Strawberry Seed Knit Baby Sweater Pattern

Knit Babay Sweater Pattern FREE

This adorable knit baby sweater pattern is part 2 of the Strawberry Seed Baby Set which includes a matching hat, booties, and blanket. The ultimate baby shower gift set! Find all the set details and matching patterns in this post.

The Strawberry Seed baby cardigan has a very simple construction, knit in one piece from the back bottom to the front on straight needles (have a look at the work in progress pictures below). It’s the same construction I used for the Capucine Baby Cardigan. It’s great for beginners because there are no increases or decreases just adding and casting off stitches (refer to the tips and tricks section below).

No time right now? Pin this cute baby cardigan knitting pattern for later!

Strawberry Seed Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FREE

Scroll down for the free version but I recommend you purchase the ad-free PDF Pattern to get all the instructions and pictures in a nice PDF you can print and take notes on without relying on your phone or an internet connection, I’ve got you covered!

The PDF pattern is now available in my Etsy store and my Ravelry shop. Grab your copy before you forget.

Or grab the complete Strawberry Seed Baby Knitting Pattern Set at a 30% discount.

*This post contains affiliate links (only for products I love, use and spend my own money on obviously). This means I earn some yarn money if you make a purchase through one of these links (of course at no extra cost for you!), which I promise to use to create more awesome patterns like this one. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here

Before you Start your Knit Baby Sweater Pattern

Materials

  • 5 mm / US 8 knitting needles. You can see on the pictures I used my circular needles out of habit but you don’t need circular needles. You can make these baby booties with straight needles. (Confused about all these types of needles? This post is for you)
  • Worsted weight wool yarn: 100g white and 100g pink yarn.
  • Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.
  • 6 10mm diameter buttons. I absolutely love the cute wooden buttons with engraved leaves I used. You can find them here.
Click here to purchase the ad free PDF of the baby cardigan knitting pattern

The Yarn

I loved working with this affordable 100% Alpaca wool yarn. It really slides effortlessly on your needless. The pink color has some hues of bleu which really give it a more sophisticated note. The offwhite is just how I like it, not real white but doesn’t lean on the yellow creamish either.

Unfortunately, this yarn seems unavailable on Amazon currently so I have listed a few suggestions for substitutes here:

Baby Cardigan Size

The baby cardigan knitting pattern is available in sizes 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months written as follows throughout the pattern: 12 (3, 6, 18, 24).

The step by step pictures show the 12 months size.

The finished cardigan measurements are:

  • 3 months : 47 cm / 18.5“ chest diameter for 25 cm / 9.75“ length
  • 6 months : 55 cm / 21.5“ chest diameter for 30 cm / 11.75 “ length
  • 12 months : 55 cm / 21.5“ chest diameter for 30 cm / 11.75“ length
  • 18 months : 55 cm / 21.5“ chest diameter for 35 cm / 13.75“ length
  • 24 months : 62 cm / 24.5“ chest diameter for 35 cm / 13.75“ length

Abbreviations

  • k = knit
  • st = stitch
  • garter stitch = knit on both sides of the project
  • yo = yarn over
  • k2tog = knit 2 stitches together

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

free knitting and crochet cheatsheets

Gauge

With 5mm / US 8 needles, the gauge in garter stitch is 16 st by 32 rows for a 10 cm / 4” square.

Tips and Tricks

  • Eyelets: This short video shows you how easy it is to knit the eyelets. A simple yarn over and knit 2 stitches together is all you need to do!
  • Adding stitches at the end of a row: This short video shows you the technique I use to add stitches at the end of a row to create the sleeves.
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The Actual Knit Baby Sweater Pattern

1. The Back of the Cardigan

On 5 mm / US 8 needles cast on 44 (38, 44, 44, 50) st.

Knit in garter stitch (knit on both sides of the project) for 6 rows.

White eyelet repeat:

K3, [yo, k2tog, k4] repeat across to last 5 st, yo, k2tog, k3.

Knit 7 rows in garter stitch.

K6, [yo, k2tog, k4] repeat across, k last 2 st.

Knit 7 rows in garter stitch.

Make a total of 4 (3, 4, 5, 5) white eyelet repeats.

