A crochet baby cardigan is one of the most treasured gifts you can make for a new arrival. It is small enough to finish in a few evenings, it gets worn every day, and it is often kept long after the baby has outgrown it. This one is made from five simple rectangles (a back, two fronts and two sleeves), so if you can crochet a straight row of half trebles you can make it.
This free crochet baby cardigan pattern is written in UK terms with US conversions. It comes in four sizes from newborn to 18 months, with exact chain counts, row counts and a finished measurements chart, plus a panel diagram so you can see how the pieces fit together before you start.
Quick answer: To crochet a baby cardigan, make five rectangles in half treble crochet with DK yarn and a 4mm hook: a back, two fronts with a simple V-neck decrease and two sleeves. Sew the shoulders, attach the sleeves, sew the side and sleeve seams, then add a double crochet front band with buttonholes. The smallest size (0 to 3 months) takes about 6 to 8 hours and 100g of yarn.
Why this easy crochet baby cardigan works for beginners
Most baby cardigan patterns use raglan shaping, yokes or lots of increases. This one keeps things simple, so it is a good first garment:
- Only two stitches. The panels are worked in half treble crochet (htr), with a few rows of double crochet (dc) for the welts and cuffs.
- No armhole shaping. The sleeves are sewn straight onto the sides, which gives a soft dropped shoulder that is easy to get over a baby’s arms.
- Gentle V-neck. The only shaping on the body is a simple decrease at the neck edge of each front.
- Easy to check. Every piece has a stitch count and a measurement, so you can lay it flat and compare.
If half treble crochet is new to you, practise a small square first using our half treble crochet guide. The same stitch is used in our adult crochet cardigan, so this little version is also a great warm-up for a bigger project.
What you need
| Item | What to use |
|---|---|
| Yarn | DK (light worsted) baby yarn: about 100g, 125g, 150g or 200g for the four sizes |
| Hook | 4mm (UK 8, US G-6), plus a 3.5mm hook for the edging if you like a firmer band |
| Buttons | 3 or 4 flat buttons, 12 to 15mm across |
| Extras | Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, tape measure |
Choose a soft, machine-washable yarn. A baby acrylic, a cotton blend or a superwash merino all work well. Avoid fluffy or hairy yarns such as mohair, which can shed fibres near a baby’s face. DK is weight 3 (light) in the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system, so check the label for that number if you shop for yarn online.
Abbreviations (UK terms)
| UK term | US term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ch | ch | chain |
| dc | sc | double crochet (US single crochet) |
| htr | hdc | half treble crochet (US half double crochet) |
| htr2tog | hdc2tog | half treble two stitches together (1 stitch decreased) |
| sl st | sl st | slip stitch |
| st(s) | st(s) | stitch(es) |
Need a reminder of how UK and US names compare? Our UK vs US crochet terms chart has the full list.
Tension
16 htr and 12 rows = 10cm square on a 4mm hook. Tension matters for a garment, so make a small swatch first. If you have more stitches than this, go up half a hook size; if you have fewer, go down half a size.
Crochet baby cardigan sizes
Instructions are written for the smallest size, with the larger sizes in brackets: 0 to 3 months (3 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months). Where only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
| Size | Chest (finished) | Length | Sleeve (underarm) | Yarn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | 46cm | 22cm | 12.5cm | 100g |
| 3 to 6 months | 50cm | 24cm | 14.5cm | 125g |
| 6 to 12 months | 54cm | 27cm | 16.5cm | 150g |
| 12 to 18 months | 58cm | 30cm | 19.5cm | 200g |
The chest measurements include about 5cm of ease, so the cardigan fits comfortably over a vest or babygrow. If you are making a gift and do not know the baby’s size yet, the 3 to 6 months size is the safest choice.
How the pieces fit together
The diagram shows the five panels for the smallest size. The back and the two fronts are sewn together at the shoulders, then the sleeves are sewn to the side edges, and finally the side and sleeve seams are joined in one go.
Crochet baby cardigan pattern
Back
Ch 39 (42, 45, 48).
Row 1: 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. 38 (41, 44, 47) sts.
Rows 2 to 3: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 1 dc in each st to end, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, 1 dc in first st, *1 dc in next st; rep from * to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. 37 (40, 43, 46) sts. This small decrease keeps the welt from flaring.
Row 5: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), 1 htr in each st to end, turn. 37 (40, 43, 46) htr.
Rows 6 onwards: Repeat row 5 until you have worked 23 (26, 29, 33) rows of htr in total. The back should measure about 22 (24, 27, 30)cm from the bottom edge. Fasten off.
Lay the back flat. Place a marker on each side edge 9.5 (10, 11, 12)cm down from the top. These mark where the sleeves will be sewn.
Left front
Ch 20 (21, 23, 24).
Rows 1 to 3: Work as for the back in dc. 19 (20, 22, 23) sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, dc to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. 18 (19, 21, 22) sts.
Row 5: Ch 2, 1 htr in each st to end, turn. 18 (19, 21, 22) htr.
Repeat row 5 until you have worked 15 (18, 20, 24) rows of htr in total.
Neck shaping: On the next row, work htr2tog at the neck edge (the front edge, which is the start of a right side row on the left front) and htr to the end. Keep decreasing 1 st at the neck edge on every row for 8 (8, 9, 9) rows in total. 10 (11, 12, 13) sts remain. Fasten off. You should have 23 (26, 29, 33) htr rows, the same as the back.
