etsy shops.
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I designed this baby crochet sweater pattern when a family member gave birth to a baby girl recently and I just couldn’t find a great pattern that just screamed “make me!”. I wanted something with lots of texture but used basic crochet stitches so it would work up quickly.
So I came up with a simple design for a long sleeve modern style baby sweater that has some great texture. The best thing about that texture is that it is super easy to create.
Make sure to click on the links in the abbreviation and special stitches sections to check out tutorials for those stitches if you need help.
Is This Sweater Just For Baby Girls?
Definitely not! While I’ve chosen to make my sweater in a solid color, you can definitely change it up by adding stripes or using a variegated yarn.
This doesn’t have to be limited to being made for a little girl either. It can easily be made for a baby boy, or gender neutral just by switching up the colors.
How Much Yarn Do I Need for Crochet Baby Sweaters?
I get this question a lot and the answer is: it depends. It depends on the yarn weight, your gauge and the stitch(es) that you’re using to make your crochet sweater.
My Evelyn baby sweater crochet pattern uses 2 balls of Mary Maxim Sunrise Yarn to make the 3 month size. If you’re looking for yardage, it uses 401 yards of DK weight yarn.
Below I’ve listed some yarn substitutions to consider if you don’t have access to Mary Maxim Sunrise yarn. Just make sure you can match the gauge in the pattern with it:
- Cascasdes Anthem DK
- Mary Maxim Lullabye
- Bernat Softee Baby – available at Michaels, Lovecrafts, Mary Maxim, and Yarnspirations
- King Cole Cherished Baby DK
- Stylecraft Bambino
- King Cole Big Value DK
When looking for a yarn, I suggest looking for a soft yarn in a DK weight and since new parents don’t have a ton of time for hand-washing, look for a yarn that is (ideally) machine washable.
Other Great Baby Crochet Patterns to Check Out
- Wander Often Baby Blanket – with video tutorial
- My Cuddle Bunny Lovey
- Snowella Snowman Hat
How is the Evelyn Baby Crochet Sweater Pattern Constructed?
This simple baby sweater is worked from the bottom-up. That means we start at the botom edge and work to the top of the sweater.
After crocheting the body of the sweater, we will crochet the front and back panels onto the body of the sweater to minimize sewing. The only seams you’ll sew in this pattern are the shoulders and the sleeves.
After completing the main portion of the sweater, we’ll make each of the sleeves and sew them on. Then we’ll attach our yarn to the front panels of the sweater to create our button and buttonhole bands.
Disclaimer:
Feel free to sell the finished product created by this free crochet pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com. Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form (including video tutorials), or claim this pattern as your own original design. Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items. This pattern is for personal use only.
Skill Level:
- Easy
Terminology:
- U.S. Terminology
- G/ 4.0 mm Crochet Hook (or whatever hook size needed to match gauge) – I used (and love) Furls Crochet Hooks
- Mary Maxim Sunrise (100% Premium Acrylic, DK (3), 218yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz), in color Desert Rose, 2 balls (approx 401 yds)
- 6 – 3/4” (19mm) Buttons – I used these buttons from Michaels
- Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle
- Multiple Stitch Markers
- Scissors
Abbreviations:
(Click the links to view a written/photo and video tutorial for that stitch)
- BPDC = Back Post Double Crochet
- CH = Chain
- DC = Double Crochet
- FO = Finish Off
- FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet
- PM = Place Marker/Stitch Marker
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right Side
- SC = Single Crochet
- SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease / Single Crochet 2 Stitches together
- SC3TOG = Single Crochet 3 Stitches Together
- SK = Skip
- SL ST = Slip Stitch
- ST(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS = Wrong Side
Special Stitches and Techniques:
- Single Crochet (SC) Join: With a slip knot already on the hook, insert hook into the designated stitch. YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through both loops on the hook. View my tutorial for the SC Join.
- Standing DC Stitch: With a slip knot already on the hook, YO and insert the hook into the designated stitch. YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through the first two loops on your hook. YO and pull through the remaining two loops on hook. View my tutorial for the Standing DC.
Finished Size(s):
- 3 Month (16″ chest measurement)
- Finished Chest Measurement – 19”
Gauge:
- Approx. 19 sts x 17 rows = 4”
Gauge Swatch:
- CH 30.
Row 1: (SC, DC) in the 2nd CH from the hook. SK 1, *(SC, DC) in the next CH, SK 1, rep from * across to last CH, SC in last ST.
Rows 2 – 26: CH 1 and turn. (SC, DC) in the first ST. SK 1, *(SC, DC) in the next ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST, SC in last ST.
Notes:
- Gauge is important for ensuring that the sweater will fit properly.
- This sweater is worked from the bottom-up. After creating the body of the sweater, we’ll attach the front and back panels to the body to minimize sewing.
- The fabric we’ll create is reversible so if you’re having a hard time distinguishing between the RS and WS, place a stitch marker on the RS to help keep track.
- The skipped 3 chains in Row 1 of the sweater count as a stitch.
- Rows that start with a CH 2, the CH 2 counts as the first stitch.
