Apy Child Sweater Knit Pattern

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The Apy child sweater knit pattern makes a warm and cozy pullover, perfect for layering on chilly days. Designed with a classic fit, this sweater features a stylish shawl collar with a button closure, adding both charm and practicality. The rich texture of tweed yarn enhances its timeless appeal, making it a great choice for both casual and dressy occasions. Sized for children from 3 months to 14 years, this pattern ensures a comfortable and well-fitting garment for growing kids. For those who love a coordinated look, an adult version is also available.

This sweater is worked from the bottom up in the round, minimizing seams for a smooth and professional finish. The body and sleeves are knit seamlessly before being joined at the yoke, where the signature shawl collar is shaped with short rows. The buttoned neckline adds a touch of refinement while keeping little ones snug. Whether you choose a rustic tweed yarn or a soft wool blend, this sweater will be a go-to piece for any child’s wardrobe.

Matching Adult Sweater

The Apy Sweater also comes in an adult sweater knitting pattern, sized S to 5XL you can make a matching set for all the men in the family.

Find the baby and child sweater knitting pattern here >>

Downloadable PDF Apy Child Sweater Knitting Pattern

Grab the printable PDF of the Apy Child Sweater Knitting Pattern now in my shop, Etsy shop or on Ravelry shop:

The Apy Child Sweater Knit Pattern Construction

The child sweater is knitted from the bottom up. Both front and back panels are worked in one piece knitting in the round until the underarm. The piece is then divided in 2 parts working the front and back panel separately. A few stitches are cast off on each side of the panels for simple square armhole shaping. The back panel is then worked straight. The front panel is divided in 2 parts to shape the neck opening.

Both panels are then sewed together at the shoulders.

Stitches for the sleeves are then picked up and worked downwards to the cuff. 

Finally, stitches are picked up for the neck ribbing, first around the back, then along the front opening (adding buttonholes). Lastly, you’ll add the buttons for the finishing touch.

Materials You Will Need For The Apy Child Sweater Knit Pattern

Materials

• 5.5 mm / US 9 circular knitting needles.
• 6 mm / US 10 circular knitting needles. 
• Hobbii Daily Stitch Tweed (worsted weight 4, 100g, 80% Acrylic, 15% Wool, 5% viscose, 168 m/183 yds): 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins.

• Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
• Stitch marker
• 2 x 21-mm leather covered buttons

Note: I used short circular needles for the sleeves and cuffs but you can use the magic loop or DPN if you prefer.

Size

The sweater knitting pattern is available in the following baby & kid sizes: 3 months to 16 years. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) years. The pictures illustrate the 4 and 6 years sizes.

Final garment measurements are: 

• Bust measurement: 53 (55, 58, 60, 63) (71, 76, 79, 83, 89, 92, 95) cm / 21 (21.75, 22.75, 23.5, 24.75) (28, 30, 31, 32.75, 35, 36.25, 37.5)”.
• Sleeve length (from underarm): 18.5 (19.5, 22, 23.5, 24.5) (29.5, 32, 34.5, 37.5, 41, 43.5, 45) cm / 7.25 (7.75, 8.5, 9.25, 9.5) (11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.75, 16.25, 17, 17.75)”.
• Sweater length: 29 (31.5, 33, 34, 36) (41, 44, 50.5, 56, 59.5, 62, 64.5) / 11.5 (12.5, 13, 13.25, 14.25) (16.25, 17.25, 19.75, 22, 23.5, 24.5, 25.25)”.

The sweater is designed with a classic fit 5 – 10 cm / 2” – 4” ease at the bust.

Gauge

The gauge for this pattern, in stockinette stitch, is 13.5 st by 20 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).

Abbreviations & Instructions

• st = stitch
• k = knit
• p = purl
• M1R = make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
• M1L = make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
• k2tog = knit 2 stitches together; right-leaning decrease
• ssk = slip slip knit; left-leaning decrease

Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.

The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.

Special Stitches and Techniques

• Stockinette stitch:
  • In the round: knit continuously
  • Worked flat: alternate knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side of your project.
• M1R: Insert your left needle from back to front, under the bar between the stitches (thus lifting it onto the left needle). Knit this bar through the front loop (this twists it into a nice little tight loop)
• M1L: Insert the left needle from front to back, under the bar between the stitches (thus lifting it onto the left needle). Knit this bar through the back loop (this twists it into a nice little tight loop). 

If you are not familiar with this increase technique, I find this video tutorial very helpful.

• Picking up stitches: if you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial is very helpful.

I recommend using the sloped bind off technique for the shoulder shaping. If you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial is very helpful.

Sweater Construction

The child sweater is knitted from the bottom up. Both front and back panels are worked in one piece knitting in the round until the underarm. The piece is then divided in 2 parts working the front and back panel separately. A few stitches are cast off on each side of the panels for simple square armhole shaping. The back panel is then worked straight. The front panel is divided in 2 parts to shape the neck opening.

Both panels are then sewed together at the shoulders.

Stitches for the sleeves are then picked up and worked downwards to the cuff. 

Finally, stitches are picked up for the neck ribbing, first around the back, then along the front opening (adding buttonholes). Lastly, you’ll add the buttons for the finishing touch.

The Actual Apy Kid Sweater Free Knitting Pattern

Sweater Body

With your 5.5 mm / US 9 circular needles, cast on 72 (74, 78, 82, 86) (96, 102, 106, 112, 120, 124, 128) and join in the round.

[k1, p1] around for 8 rounds.

Switch to 6 mm / US 10 needles.

