A new easy beginner friendly childrens sweater knitting pattern, the Daily Default sweater, is now a free knitting pattern here on my blog or you can purchase add free PDF from my shop, Etsy or Ravelry shop.
Read all about the easy bottom up construction and what you need to make it or grab the printable PDF and start knitting this all in one unisex sweater knit pattern.
No time right now? Pin this easy children’s sweater knitting pattern free for later!
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If you’re on the hunt for a project that’s both enjoyable to make and effortlessly wearable, this versatile sweater ticks all the boxes. With its clean lines, gender-neutral aesthetic, and relaxed fit, it’s a must-have for anyone curating a handmade wardrobe for kids and teens.
The pattern spans sizes from baby to teen, making it ideal for growing families—or for those spontaneous gift-giving moments we all encounter. Whether you dress it up solo or layer it for extra coziness, this sweater adds a simple, stylish touch to any outfit.
Chances are, once you’ve knit it the first time, you’ll be reaching for this pattern again and again. After all, staples this practical and charming don’t come around often.
Daily Default Sweater Knitting Pattern Lion Brand Kit
Seamlessly knit from the bottom up, this classic pullover features set-in sleeves, a rounded neckline, and crisp 1×1 rib trims for a refined finish. Breathable cotton-bamboo yarn ensures softness and wearability through changing seasons. Sized from baby to teen, it’s an everyday essential with enduring charm.
Daily Default Children’s Sweater Construction
The kid’s 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 round neck.
Both panels are then sewed together at the shoulders.
Next, stitches for the sleeves are picked up, worked flat until the end of the armhole indent, then joined in the round and worked down to the cuffs.
Finally, stitches are picked up to form the round neck shaping.
Downloadable PDF for Daily Default Sweater Knitting Pattern
Grab the printable PDF of the Daily Default Jumper Knitting Pattern now in my shop, Etsy shop or on Ravelry shop or get the Lion Beand Kit:
Before You Start Your Daily Default Children’s Sweater Knitting Pattern
Materials
- 3 mm / US 3 circular knitting needles
- 3.5 mm / US 4 circular knitting needles.
- Lion Brand Coboo (100g, 50% cotton, 50% bamboo, 232 yds / 212 m): you will need 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) skeins in Olive color SKU 835-132.
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
- Stitch marker
- Stitch holders
- Note: I like to use an unused cable from my interchangeable needle set but you can also use a scrap of yarn.
Size
The baby/kid sweater knitting pattern is available in the following sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, 12 years, 14 years, and 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 8-year size.
Final garment measurements are:
- Bust circumference: 54 (57, 59, 62, 65) (73, 77, 81, 85, 90, 94, 96) cm / 21.5 (22.5, 23.25, 24.25, 25.5) (28.5, 30.5, 31.75, 33.5, 35.5, 36.75, 38)”.
- Upper arm circumference: 18 (20, 20, 22, 22) (24, 26, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40) cm / 7 (7.75, 7.75, 8.5, 8.5) (9.5, 10.25, 11.75, 12.5, 13.5, 14.25, 15.75)”.
- Sleeve length: 19 (20, 23, 24, 25) (29, 31, 34, 37, 40, 42, 43) / 7.5 (8, 9, 9.5, 9.75) (11.5, 12.5, 13.25, 14.5, 15.75, 16.5, 17)
- Length: 25 (27, 29, 31, 32) (37, 42, 46, 51, 55, 58, 64) cm / 9.75 (10.5, 11.5, 12.25, 12.5) (14.5, 16.5, 18, 20, 21.75, 22.75, 25.25)”.
The sweater is designed with a loose fit 10 – 15 cm / 4” – 6” ease at the bust.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern with 3.5 mm / US 4 needles, in stockinette stitch, is 22 st by 25 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Abbreviations & Instructions
- st = stitch
- k = knit
- p = purl
- 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.
- Picking up stitches: if you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial is very helpful.
Sweater Construction
This free knitting pattern features a classic, seamless sweater constructed from the bottom up in the round. The body is worked in one piece until the armholes, at which point it is split and the front and back are knit flat. After seaming the shoulders, stitches are picked up for the sleeves, which are knit in the round from shoulder to cuff. The sweater features set-in sleeves with gentle tapering for a comfortable fit, and clean 1×1 ribbing finishes the hem, cuffs, and neckline. A traditional round neck adds to the timeless appeal of the piece.
