How to Knit a Baby Sweater for Ages 6 Months to 5 Years

You’ll Need:

2 (2, 2, 2) balls of RED HEART® Soft Baby Steps®: 9401 Elephant Susan Bates®

Knitting Needles: 4.5 mm and 5 mm

Stitch markers

6 buttons

Yarn needle

Stitches Control:

17 sts = 10 cm; 23 rows = 10 cm.

Size:

6-12 months. Changes for sizes 12-24 months (2-3 years, 3-5 years) are in parentheses.

To Fit Chest: 40.5-45.5 (45.5-51, 51-56, 56-61 cm)

Finished Chest: 56 (61, 66, 71) cm

Finished Length: 30.5 (32, 34.5, 35.5) cm

Special Stitches:

M1 = Make 1 (Increase) – Lift the strand between needles to the left-hand needle and knit the strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.

s2k1p2 = Slip 2 stitches as if to k2tog, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch and off the needle – 2 sts decreased.

ssk = Slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit to the right needle, insert the point of the left needle through the front of the stitches, knit these stitches together through the back loop.

Used Patterns:

Seed Stitch (over an odd number of stitches)

Row 1: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of the row.

Row 2: Knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches as they appear.

Repeat Row 2 for Seed Stitch.

Little Arrowhead Lace (worked over 5 stitches)

Row 1 (right side): Yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K1, yo, s2k1p2, yo, k1.

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat Rows 1–4 for Little Arrowhead Lace.

Instructions:

Back

With smaller needles, cast on 47 (51, 55, 59) stitches.

Work in Seed Stitch for 8 rows.

Change to larger needles.

Work in Stockinette Stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) until the piece measures 7¾ (8, 8½, 8¾)” (19.5 (20.5, 21.5, 22) cm) from the beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Raglan Armholes

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 2 stitches, knit to the end of the row—45 (49, 53, 57) stitches.

Row 2: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to last 2 stitches, k2—43 (47, 51, 55) stitches.

Row 3 (decrease row): P2, k2tog, knit to last 4 stitches, ssk, p2—41 (45, 49, 53) stitches.

Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.

Repeat the last 2 rows 9 (10, 11, 12) more times—23 (25, 27, 29) stitches. Work even in Stockinette Stitch until armholes measure 4¼ (4½, 5, 5¼)” (10.5 (11.5, 12.5, 13.5) cm); end with a wrong side row. Bind off.

Left Front

With smaller needles, cast on 29 (31, 33, 35) stitches.

Work in Seed Stitch for 8 rows.

Change to larger needles.

Begin Lace Pattern.

Right Side:

Row 1: K15 (17, 19, 21), [p1, k1] twice, place marker, work Row 1 of Little Arrowhead Lace, place marker, k1,[p1, k1] twice.

Row 2: K1, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 2 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, [k1, p1] twice, purl to end of the row.

Row 3: Knit to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 3 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice.

Row 4: K1, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 4 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, [k1, p1] twice, purl to end of the row.

Repeat the last 4 rows until the piece measures 7¾ (8, 8½, 8¾)” (19.5 (20.5, 21.5, 22) cm) from the beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Raglan Armhole

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 2 stitches, knit to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work the next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice—27 (29, 31, 33) stitches.

Row 2: K1, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work the next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, [k1, p1] twice, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.

Row 3 (decrease row): P2, k2tog, knit to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work the next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice—26 (28, 30, 32) stitches.

Repeat the last 2 rows 7 (8, 9, 10) more times—19 (20, 21, 22) stitches.

Shape Neck

Remove markers as you work the next row.

Row 1 (wrong side): Bind off 7 (8, 8, 9) stitches, purl to last 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches, [k1, p1] twice, p3 (4, 5, 6), k2—12 (12, 13, 13) stitches.

Row 2 (right side): P2, k2tog, k1 (2, 3, 4), p1, k1, p1, k2 (1, 1, 0), k2tog—10 (10, 11, 11) stitches.

Row 3: P2 (1, 1, 2), [k1, p1] 2 (2, 2, 1) time(s), p2 (3, 4, 5), k2.

Size 6-12 months only:

Row 4 (right side): P2, k2tog, [p1, k1] twice, k2tog—8 stitches.

Row 5: P3, k1, p2, k2.

Size 12-24 months only:

Row 4 (right side): P2, k2tog, [k1, p1] twice, k2tog—8 stitches.

Row 5: P2, k1, p3, k2.

Size 2-3 years only:

Row 4 (right side): P2, k2tog, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2tog—9 stitches.

Row 5: P2, k1, p4, k2.

Size 3-5 years only:

Row 4 (right side): P2, k2tog, k3, p1, k1, k2tog—9 stitches.

Row 5: P1, k1, p5, k2.

All Sizes:

Work even in Stockinette Stitch until armholes measure 4¼ (4½, 5, 5¼)” (10.5 (11.5, 12.5, 13.5) cm); end with a wrong side row. Bind off.

Right Front

With smaller needles, cast on 29 (31, 33, 35) stitches. Work in Seed Stitch for 8 rows. Change to larger needles.