Knit in stockinette stitch until total length is 18 (20, 21.5, 23, 24) (26.5, 29, 34, 38, 40.5, 42, 43) cm / 7 (7.75, 8.5, 9, 9.5) (10.5, 11.5, 13.5, 15, 16, 16.5”, 17)”.

Split front and back and cast-off stitches at the armholes: 

• 3 months: cast off 2, knit 34, cast off 2, knit 34
• 6 months: cast off 3: knit 34, cast off 3, knit 34
• 12 months: cast off 3, knit 36, cast off 3, knit 36
• 18 months: cast off 4, knit 37, cast off 4, knit 37
• 24 months: cast off 5, knit 38, cast off 5, knit 38
• 4 years: cast off 6, knit 42, cast off 6, knit 42
• 6 years: cast off 8, knit 43, cast off 8, knit 43
• 8 years:  cast off 9, knit 44, cast off 9, knit 44
• 10 years:  cast off 9, knit 47, cast off 9, knit 47
• 12 years:  cast off 10, knit 50, cast off 10, knit 50
• 14 years:  cast off 12, knit 50, cast off 12, knit 50
• 16 years:  cast off 12, knit 52, cast off 12, knit 52

Front Panel

Knit 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8) (7.5, 8, 9.5, 11, 12, 13, 14.5) cm / 2.25 (2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25) (3, 3.25, 3.75, 4.25, 4.75, 5, 5.75)” in stockinette stitch.

Split front in 2 panels to form the buttonband opening: 

• 3 months: knit 14, cast off middle 6 st, knit 14
• 6 months: knit 14, cast off middle 6 st, knit 14
• 12 months: knit 15, cast off middle 6 st, knit 15
• 18 months: knit 15, cast off middle 7 st, knit 15
• 24 months: knit 16, cast off middle 6 st, knit 16
• 4 year: knit 17, cast off middle 8 st, knit 17
• 6 year: knit 17, cast off middle 9 st, knit 17
• 8 year: knit 18, cast off middle 8 st, knit 18
• 10 year: knit 19, cast off middle 9 st, knit 19
• 12 year: knit 21, cast off middle 8 st, knit 21
• 14 year: knit 21, cast off middle 8 st, knit 21
• 16 year: knit 22, cast off middle 8 st, knit 22

Knit both parts separately from here onwards.

First front panel

Knit 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) (16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) rows in stockinette before starting to shape the round neck.

Shoulder & round neck shaping:

On the next RS row, cast off 2 st, knit across. <12 (12, 13, 13, 14) (15, 15, 16, 17, 19, 19, 20) st >

Purl across.

Cast off 1st, knit across. < 11 (11, 12, 12, 13) (14, 14, 15, 16, 18, 18, 19) st>

Purl across. 

Cast off remaining st and leave a long tail for sewing.

Second front panel

Go back to the stitches you left on the side for the other shoulder and join yarn at the buttonband opening area.

Knit 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) (16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) rows in stockinette before starting to shape the round neck.

Shoulder & round neck shaping:

On the next WS row, cast off 2 st, purl across. <12 (12, 13, 13, 14) (15, 15, 16, 17, 19, 19, 20) st >

Knit across.

Cast off 1st, purl across. < 11 (11, 12, 12, 13) (14, 14, 15, 16, 18, 18, 19) st>. 

Cast off remaining st and leave a long tail for sewing.

Back Panel

Go back to the stitches you left on the side for the back panel.

Knit in stockinette for 11 (11.5, 12, 12.5, 13) (14.5, 15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20, 21.5) cm / 4.25 (4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25) (5.75, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 7.75, 8.5)”.

Cast off remaining stitches and leave a tail for sewing.

Assembly

Sew up the shoulder seams.

Sleeves

Pick up 30 (30, 32, 34, 34) (38, 40, 44, 48, 52, 54, 58) stitches around the armhole (not considering the indent).

Note: leave a tail for sewing to the indent

Knit in stockinette for 2 (2, 2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9) rows.

Join in the round and knit 13 (15, 12, 7, 9) (11, 8, 5, 13, 14, 13, 4) rounds.

[Decrease: k1, k2tog, knit until last 3 st, ssk, k1

Knit for 7 (7, 7, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 5) rounds] 2 (2, 3, 4, 4) (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13) times

Switch to 5.5 mm / US 9 needles

[k1, p1] around for 8 rounds.

Cast off and weave in the end.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Collar

Part 1: Back

With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles, pick up 24 (24, 24, 24, 24) (26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26) st along the collar edge (not the straight vertical opening, only the round neck part)

[K1, p1] across for 10 rows.

Cast off.

Part 2: Left side (when worn)

Pick up 14 (14, 14, 14, 14) (16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) st along the vertical edge from the bottom upwards.

[k1, p1] across for 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows.

Buttonholes Row 1: Keep working in k1, p1 pattern, work 4 st, cast off 1, work 6 st, cast off 1 st, work until end of row.

Buttonholes Row 2: Keep working in k1, p1 pattern, work until cast off st, add 1st, work until next cast off st, add 1st, work until end of row.

[k1, p1] across for 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows.

Cast off

Part 3: Right side (when worn)

Pick up 14 (14, 14, 14, 14) (16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) st along the vertical edge.

[K1, p1] across for 10 (10, 10, 10, 10) (14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14) rows. Cast off and weave in the ends.

Finishing Touches

At the underarm sew up the indent to the start of the sleeves that has been knit flat.

Attach buttons in front of the buttonholes (depending on the type of buttons & material, you may prefer to attach them after blocking).

Weave in all your ends.

Blocking

You are done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends. 

To make your sweater even prettier, help even your stitches, block your project. Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.