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I’m gonna say it. Baby knits are the best knitting projects.
Regular readers of this knitting blog might remember that my sister had a baby last year, so I spent a good chunk of the year knitting for baby. I spent far too many evenings scrolling on Ravelry, looking at all the super cute baby knitting patterns, ‘ooohing’ and ‘ahhhing’ over all the little jumpers and rompers and cardigans and booties I wanted to cast on.
Just before little Robyn was born, I gifted her a pile of handknit bits to see her through her first year in this world and let me tell you, the little bubble of pride I get when my phone pings and my sister has sent over a pic of Robyn wearing something I made, ooft! It’s worth every single hour of stitching, even if she does grow out of it in 5 minutes and it never gets worn again.
And besides, it is worth it, because as I said, baby knits are the best knitting projects.
I guess it’s not exactly radical to say, is it? They’re small, quick to knit, and they’re stinkin’ CUTE. I used a fair few of the baby knits I made as a way of using up odd balls and leftover yarn from other knitting projects (which is why Robyn had at least 4 pairs of booties, and then a few more for Christmas). I also like them for learning new knitting skills or testing out a pattern before you commit to knitting one for yourself.
Do I want to knit my husband an all-over cable sweater? Well, if I’m not enjoying knitting up 150g of yarn into swoopy loopy criss-crossy stitches, I sure ain’t committing to something five times the size!
Now, I’m not a mum, so I’m definitely not claiming to be an expert on what babies need. But I do have a fair bit of experience knitting for one baby, and that surely counts for something, at least.
We often get customers coming into our Stonehaven knitting shop looking for some baby knitting inspiration and if you’re reading this blog, it’s likely you’re wanting the same. So here are a few things that might be worth thinking about:
Depending on the parents, the yarn choice does matter. ‘Is it soft?’ and ‘Is it machine washable?’ are probably the two biggest questions we get from knitters chosing baby friendly yarns for their baby knitting projects. Not all parents regularly do a handwash or have the brain space to even entertain that thought, so a good machine-washable yarn might be appreciated – and you have the added benefit of not having to stress about whether the baby knit you spent hours stitching might accidentally end up on a quick wash.
I hate sewing my knitting, so top-down baby knits that are worked in the round are what I go for for a reason. That said, if you prefer knitting flat on straight needles, I’ve made sure this list of baby knitting patterns has some options for you too.
When it comes to baby sweaters, ones with button openings tend to be quite a practical choice. At least in my experience, they’re much easier to get on over a baby’s head than a regular jumper especially if baby is newborn or still very little. Cardigans seem to be a good choice for summer babies as they are easy to unbutton or take off if baby is getting too warm. Obviously every parent is different, but this might be something you want to consider when choosing what to cast on.
Robyn is turning one in July, so obviously, I need to start thinking about what I can knit for her birthday. Whilst I’m back to trawling Ravelry in case I find another baby knit design that takes my fancy, I thought it would be nice to round up some of my favourite baby knitting patterns to give you a bit of inspo too,
Whether you’ve got a new arrival on the way, a first birthday coming up, or you just love knitting for babies, here’s a list of 8 tried and tested baby knitting patterns, made with a little help from Janice and our Stonehaven customers.
Enjoy!
Please note: these baby knit designs are in no particular order and contain a mixture of patterns worked flat on straight needles and in the round on circular needles.
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When I say I love knitting the Baby Aosta, I really do mean it. I’ve knit it at least four times now, and at least one of them was just ‘for fun’…
The Baby Aosta is an Andalusian stitch top down raglan sweater with a 1×1 rib button band yoke. The cardigan version is the same; an Andalusian stitch top down raglan cardigan with a 1×1 rib button band.
The Andalusian stitch is SO nice to knit, especially in the jumper as you can forget about the purl rows as soon as you hit the body and start knitting in the round. The row repeats require just enough brain engagement to keep it from being completely mindless, but if you’re after a really easy baby knit, you could skip the stitch pattern and go with a plain version (which I’ve also done).
My sister was a big fan of this baby jumper, too and the buttons make it much easier to get on over baby’s big head, which is always a winner. I’m currently planning to cast on the Aosta Cardigan for her first birthday, but there’s a chance I may change my mind on that one by the time I get to the end of this baby knitting blog.
Sizes: Newborn to 24 months
Gauge: 22 stitches and 34 rows = 10 cm in Andalusian stitch (4mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from the top down, in the round on circular needles
My sister is a machine washer so knitting in something she can chuck in on a quick wash with all the other bits is v. important. That’s why I’m gonna recommend Lang Merino 120 for this baby knit pattern. The round yarn is also great for stitch definition and making that Andalusian stitch really pop!
However, I personally love knitting with a more woolly yarn which is why I would probably pick the WYS Colour Lab DK to knit little Robyn’s Aosta Cardigan in.
Get the Baby Aosta Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
Get the Baby Aosta Cardigan Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
Oh, and if you fancy matching baby, you can knit your own version, too!
