Whether for your own child, or as a gift to a new mother, a crocheted baby sweater is a true gift of love, handcrafted from the heart.
Yarn Selection
The selection of yarn for a baby sweater once meant heading to the pastel section of the yarn department. It still may, but with the wide array of yarn available today, your choice should not be defined by color alone. Season, wash-ability, texture, and pattern suggestions will all help you define which yarn will be the best selection for your project.
Hook Size
When following a pattern, many crocheters instantly assume because a hook size is specified, that is the size to use…not always so. Hook size in a pattern is a recommendation. A good recommendation, but gauge should be the determining factor in hook size. Depending on how loose or tight you crochet, you may find yourself needing one hook size bigger or smaller, especially for a pattern that will result in an item where finished size is important. For the pattern to look and fit just as described in the pattern, you should aim to meet the gauge with the intended hook size, but as with all things in life, people are individuals, and crocheters crochet at different gauges.
Customizable Pattern
This ‘pattern’ is a base pattern; customize it accordingly, for the child that will wear it. Hook size, type of yarn, etc., can all be altered. Made as is, it will fit a child about three months old.
Materials Used in this base pattern include:
I hook
4ply worsted weight yarn
Yarn needle
Scissors
Row 1: Ch 30, Double crochet in 4th ch from hook, and in each ch across (27 dc) ch 3, turn
Row 2: dc in each dc across (27)
Repeat row two for approximately 10 more rows. Alter the amount of rows freely, depending on the child it is for, and keeping in mind that some mothers prefer a sweater to be a bit longer to cover an infant back.
At the end of the last row, do not cut yarn, as you will start right into the shoulder.
First Shoulder
Ch 1, turn, (sc next two sts together, 1 sc in next st) repeat two more times, ch 1, turn (6 sc)
Row 2 of shoulder: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each sc across (7) ch1 turn
Row 3: 1 sc in each sc across, two sc in last sc (8)
Rows 4 – 9: Repeat rows 2 and 3 (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) at end of row 9, ch 3, turn
Row 10: 1 dc in each sc across (14)
Repeat row 10 until front panel matches length of back part of sweater. Cut yarn.
Second Shoulder
Attach yarn at opposite end of row first shoulder was started.
Repeat First shoulder and front panel.
Arms
Again, this is an approximate row to start. Freely alter this depending on the infant.
Arms are worked in rounds. Each arm worked identical to the other.
Rnd 1: Attach yarn into end of row 12 of front panel, work one sc in end of rows 11 through 1 and down corresponding rows of back of sweater, join with a sl st to first sc (24 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in each sc around, join with sl st, ch 3 (24 dc)
Rnds 3 – 10: Repeat rnd 2 (24 dc)
Final rnd: work (1sc, 1 sl st) in each dc around (24 sc, 24 sl st)
With yarn needle, sew up the sides from the bottoms to start of underarms.
Trim
If the sweater is for a boy, a simple sc worked around the neck area, front, and along the bottom will give the sweater a nice, finished look. If the sweater is for a girl, add 2 chains between each sc for a slightly ruffled look.