Strawberry Seed Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FREE

2. Adding the Sleeves

Switch to pink color yarn.

Knit 1 row and add 10 st at the end of the row.

Strawberry Seed Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FREE

Repeat until you have 20 new stitches on each side.

On the next 2 rows add 10 (2, 6, 12, 14) st. You now have a total of 104 (82, 96, 108, 118) st.

Strawberry Seed Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FREE

Knit in garter stitch for 8 cm / 3.25”.

Strawberry Seed Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern FREE

3. The Opening for the Neck

Once your sleeves reach 8 cm / 3.25”, prepare the opening for the neck.

On the right side of the baby cardigan, knit 44 (33, 40, 46, 51) st, cast off 16 and knit the remaining 44 (33, 40, 46, 51) st.

Strawberry Seed Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern FREE

From now on both sides are knit separately. Leave the right side stitches on the side for now. We will come back to them later.

4. The Front of the Cardigan – Left side

Knit 4 cm / 1.5” in garter stitch.

On the right side of the project, at the end of the last row add 12 st to create the front panel.

Knit in garter st for 7 cm / 2.75”.

Strawberry Seed Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern FREE

Now we need to cast off the sleeves.

On the wrong side of the cardigan cast off the 10 (2, 6, 12, 14) first sts. Knit until the end of the row then knit 1 more row.

[On the next row cast off the 10 first st. Knit until the end of the row then knit 1 more row.] 2 times.

On the right side of the cardigan, switch to white color yarn.

Knit 6 rows.

Make 4 (3, 4, 5, 5) white eyelet repeats and cast off.

White eyelet repeat (identical to previous white eyelet repeat):

K3, [yo, k2tog, k4] repeat across to last 5 st, yo, k2tog, k3.

Knit 7 rows in garter stitch.

K6, [yo, k2tog, k4] repeat across, k last 2 st.

Knit 7 rows in garter stitch.

Baby Knitting Pattern Set : The Cardigan Free Knitting Pattern

5. The front of the Cardigan – Right side

Go back to the stitches you left on the needle for the other front panel. This panel is identical to the left panel but mirrored.

Join the yarn in at the neck area and start with a row on the wrong side of the cardigan.

Baby Knitting Pattern Free : Strawberry Seed Cardigan

Knit 4 cm / 1.75” in garter stitch. On the wrong side of the project, at the end of the last row add 12 st to create the front panel.

Knit in garter st for 7 cm / 2.75”.

Now we need to cast off the sleeves.

On the right side of the cardigan cast off the 10 (2, 6, 12, 14) first st. Knit until the end of the row then knit 1 more row.

[On the next row cast off the 10 first st. Knit until the end of the row then knit 1 more row.] 2 times.

Knit one more row to finish on the right side of the cardigan and switch to white color yarn.

Knit 6 rows.

Make 4 (3, 4, 5, 5) white eyelet repeats and cast off.

Strawberry Seed Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern FREE

6. Finishing Touches: Blocking and Sewing

You’re done with the knitting part of your baby cardigan but it probably doesn’t look much like a baby cardigan yet. The final steps are blocking and sewing up the sides and buttons.

Blocking

I prefer to block my project before sewing it up. Removing all the curling and twisting helps me sew and it is easier to block it when you can still put it all flat in one layer.

Put your cardigan in some water. I like to give it a good soak. Remove as much water as possible. Do not wring it, roll it between 2 clean dry towels instead. Once most of the water is out, pin it to your blocking mat.

Leave it there to dry completely. It is important it is a 100% dry before you unpin it.

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.

Sewing

With the inside of the cardigan on the outside place the matching edges on top of each other. Use white yarn to sew the white section and pink color yarn for the sleeves, this will give a neater finish to your project and make the seams more discrete.

Strawberry Seed Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern FREE

Weave in the ends (from sewing and any other remaining ends).

Turn the baby cardigan inside out to sew the buttons. Spread the 6 buttons equally along the cardigan edge. There are not specific buttonholes, the holes between stitches are used instead.

Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FREE for Beginners

Now it’s ready to be gifted to the pretty baby princess or the charming little prince you made it for!

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free knitting and crochet cheatsheets

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