Get the Aosta Sweater Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
Get the Aosta Cardigan Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
If you love the look of a baby sweater with a button collar, like the Baby Aosta, but prefer knitting flat on straight needles, the Toby Baby Jumper by Patricia Evans is a great alternative. It’s a simple, striped raglan sweater with a double 1×1 rib button band yoke.
Janice has knit this a few times for friends and it’s always gone down well. It’s a nice, straightforward and practical baby jumper that’s easy to get on and off – something I imagine is ideal when Mum and Dad are sleep deprived and don’t want to wrestle baby’s head through a small hole.
I think the mismatched buttons are fun and I like the idea of knitting this in different coloured stripes as a bit of a stashbuster knitting project.
Sizes: 0-3 months to 1-2 years
Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch (4mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit flat on straight needles and seamed
I know I literally just mentioned this baby friendly yarn but the fun and funky colourful buttons call for a yarn with some bright and bold colour options, and that’s exactly what the WYS Colour Lab DK has.
And if you choose a few colours to do it in, you may well have enough leftover to knit a second (although you’ll have to do the maths on that!)
Get the Toby Baby Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
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I love this baby knitting pattern. I’ve personally knit the 24 stitch, DK version, but if I were knitting it again, I’d pick the 28 stitch, 4-ply version.
The Sorgenfri foldover jacket, like most of the baby knitting patterns I’m recommending, is knit top down and in the round. It has an off-centre button band that fastens at one side rather than straight down the middle, and has this lovely, and very addictive 8 row repeat, which is probs my favourite thing about knitting it. Like the Aosta with the Andalusian stitch, it gives you a little something to concentrate on, but not tooooo much as my brain doesn’t like to work too hard when I’m knitting.
It’s one of those knitting projects where you really get into the rhythm of it, just wanting to get to the end of the repeat, and before you know it, you’ve made loads of progress – yay!
Sizes: 1 month to 12 months
Gauge: 24 stitches OR 28 stitches = 10 cm in pattern (3.5 OR 3mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from the top down, in the round on circular needles
One of the yarn suggestions in the DK pattern is cashmere, but I’m sorry, no baby deserves cashmere, no matter how cute or related to me they may be. (If you think otherwise, go for it, it would be DELIGHTFUL!)
Since I would knit the 4-ply version next, I’m going to recommend WYS Signature 4-ply in the solid shades. I have my eye on the cornflower for this one. However, for maximum colour choice and proper nice stitch definition for all that lovely lovely texture, Scheepjes Catona would be cracker for a teeny tiny one.
Get the Sorgenfri Foldover Jacket (28 stitches) Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
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I limited myself to just 2 baby knit designs by Guri Pedersen, but I could have easily recommended her entire library of baby knitting patterns. I just love her simple and minimalist style so much and The Briskbey Slippers are probably my most repeated baby knit.
Briskeby slippers are simple little baby slippers, knit in one piece with a folded 1×1 rib cuff that sits well around baby’s ankle. They fit nice and secure around baby’s foot, but this baby knitting pattern give you the option of adding a little tie to the button of the cuff so you can make sure there’s no risk of losing one!
From a knitting perspective, they’re really nice to make ‘cause they’re such a quick and easy knitting project. I can whip up a pair in an evening if I concentrate hard enough, and they’re perfect for using up leftover yarn from other baby knits, especially if you’ve got bits left from a jumper or cardigan. The amount of matching booties Robyn has for her collection of knitwear is ridiculous.
From a parent perspective, they’re great for keeping babys’ feet nice and cosy. My sister loves them ‘cause she can put them on instead of socks (and obviously coordinate them with whatever knitted item Robyn is wearing)
Sizes: Premature to 12-18 months.
Gauge: 17 stitches = 10 cm in stocking stitch (4.5mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from sole up, in the round using double pointed needles
Whatever you like! The pattern calls for a chunky yarn, but I’ve knit these up in an aran weight and have done loads in leftover DK yarn, and they turned out just fine.
It’s probably worth noting that the pattern seems to have been updated since I downloaded it. The recommended needle size on my pattern is 4mm, so I’ve always knit the main bootie with a 4mm and changed to a 3.5mm for the rib. Ultimately, and this is probably not the best knitting advice, but I say just knit them with a bit of common sense. If you know how big baby’s foot is, you’ll probs be able to make a bootie that will either fit them now or in a few months!
Get the Briskeby Slippers Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
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Janice loves all of Florence Merlin’s baby knitting patterns so introduced me to them recently, and I just think they’re so sweet. They’ve got a similar feel to Guri Pedersen’s designs, but maybe a bit more delicate and, dare I say it, more stereotypically ‘girly’, with a few more knitted cables and lace.
Little Cables is a cute little cardigan with cable details on the yoke, which is knit from the top down on straight needles. The sleeves are held whilst you knit the body, then worked and sewn together at the end.