Begin Lace Pattern:

Row 1 (buttonhole row – right side): K1, yo, k2tog (buttonhole made), p1, k1, place marker, work Row 1 of Little Arrowhead Lace, place marker, [k1, p1] twice, knit to end of row.

Row 2: Purl to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 2 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice.

Row 3: K1, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 3 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, [k1, p1] twice, knit to end of row.

Row 4: Purl to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work Row 4 of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice.

As you continue to knit, keep a row count and work a buttonhole (as in Row 1) at the beginning of:

Row 11 (13, 13, 15), Row 23 (23, 25, 27), Row 33 (35, 37, 39), Row 45 (45, 49, 51), and Row 55 (57, 61, 63).

Repeat the last 4 rows until the piece measures 7¾ (8, 8½, 8¾)” (19.5 (20.5, 21.5, 22) cm) from the beginning; end with a right side row.

Shape Raglan Armhole

Row 1 (wrong side): Bind off 2 stitches, purl to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice—27 (29, 31, 33) stitches.

Row 2 (decrease row): K1, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, [k1, p1] twice, knit to last 4 stitches, ssk, p2—26 (28, 30, 32) stitches.

Row 3: K2, purl to 4 stitches before marker, [p1, k1] twice, slip marker, work next row of Little Arrowhead Lace, slip marker, k1, [p1, k1] twice.

Repeat the last 2 rows 7 (8, 9, 10) more times—19 (20, 21, 22) stitches.

Shape Neck

Remove markers as you work the next row.

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 7 (8, 8, 9) stitches, knit to last 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches, [k1, p1] twice, k3 (4, 5, 6), p2—12 (12, 13, 13) stitches.

Row 2 (wrong side): K2, p2tog through back loops, p2 (3, 4, 5), [k1, p1] 2 (1, 1, 1) time(s), k0 (1, 1, 0), p2tog through back loops—10 (10, 11, 11) stitches.

Row 3: K3 (2, 2, 1), [p1, k1] twice, k1 (2, 3, 4), p2.

Size 6-12 months only:

Row 4: K2, p2tog through back loops, [p1, k1] twice, p2tog through back loops—8 stitches.

Row 5: K2, [p1, k1] twice, p2.

Size 12-24 months only:

Row 4 (wrong side): K2, p2tog through back loops, p2, k1, p1, p2tog through back loops—8 stitches.

Row 5: [K1, p1] twice, k2, p2.

Size 2-3 years only:

Row 4 (wrong side): K2, p2tog through back loops, p3, k1, p1, p2tog through back loops—9 stitches.

Row 5: [K1, p1] twice, k3, p2.

Size 3-5 years only:

Row 4 (wrong side): K2, p2tog through back loops, p4, k1, p2tog through back loops—9 stitches.

Row 5: K2, p1, k4, p2.

All Sizes:

Work even in Stockinette Stitch until armholes measure 4¼ (4½, 5, 5¼)” (10.5 (11.5, 12.5, 13.5) cm); end with a wrong side row. Bind off.

Left Sleeve

With smaller needles, cast on 27 (29, 31, 33) stitches.

Work in Seed Stitch for 8 rows.

Change to larger needles.

Beginning with a right side (knit) row, work in Stockinette Stitch for 2 rows.

Increase Row (right side):

K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, k1—29 (31, 33, 35) stitches. Work even in Stockinette Stitch for 9 rows.

Repeat the last 10 rows 2 (3, 4, 5) more times—33 (37, 41, 45) stitches.

Work even in Stockinette Stitch until the piece measures 7¾ (8¼, 8½, 9)” (19.5 (21, 21.5, 23) cm) from the beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Raglan Edges

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 2 stitches, knit to end of row—31 (35, 39, 43) stitches.

Row 2: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to end of row—29 (33, 37, 41) stitches.

Row 3 (decrease row): P2, k2tog, knit to last 4 stitches, ssk, p2—27 (31, 35, 39) stitches.

Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.

Repeat the last 2 rows 8 (9, 10, 11) more times—11 (13, 15, 17) stitches; end with a right side row.

Shape Cap

Row 1 (decrease – wrong side): Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8) stitches, purl to last 2 stitches, k2—6 (7, 8, 9) stitches.

Row 2 (decrease – right side): P2, k2tog, knit to end of row—5 (6, 7, 8) stitches. Bind off.

Right Sleeve

Work the same as Left Sleeve to Shape Cap; end with a wrong side row—11 (13, 15, 17) stitches.

Shape Cap

Row 1 (decrease – right side): Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8) stitches, knit to last 2 stitches, p2—6 (7, 8, 9) stitches.

Row 3 (decrease – wrong side): K2, p2tog through back loops, purl to end of row—5 (6, 7, 8) stitches. Bind off.

Finishing:

Block pieces to measurements shown on schematic. Weave in ends. Sew shoulder seams. Sew Left Front and Right Front raglan edges to the front raglan edges of Sleeves. Sew Back raglan edges to back raglan edges of Sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew buttons to left front band, opposite the buttonholes on right front.