Place a sleeve marker on the side edge 9.5 (10, 11, 12)cm down from the top, as for the back.
Right front
Work as for the left front, but make the neck decreases at the end of the right side rows instead of the start, so the shaping mirrors the left front. Lay the two fronts side by side: the V-neck should slope inwards on both.
Sleeves (make 2)
Ch 23 (25, 28, 31).
Rows 1 to 3 (cuff): Work in dc as for the back. 22 (24, 27, 30) sts.
Row 4: Ch 2, 1 htr in each st to end, turn.
Increase rows: Continue in htr, working 2 htr in the first and last st of every 3rd (3rd, 4th, 5th) row, 4 times. 30 (32, 35, 38) sts.
Work straight in htr until you have 13 (15, 17, 21) rows of htr in total and the sleeve measures about 12.5 (14.5, 16.5, 19.5)cm. Fasten off.
Making up your crochet baby cardigan
- Block the pieces. Pin each panel to the measurements in the chart, spray lightly with water and leave to dry. This makes seaming much easier.
- Shoulders. Place the fronts on top of the back, right sides together. Sew each shoulder over the 10 (11, 12, 13) sts at the top of each front. The stitches left in the middle of the back form the back neck.
- Sleeves. Open the piece out flat. Fold each sleeve in half to find the centre of the top edge and pin it to the shoulder seam. Pin the sleeve edges to the side markers on the back and front, then sew in place.
- Side and sleeve seams. Fold the cardigan right sides together and sew from the cuff, up the sleeve, and down the side to the bottom edge in one seam. Repeat on the other side.
- Weave in all the ends securely, working them back and forth so they cannot work loose in the wash.
Front band and buttonholes
The band is worked in one piece up one front, around the back neck and down the other front. Join the yarn at the bottom of the right front with the right side facing.
Row 1: Ch 1, work dc evenly up the right front, around the back neck and down the left front. Work about 1 dc for every row end along the fronts and 1 dc in each st across the back neck. Turn.
Row 2 (buttonholes): Ch 1, dc along the first front, making 3 (3, 4, 4) buttonholes evenly spaced between the bottom edge and the start of the neck shaping. To make each buttonhole: ch 2, skip 2 sts. Continue in dc around the neck and down the second front. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, dc in each st, working 2 dc into each ch-2 space. Fasten off.
Traditionally, buttonholes go on the right front for a girl and the left front for a boy, so work row 2 starting from whichever side you need. Sew the buttons on the opposite front to line up with the buttonholes.
Baby safety tips
A handmade cardigan should be as safe as it is pretty. Keep these points in mind:
- Sew buttons on very firmly with doubled thread or yarn, and check them regularly. For newborns you can replace buttons with crochet ties (a 25cm chain on each front) or a single button at the neck.
- Avoid loose loops. Lacy edgings and long chains can catch tiny fingers. A plain dc edge is the safest finish.
- Weave in ends well so threads cannot unravel and wrap around fingers or toes.
- Skip embellishments such as beads, sequins and pompoms on anything a baby will wear.
Easy ways to vary your crochet baby cardigan
- Stripes: change colour every 4 rows of htr on the body and sleeves for a cheerful stripe. Carry the yarn up the side edge to save on ends.
- Contrast trims: work the welts, cuffs and front band in a second colour.
- Textured body: work the htr rows into the back loop only for a ribbed look. Check your tension again, as this can make the fabric a little wider.
- Shorter sleeves: stop the sleeves after 6 to 8 htr rows for a summer cardigan.
- Matching set: add our crochet baby hat and easy crochet baby booties in the same yarn for a beautiful gift set.
Common problems and how to fix them
My panels are wider than the chart
Your tension is looser than 16 htr to 10cm. Go down half a hook size, or remove 2 stitches from the starting chain for every 1cm too wide.
The front edges are wavy after the band
Too many dc were worked along the fronts. Pull back row 1 of the band and work slightly fewer stitches, roughly 3 dc for every 4 row ends.
The neck feels too wide
Work one extra row of dc around the neck only, using dc2tog at each back corner, or make the shoulder seams 1 or 2 stitches longer.
Caring for a crochet baby cardigan
Follow the washing instructions on the yarn label. Most baby yarns can go in a 30 or 40 degree wash. Pop the cardigan in a mesh laundry bag, reshape it while damp and dry it flat rather than hanging it, so it keeps its shape.
Frequently asked questions about crochet baby cardigans
Is a crochet baby cardigan easy for beginners?
Yes. This pattern is made from five rectangles in half treble crochet, with only simple decreases at the neck. If you can crochet straight rows and sew a seam, you can make it.
How much yarn do I need for a baby cardigan?
About 100g of DK yarn for 0 to 3 months, 125g for 3 to 6 months, 150g for 6 to 12 months and 200g for 12 to 18 months. Buy one extra ball if you want a matching hat.
How long does it take to crochet a baby cardigan?
Most people finish the smallest size in 6 to 8 hours, and the largest size in about 10 to 12 hours, including sewing up.
What is the best yarn for a crochet baby cardigan?
A soft, machine-washable DK baby yarn, such as baby acrylic, a cotton blend or superwash merino. Avoid mohair and other fluffy yarns that shed.
Can I make this cardigan in US terms?
Yes. Use US single crochet wherever the pattern says dc, and US half double crochet wherever it says htr. The stitch counts stay the same.