Janice is knitting up one of these at the moment in Scheepjes Organicon and it’s so so sweet. I think it’s a nice introduction to knitting cables, and I quite like the idea that you can wear it as a cardigan or as a sweater with the fastening at the back (although I’m so vanilla I would probably just use it as a cardigan).
Sizes: Newborn-3 months to 18-24 months
Gauge: 27 stitches and 38 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch (3mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit flat on straight needles and seamed at the end
Seeing as it’s working out so well for Janice, I’m gonna have to recommend Scheepjes Organicon for this one. It’s soft and smooth, and you can chuck it in the machine, which is always a winner when knitting baby clothes.
Get the Little Cables Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
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Another baby knit recommendation from Janice, for you knitters who prefer to work in the round. Petit Arc-en-ciel by Solenn Couix-Loarer is a striped yoke cardigan knit seamlessly from the top down on circular needles, although there is the option of knitting the sleeves flat and sewing them at the end.
Neither of us has actually tested this baby knitting pattern (I know I said they were tried and tested!), but Janice loved the look of it and it does have good ratings and over 400 projects on Ravelry, which is a good sign.
The colourful stripes on the yoke are cute, and I quite like the fact that it allows you to use up your yarn scraps. So, if you’re someone who likes to knit with sport weight yarns, like the recommended Uylsse by De Rerum Natura, this would be a pretty lovely stashbuster knitting project.
Sizes: 0-3 months to 18-24 months
Gauge: 24 stitches and 38 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch (3mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from the top down, in the round on circular needles (with the option of knitting the sleeves flat on straight needles and seaming at the end)
It’s such a lovely yarn, why wouldn’t you use the recommended Ulysse by De Rerum Natura? It’s so lovely and soft against baby’s skin and if you’re already a knitter who regularly handwashes their knits, it’ll be easy peasy to keep clean.
Get the Petite Arc-en-ciel Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
Norwegian Fir by OGE Knitwear Designs is a well and truly tried and tested baby knitting pattern here at Baa! This one has been knit a lot, by Janice, by friends, and by customers, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know.
Norwegian Fir is a seamless, top down baby cardigan worked in garter stitch with a single button hole worked in at the top to fasten. Its main design feature is the fir tree inspired lacy raglan pattern which makes the start of this baby knit pattern a little more interesting to follow.
It’s quite similar in style to the PetiteKnit Beginner’s Jacket, which was actually my first ever baby knit. This one just has a bit more of a ‘girly’ vibe with the delicate lace detail (obviously you can knit this for any baby. I don’t care much for the gender stereotypes and, to be honest, neither does baby).
Sizes: 0-3 months to 18-24 months
Gauge: 22 stitches and 40 rows = 10 cm in garter stitch (3.75mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from the top down, in the round on circular needles
Out of the 3000+ projects on Ravlery, there were a good number of knitters who opted for Sirdar Snuggly DK, which we have available in our Stonehaven knitting shop. It’s proved to be popular so far for baby knits, especially since it’s so easy to care for. A great yarn option for parents who aren’t knitters themselves.
Get the Norwegian Fir Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
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As someone who is obsessed with knitting socks, I obviously had to include a baby sock knitting pattern! Neither Janice or I have knit these yet, but give us a week or so and we’ll probably have a pair stitched up!
The Stretchy Baby Socks by Fabienne Schulte is a free sock knitting pattern on Ravelry that was actually intended to knit baby socks for refugees. The pattern contains instructions for two rib patterns – a ‘stretchy’ 2×2 rib and a ‘very stretchy’ broken rib stitch for babies with a bit more chunk.
They are SO cute. I mean, who doesn’t want a teeny tiny baby sock palette cleanser that can be squeezed in between bigger knitting projects? They’re also perfect if you’re anything like me and have loads of random bits of sock yarn left over that you don’t quite know what to do with.
Sizes: from preemie/small to 18-24 months
Gauge: 30 stitches and 42 rows = 10 cm in stockinette stitch (2.75mm needles recommended)
Construction: Knit from the top down, in the round on circular or double pointed needles
Whatever sock yarn you have left over from your own handknit socks, but if you are buying sock yarn especially for baby, I reckon Socks Yeah by Coop Knits is a cracker with all those funky colours, especially as you’ll be able to get away with just buying a single skein too.
Get the Stretch Baby Socks Knitting Pattern on Ravelry here
Are you ready to cast on your next baby knitting project?
If you’ve made it to the end of this list of baby knitting patterns and don’t want to cast on a baby knit immediately, I admire your restraint. I’m a bit of a comfort knitter and tend to knit the same thing again and again, but writing this list has seen me add a couple more baby knit designs to my Ravelry favourites.
Have you knitted any of these baby knitting patterns before? Or do you have a go to design you whip up every time there’s a new baby in your life? If so, let us know.
And obviously, if you do cast on any of these baby knits, we’d love to see. Tag us in your projects on Instagram @baawool so we don’t miss them.
