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You are here: Home / Free Knitting Patterns / For Babies and Children / How to Knit a Cardigan: Try an Adorable Baby Sweater

How to Knit a Cardigan: Try an Adorable Baby Sweater

For Babies and Children, For Preemies, Free Knitting Patterns, Sweaters

 

baby sweaters

Knitting a baby sweater is the perfect way to practice sweater knitting. Check out these 9 free knitting patterns

I find knitting cardigan sweaters intimidating. Knitting cardigans seems to me an exercise in juggling variables. You have to, first and foremost, make sure it fits if you ever want it worn. You have to ensure that the sleeves are long enough and wide enough. That the bodice isn’t too long or too short. That the shoulders actually fall onto the shoulders. And so on.

That, my friend, is what makes knitting a baby sweater so appealing to me. While the variables still exist, they do so on a much smaller scale. Which means that if you mess up, you won’t have to spend nearly as much time fixing it.

And if you’re knitting for charity, you’re even more fortunate. Because some baby somewhere will most likely fit your creation!

And as an added bonus, a baby cardigan is part of any good newborn layette. Take a hat and a blanket, add a cardigan, and the ensemble is complete. Presto: you have a well-dressed and warm baby.

So if you would love to make a full-sized cardigan but feel intimidated like I do, why not try a baby cardigan first? When you’re done, you have a great charity knitting project to donate. And you’ll have gained experience in cardigan construction. It’s a win-win!

Let’s make some cardigan magic!

Baby Sweater Magic: Free Knitting Patterns for Cardigans

Five-Hour Baby Sweater: This is a version of a famous pattern that has long been available for free online. This particular version has been adapted by Bev Qualheim (of Bev’s Country Cottage), Jennifer Cox, and Beth Koskie. It is a darling sweater full of visual interest. The pattern comes with a set of possible variations at the bottom.

5-Hour Sweater
Photo: Bev Qualheim
5-Hour Baby Sweater
Photo: Bev Qualheim

Garter Stitch Baby Kimono: Here’s a classic kimono-styled cardigan. It’s certainly one of the simpler patterns on this list, as it’s knit entirely in garter stitch.

Newborn Top Down Cardigan: This lovely little top-down pattern is knit all in one piece — no seaming!

Easy Baby Cardigan: This might just be the simplest baby cardigan pattern available. You’ll knit this almost entirely in one piece and without buttonholes — it just ties into place.

Baby Eyelet Cardi: For a cardigan with a little more visual interest, try this adorable piece with airy eyelets at the bottom.

Five-Pound Cardigan: Here’s a special (and simple) pattern for a cardigan suitable for a larger preemie or a small newborn.

Knits for KidsStriped Cardigan: For another version of a kimono cardigan, check out the sweet styling of this pattern.

Newborn Vertabrae: Here’s a clever option: a cardigan that covers only the baby’s arms. It’s kind of like a shrug for babies. How cute!

Bedtime Stories: This precious little cardigan is a kimono-style with ties instead of buttons. If you don’t want to sew on buttons or worry about buttonholes and like the kimono style, this could be your pattern!

Now, let’s lose the intimidation and whip up a baby sweater or two for charity or gifts!

Want more free knitting patterns for charity? Click here for your copy of "4 Quick Charity Knitting Wins" and start making a difference today!

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Nicole

I believe there's someone who needs what you love to knit. If you'd like to knit patterns you love for people you care about, I can help!
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Last Updated: October 16, 2018 ·

About Nicole

I believe there's someone who needs what you love to knit. If you'd like to knit patterns you love for people you care about, I can help!

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Nicole Haschke
Do you have your ticket yet? (I just got mine!) Jo Do you have your ticket yet? (I just got mine!) Join me and a multitude of fabulous knitters and artisans for an amazing couple of days at the @knitandescape Virtual Galentine's Day Weekend event! I'll be showing off these wonderful bonding hearts and telling you how you can use them to benefit the Mighty Miracles Foundation to help premature infants & their families. I can't wait to see you "there" this Friday night at 8 pm Eastern time!
Are you missing your in-person knitting nights? If Are you missing your in-person knitting nights? If so, let me tell you about a virtual knitting event you won't want to miss! 

