20 Beautiful Free Knitting Patterns for Girls (Babies to Tweens)

If your needles are itching for a new project and you have a little someone in mind, you are in exactly the right place. This collection of free knitting patterns for girls brings together my favourite pieces from across the knitting world, from soft baby cardigans to chunky blankets you’ll want to wrap around every newborn you meet. Every pattern below is free, beautifully written, and ready for you to cast on today.

You’ll find dresses for tiny new arrivals, pullovers that grow with toddlers and tweens, easy cardigans for layering, and a generous helping of cosy blankets in every weight from worsted to super bulky. The collection is sorted into five clear categories so you can jump straight to the type of project you’re in the mood to make.

No time right now? Pin this knitting collection for girls for later!

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Soft Sweaters and Pullovers to Knit for Little Girls

Sweaters are the workhorse of any little girl’s handknit wardrobe. This first group covers everything from a feather-light fingering weight pullover to a quick bulky cuddle of a sweater, with sizing that stretches from baby right up to age 12.

Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers + Kids by Purl Soho

This is the kind of pattern that becomes a staple in your knitting rotation. The seamless one-piece construction starts at the back hem and travels up and over to the front, leaving you with a beautifully simple pullover and barely any finishing.

Sized 12-24 months through 12 years, it knits up in fingering weight wool, silk or linen blends with US 4 needles. The wide, soft neck slips over little heads with no fuss, which makes it a forever favourite for new knitters and busy parents alike.

Find the easy seamless pullover pattern here >>

Crayon Stripes Pullover by Purl Soho

Cheery, playful and full of personality, this pullover looks like a child’s drawing brought to life on the needles. The stripes are carried up the side as you work, so there are almost no ends to weave in at the finish.

It is worked flat from one cuff to the other in DK weight cotton, and sized 9-18 months through 6 years. The rolled neckline and hem give it that softly relaxed shape that toddlers love to live in.

Find the toddler striped pullover pattern here >>

Basic Bulky Baby Sweater by love. life. yarn.

If you want a finished sweater in a single afternoon, this is the one. Amanda’s classic raglan pullover uses bulky yarn for that satisfying speed and a snuggly, modern silhouette that suits every little wardrobe.

The sample is knit in Lion Brand Hue + Me on US 10.5 needles, with sizing all the way through 12 months. It’s a wonderful first sweater project if you have just moved on from blankets and are ready to try shaping.

Find the bulky baby sweater pattern here >>

Paint Colorblock Sweater by Knitting with Chopsticks

This is one of my most-knitted patterns and a brilliant stash buster too. The colourblock panels invite you to play with leftover skeins of DK, with each block creating a paintbox of contrast that little girls love to wear.

Sized 4 to 12 years and worked top-down in DK weight yarn, it has a relaxed crewneck and slim raglan sleeves that sit well under coats. Make it in soft pastels for spring or vivid brights for autumn play.

Find the colourblock girl’s sweater pattern here >>

Cardigans for Easy Layering

A handknit cardigan is the most useful thing in a little girl’s wardrobe, the layer she’ll reach for from her first chilly autumn through her last day at primary school. These two are the ones I make again and again as gifts.

Alix All-in-One Baby Cardigan by Knitting with Chopsticks

I designed Alix to be the cardigan I always wanted to give at baby showers, the kind that gets pulled on and off a hundred times without losing its shape. The all-in-one construction means there’s no seaming and no picking up neckbands at the end.

Worked top-down in DK weight yarn and sized 2 to 12 years, it has a soft round yoke and roomy fit so little arms can wriggle through quickly. Add wooden buttons for a heritage feel or pearl shanks for something dressier.

Find the all-in-one girl cardigan pattern here >>

Easy Baby Cardigan (One Piece) by Handy Little Me

Garter stitch is forgiving, fast and gives this cardigan its lovely soft drape. Knit flat in a single piece and seamed at the sides, it’s a beautiful starter project if you have just begun to play with shaping.