The Actual Daily Default Free Children’s Sweater Knitting Pattern
With you 3 mm / US 3 needles, cast on 120 (126, 130, 136, 142) (160, 170, 178, 188, 198, 206, 212) st and join in the round.
[K1, p1] around for 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5) cm / 1.5 (1.5, 1.5, 1.5, 1.5) (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2)”.
Switch to 3.5 mm / US 4 knitting needles and knit in stockinette until total length is 16 (17, 19, 20, 21) (25, 29, 31, 35, 38, 40, 44) cm / 6.25 (6.75, 7.5, 7.75. 8.25) (9.75, 11.5, 12.25, 13.75, 15, 15.75. 17.25)” (including ribbed edge).
Split Front and Back
[Cast off 6 (6, 6, 8, 8) (8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12, 12), knit 54 (57, 59, 60, 63) (72, 75, 79, 84, 89, 91, 94)] twice.
You will now knit each side separately. Leave first half of the stitches on a stitch holder (front panel). Make sure you secure them.
Back Panel
Work with the other half of the stitches (back panel) in stockinette (alternating knit and purl rows) until you reach 9 (10, 10, 11, 11) (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20) cm / 3.5 (4, 4, 4.5, 4.5) (4.75, 5, 6, 6.25, 6.75, 7, 7.75)” from separation.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Front Panel
Go back to the front panel stitches, join yarn starting on a RS row.
Tip: When joining yarn leave a tail you’ll use to sew the sleeve-indent.
Work in stockinette (alternating knit and purl rows) until you reach 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) cm / 1.25 (1.5, 1.5, 2, 2) (1.5, 2, 2.75, 3.25, 3.5, 4, 4.75)” from separation.
Neck Opening Shaping
On the next row cast off middle st for the neck opening as follows: Knit 23 (24, 25, 25, 26) (30, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 39), cast off 8 (9, 9, 10, 11) (12, 13, 15, 16, 15, 15, 16), knit 23 (24, 25, 25, 26) (30, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 39).
Work each side separately.
[Purl 1 row.
Decrease Row: K1, ssk, knit across, turn] 6 (6, 6, 6, 6) (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8) times. <17 (18, 19, 19, 20) (22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31) st>
Continue working straight until you reach 9 (10, 10, 11, 11) (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20) cm / 3.5 (4, 4, 4.5, 4.5) (4.75, 5, 6, 6.25, 6.75, 7, 7.75)” from underarm separation.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Join yarn back at the collar for the other side.
[Purl 1 row.
Decrease Row: Knit until last 3 st, k2tog, k1] 6 (6, 6, 6, 6) (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8) times. <17 (18, 19, 19, 20) (22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31) st>
Continue working straight until you reach 9 (10, 10, 11, 11) (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20) cm / 3.5 (4, 4, 4.5, 4.5) (4.75, 5, 6, 6.25, 6.75, 7, 7.75)” from separation.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Collar
Before knitting the collar, sew shoulders together.
With your 3 mm / US 3 knitting needles pick up 72 (72, 72, 74, 76) (86, 86, 88, 88, 88, 88, 88) st evenly around the neck opening (approximately 1 st per row / st around).
[K1, p1] around for 4 rounds.
Cast of loosely in pattern and weave in the end.
Sleeves
With your 3.5 mm / US 4 knitting needles pick up 40 (44, 44, 48, 48) (52, 58, 66, 70, 76, 80, 88) stitches around the armhole (ignore the indent). Leave a long tail to sew the indent.
Knit in stockinette stitch (in rows back and forth) for 7 (7, 7, 9, 9) (9, 11, 11, 11, 11, 13, 13) rows (you will seam these to the indent later).
Join in the round and knit in stockinette.
Knit 11 (6, 12, 12, 10) (10, 6, 12, 16, 16, 16, 15) rounds
[Decrease Round: k1, k2tog, knit until last 3 st, ssk, k1.
Knit 3 (3, 3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) rounds]6 (8, 8, 9, 8) (10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20) times <28 (28, 28, 30, 32) (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 48) st>
Switch to 3 mm / US 3 knitting needles.
[K1, p1] around for 5 cm / 2”.
Cast off and weave in the end.
Sew the sleeve to the indent and weave in all ends.
Repeat for the other sleeve.
Blocking
You are done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your sweater even prettier and help even your stitches wet 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.
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You may not share, sell or claim my patterns as your own. You can make finished items to sell (i.e. on Etsy, at craft fairs) from my patterns but I ask that you link back to my blog knittingwithchopsticks.com and provide credit for the pattern. Copyright 2025
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Thank you!