The great folks at Knit + Escape are holding a Galentine's Day virtual celebration from Feb. 4 to 6. A $10 ticket will give you access to vendor virtual booths and a whole lot of free content that includes fiber demos and lectures, farm tours, charity knitting, and much, MUCH more. 

And here's a bonus that I hope you'll love: your Marketplace Ticket includes access to the Friday Evening CHARITY KNIT NIGHT, an exciting event led by Kristy Glass, where I will be a special guest. We’ll have several opportunities for participants to ask questions and celebrate the spirit of giving!

I'm going to be talking about creating Bonding Hearts and how these wonderful little creations can help preemies and their families through an amazing organization called Mighty Miracles Foundation. 

I would LOVE to see you there, so I hope you'll join us! You'll find a registration link to this event in my profile.
(Please note: the following has nothing to do with (Please note: the following has nothing to do with charity knitting. But I can't be silent any longer. If I - and Knitting for Charity - am going to be for making the lives of others better, I have to speak up.) I've been wanting to say something for well over a week. But I felt like it wasn't my place to talk. This isn't my experience. I should be listening. 
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Systemic racism is not a theory. It's not a kooky idea. It's a fact of life. And whether white people feel like they've benefited from it or not (I'm sure most of us feel like we haven't)... we have. 
Sure, slavery is no more. Sure, Jim Crow laws are no more. But racism? It's still very much here. And it pushes down our brothers and sisters of color every. single. day. It makes them fear for their lives, no matter what they're doing. It makes their very existence a risk. 
And I've finally realized that it's not enough for me to believe these things in my heart and go on with my life as if there's nothing more I can do. It's not enough to be proudly "not a racist." By my silence, by my inaction, I'm perpetuating a system that feeds off black and brown human beings. 
So: this is my first step. 
I discovered Brownicity.com. And there, I discovered this book. It's a workbook, actually - kind of like a course in book form. Here's what the page says about it: "This journey guide was designed to lead the ‘beginner’ through an enlightening and introspective first steps of race/ism analysis and healing. It can be used to support a group or individual’s study." I've dived in and I'm already getting an education. And I can't wait to learn more. 
We're not going to change the world in a day. Or even a week. But each of us can start taking steps to unlearn racism. (Yes, even a proud "non-racist" like me has racism to unlearn.) This doesn't have to be your book or your path. But do *something* to start listening. In the barest glimpses of social media, you're bound to find lists of books, movies, documentaries, podcasts, and so on. I've already seen more of those than I can count. (Cont'd in comments)
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Spent some time this weekend recording the first v Spent some time this weekend recording the first video lesson of my spiral rib tube sock knitting class. It will be releasing very soon... who's excited? #charityknittersofinstagram #learningtoknitsocks
I've been so inspired by all the people releasing I've been so inspired by all the people releasing free help during this time of crisis. Zoos and aquariums and nature livecams all over... Broadway offering free videos of their shows... musicians offering free living room concerts...and so on. 
So I decided to offer my own kind of help. 
If you're a knitter, I want to teach you how to knit socks!

Visit my profile for the link to my video explaining what I'm teaching and why, and the supplies you'll need. 
You can subscribe to my YouTube channel for notifications, or you can subscribe to my newsletter to get email notifications of new videos. The link to subscribe to my newsletter is also in my profile. 
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How is everyone doing? I've got a set of socks goi How is everyone doing? I've got a set of socks going on my new Hiya Hiya Sharps, so I think I'll be good to go for a while. How about you? Are you staying home as much as possible? And, of course, what are you knitting? #KnittingTogether
So this happened. 😭 Thank God for Friday nights So this happened. 😭 Thank God for Friday nights in which there's nothing going on, so we can drive to the nearest yarn shop (40 minutes away). #SockNeedleCrisis
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