The pattern uses light DK weight yarn on US 6 needles for a baby size, and the simple construction means you can finish it in a couple of weekends. A pretty pair of buttons turns it into a properly polished gift.

Find the easy garter stitch cardigan pattern here >>

Pretty Dresses and Layettes

There is something irresistible about a knitted dress on a tiny girl. This group covers a sweet sundress, a quietly elegant linen-stitch dress, a charming everyday pinafore, and a complete layette set that I think you’ll fall a little in love with.

Livia Dress by Knitting with Chopsticks

Livia is the dress I designed for my own little one’s first portrait sitting and it has been on every baby gift table I’ve made since. It has a softly gathered bodice, garter stitch hem and a row of buttons up the back that turn it into something a bit special.

Worked top-down and seamless in DK weight yarn, it grows with baby through her first two years. Cotton blends look beautiful for summer, while a soft wool keeps it cosy for autumn christenings.

Find the seamless baby dress pattern here >>

Clean + Simple Baby Dress by Purl Soho

This dress feels like a little artwork, with linen stitch giving it a subtle woven texture that looks far harder than it knits. The clean A-line shape lets the fabric do all the talking.

Sport weight cotton makes it ideal for warmer months, and the three-size pattern covers 0-6, 6-12 and 12-18 months. Add the optional pleat and you have a christening-worthy heirloom.

Find the linen stitch baby dress pattern here >>

Sweet Baby Sundress by love. life. yarn.

This little sundress has the softest summer feel, all picot-edged straps and pretty contrast bands at the hem. Amanda has knit it in cheerful coral and white, but it shines in any combination you fancy from your stash.

Worked flat in DK weight cotton and seamed at the sides, the five sizes cover 0-12 months and the body is mostly stockinette so you can knit through it during a film. Pair with a thin tee for early autumn layering.

Find the baby sundress pattern here >>

Strawberry Seed Baby Set by Knitting with Chopsticks

This three-piece set was my first proper baby pattern and still my most gifted. The textured strawberry seed stitch creates a quietly fancy fabric that suits a christening or a cosy first photo session.

The set includes a hat, booties and a cropped cardigan, all in DK weight yarn and sized 0 to 12 months. It looks beautiful in cream for tradition or in a powdery pink for something a bit more spring.

Find the textured baby layette set pattern here >>

Quick Chunky Blankets for New Arrivals

If a baby shower is on the horizon and you’ve left things a tiny bit late, this is your section. These blankets all use bulky to super bulky yarn, which means a finished gift in a weekend or two of evening knitting.

Love Line Chunky Blanket by Knitting with Chopsticks

I designed Love Line for the kind of evening when you want to knit something soft, simple and a little bit romantic. Heart-shaped lines run quietly through the fabric, easy enough to memorise in the first few rows.

Knit in chunky yarn on big needles, this blanket grows fast and looks beautiful in cream, blush or storm grey. It works equally well as a stroller blanket or a generous throw for an older child.

Find the heart line chunky blanket pattern here >>

Boulevard Blanket by Fifty Four Ten Studio

At first glance this looks like a simple garter stitch blanket, but a sneaky K3 P3 repeat creates a soft, columnar texture that catches the light beautifully. It’s reversible too, so there’s no wrong side.

The free pattern includes six sizes from baby right up to a generous afghan, all in super bulky yarn. A great choice if you want one pattern that grows with the family.

Find the reversible chunky blanket pattern here >>

Basketweave Chunky Baby Blanket by Peach Unicorn Designs

This basketweave is woven through with that lovely woven look without any of the actual weaving, just simple knit and purl alternations. It’s a beautiful first textured blanket if you have only made garter stitch up to now.

Vivienne’s chunky version finishes at a generous 33 by 33 inches, perfect for a stroller or play mat. The plush bulky yarn gives it that extra-cuddly weight that babies love to nap under.