- SL STs are not counted as stitches in the stitch count.
- When a size is not included in the instructions an “x” will be used as a placeholder for that size. All rows with placeholders are indented to distinguish them from the rest of the pattern.
Grab a printable, ad-free PDF pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops that includes sizes 3 month through 24 months.
Video Tutorials To Check Out Before Making The Evelyn Cardigan
Evelyn Cardigan Pattern (3 Months)
CH 90.
Row 1: (RS) DC in the 3rd CH from the hook and in each CH across. (89)
Row 2: CH 2 and turn. FPDC, BPDC across until 2 STs remain. FPDC, DC in last.
Row 3: CH 2 and turn. BPDC, FPDC across until 2 STs remain. BPDC, DC in last.
Row 4: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST.
Rows 5 – 26: Repeat Row 4.
PM in STs 26 and 64 of last row.
Right Panel
Row 27: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST before marker, SC in last ST. (25)
Rows 28 – 38: Rep last row 11 times.
Row 39: CH 1 and turn.SCDEC three times, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST before marked ST, SC in last ST. (22)
Row 40: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from *until 6 STs remain, SC3TOG. Leave remaining STs unworked. (17)
Row 41: CH 1 and turn. SCDEC two times, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across, SC in last ST. (15)
Row 42: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 3 STs remain, SC3TOG. (13)
Row 43: CH 1 and turn. SCDEC two times, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from *, SC in last ST. (11)
Row 44: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 3 STs remain, SC3TOG. (9)
Row 45: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * SC in last ST. (9)
FO leaving a long tail.
Left Panel
Row 1: With RS facing you, attach yarn into first ST after marked ST on the opposite side with a standing SC. (see special stitches). DC in the same ST as the standing SC, SK 1, * (SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST, SC in last ST. (25)
Row 2: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across, SC in last ST. (25)
Rows 3 – 12: Rep. last row 10 times.
Row 13: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 7 STs remain, SC, SCDEC x 3. (22)
Row 14: Turn, SL ST 3, SC3TOG, SC, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from*, SC in last ST. (17)
Row 15: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 5 STs remain, SC, SCDEC x 2. (15)
Row 16: CH 1 and turn. SCDEC x 2, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from *, SC in last ST. (13)
Row 17: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 3 STs remain, SC3TOG. (11)
Row 18: CH 1 and turn. SCDEC x 2, *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from *, SC in last ST. (9)
Row 19: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * SC in last ST. (9)
FO leaving a long tail.
Back Panel
Row 1: With RS facing you, attach yarn into the first stitch after the marked ST with a standing SC. (see special stitches). DC in the same ST as the standing SC, SK 1, * (SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST before marker, SC in last ST. (37)
Row 2: CH 1 and turn.*(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * across to last ST, SC in last ST.
Rows 3 – 19: Rep. Row 2.
FO. Use yarn tails from Left and Right Panel to sew shoulder seams together with mattress stitch.
Sleeves (Make 2)
CH 26.
Row 1: DC in the 3rd CH from the hook and in each CH across. (25)
Row 2: CH 2 and turn. FPDC, BPDC across until 2 STs remain. FPDC, DC in last.
Row 3: CH 2 and turn. BPDC, FPDC across until 2 STs remain. BPDC, DC in last.
Rows 4 – 6: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST.
Row 7: CH 1 and turn. (SC, DC) x 2 in the same ST, SK 1 *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 1 ST remains. (SC, DC, SC) in last ST. (29)
Rep. Rows 4 – 7: 4 more times. (45)
Row 24: CH 1 and turn. *(SC, DC) in the same ST, SK 1, rep from * until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST.
FO leaving a long tail for sewing. Use yarn tail to mattress seam the two long sides of the sleeve together. Use another yarn tail to seam the sleeve to the shoulder with a mattress seam. Weave in ends.
Buttonhole Band
Row 1: With the right side of the sweater facing you, attach yarn to the bottom corner of the front panel that’s on your left with a standing DC stitch (see special stitches). DC 37 up the side of the panel. (38)
Row 2: CH 2 and turn. BPDC, FPDC, CH 2, SK 2, *(BPDC, FPDC) x 2, CH 2, SK 2* rep from * across to last 3 STs, BPDC, FPDC, DC in last ST.
Row 3: CH 2 and turn. BPDC, FPDC, HDC 2 IN THE CH SP, *(BPDC, FPDC) X 2* rep from * across to last 3 STs, BPDC, FPDC, DC in last ST.
FO and weave in ends.
Button Band
Row 1: With the right side of the sweater facing you, attach yarn to the top corner of the front panel that’s on your right with a Standing DC ST (see special stitches). DC 37 down the side of the panel. (38)
Row 2: CH 2 and turn. * BPDC, FPDC, rep from * until 3 STs remain, BPDC, FPDC, DC in last.
Row 3: CH 2 and turn. *BPDC, FPDC, rep from * until 1 ST remain, DC in last.
FO and weave in ends. Sew buttons onto button band to correspond with buttonholes.
I’d love to see the adorable sweater. youmade with this free baby sweater crochet pattern! Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.
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