Find the chunky basketweave baby blanket pattern here >>

Luxe Blankie by Mama In A Stitch

If you want pure soft cuddle, this is the pattern. Jessica designed this little blanket entirely in knit stitch using Lion Brand Baby Boucle, so the fabric does all the work and looks like something out of a high-end nursery.

The shape is built with simple central decreases, finishing as a soft square that sits beautifully across a Moses basket or pram. A first-blanket project that still feels like a treat.

Find the boucle baby blankie pattern here >>

Easy Baby Blanket in Broken Rib by Handy Little Me

Broken rib is such a satisfying stitch to knit, with a soft, squishy texture that hides any little wobbles a beginner might worry about. Louise’s pattern keeps everything calm and clear, perfect for an evening of mindful knitting.

Made in super bulky yarn on US 17 needles, the blanket flies off the needles in just a few sittings. Cast on while you watch a series and you’ll likely finish before the season ends.

Find the broken rib baby blanket pattern here >>

Textured Blankets to Treasure

These take a little more time on the needles but reward you with the kind of blanket a girl will keep on her bed long after she has outgrown the cot. Lace, intarsia hearts, slipped-stitch geometry: there’s a heritage feel running through this whole group.

Nestled Knots Blanket by Knitting with Chopsticks

Nestled Knots was born from my love of textured stitches that look harder than they really are. Tiny knot stitches sit between bands of stockinette like little embossed flowers, giving the blanket a soft jacquard feel.

The chunky yarn keeps it quick to knit, and the pattern includes ten sizes ranging from a stroller blanket all the way up to a king-size throw. Knit small as a baby gift or supersize it for a girl’s grown-up bedroom.

Find the textured knot blanket pattern here >>

Heart Baby Blanket by Handy Little Me

Two-colour intarsia knitting sounds harder than it is, and Louise walks you through the technique in clear photos throughout the post. The result is a sweet repeating heart motif that feels properly heirloom.

Worked flat in bulky yarn, the finished blanket is the perfect size for tucking into a Moses basket or layering on a toddler bed. It’s an intermediate knit, so save it for a quiet weekend.

Find the intarsia heart baby blanket pattern here >>

Mae Ribbed Baby Blanket by Mama In A Stitch

Mae uses an extended broken rib that creates wide, soft columns running down the length of the fabric. It’s the kind of pattern that looks far more designed than it actually is, which makes it a brilliant gift project.

Worked in worsted weight yarn on US 9 needles, it can be sized up to lapghan dimensions if you simply add stitches in multiples of four. A lovely choice for charity knits too.

Find the worsted weight ribbed blanket pattern here >>

Georgie Baby Blanket by Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Designs

Marianna’s patterns have a lovely vintage warmth to them, and Georgie is no exception. A textured slip-stitch border frames a soft stockinette body, giving you that classic British baby blanket feel.

It’s written in DK weight yarn and includes the kind of clear, line-by-line directions that newer knitters appreciate. A favourite for great-grandmother gifts and quiet first knits.

Find the vintage style baby blanket pattern here >>

Triangles Baby Blanket by Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Designs

This one plays with simple geometry, building little stockinette triangles framed by garter ridges. The result feels modern and artful while staying completely beginner-friendly to knit.

It’s written in DK weight yarn so it sits well between worsted and sport, easy to translate to whichever stash skein you fancy. The pattern is square, soft, and lovely in soft pastels for a girl’s nursery.

Find the modern triangle baby blanket pattern here >>

Whichever pattern you cast on first, I hope these free knitting patterns for girls give you the kind of slow, lovely afternoons that handknitting is made for. Whether it’s a cardigan you’ll wrap around a newborn at her welcome-home moment or a chunky blanket she’ll cuddle into for years, every stitch you make tells a little girl she is wildly loved.

Ready to make one of these patterns but not sure which size to pick? Grab my free Perfect Fit Guide and take the guesswork out of sizing for good, get your free guide here.