Tag: crochet for babies

The Lovechunk sweater is a baby crochet cardigan pattern using worsted weight yarn. This ensures a quick, satisfying gift!

If you’re in need of a quick, easy make to give to a new baby, try the Lovechunk baby sweater. Not only is it made using aran weight yarn for a quicker project but it is available in sizes 6 months to 2 years. Every baby needs a simple, drop shoulder cardigan for cooler days and photo opportunities. I chose aran weight for this design because it has just the right amount of squish without being too stiff. 

Prefer to get your crochet patterns as a downloadable PDF?

The Lovechunk baby sweater pattern PDF for this baby crochet cardigan is available here. 

This quick cardigan is worked in 5 pieces so it’s the perfect small project to master your emerging crochet skills.  

Mix it up with colour changing yarn or use 2 yarns to create a colour block effect. It is sure to be your go-to gifting sweater for many years to come. 

Why is the Lovechunk baby sweater good for crochet beginners? 

The Lovechunk baby sweater is an excellent crochet baby cardigan for crochet beginners to make as it helps you learn the fundamentals of crochet garment making in a small, manageable project. Learn how to crochet a flat, even fabric, change colour, seam and apply ribbed edging and cuffs. For such a small thing, this cardigan can help you master a lot of skills and understand how a crochet garment is constructed. 

The Lovechunk baby sweater modelled on my baby in September. She is wearing the 6m size. 

Here’s why the Lovechunk baby sweater is an excellent project even if you’re not 100% confident on crochet garments: 

• It requires no more than 200g (7oz) of aran weight yarn making it a budget-friendly project. 
• It is worked in 5 flat pieces making each section bitesize and portable. 
• You don’t have to do a colour change if you don’t want to. 
• It takes much less time than a blanket or adult size garment. 
• It only requires the knowledge of 2 crochet stitches- the half double (Hdc) and single crochet (Sc) making it really easy to remember. 
• There is hardly any shaping required for the garment, so you can focus on making it.
• Each section is clear to follow and is separate so you can focus on what’s best for you and when. 

What crochet stitch knowledge do I need? 

Below is the glossary of stitches from the pattern to help you understand what is required to make this crochet baby sweater. 

Over on my beginners crochet playlist on Youtube you can learn to make both the Hdc stitch and the Sc stitch. Click here to go to my channel. 

Other crochet stitches and terms that you’ll need to know in order to make this simple baby cardigan. 

Ch: Chain. This either means yarn over and pull through a loop or it refers to the chain at the top of the previous stitch. 

Hdc: Half double crochet (UK half treble). Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook. 

Sc: Single crochet (UK double). Insert hook, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. 

Sk: Skip stitches

St(s): Stitch(es)

Pattern uses US terms throughout. 

It’s important to know your US terms. Here is a handy chart to remind you of the differences between US and UK crochet terms. 

I use US crochet terms in all of my patterns but I always recommend that beginners learn both terms as it will enable you to crochet absolutely everything. 

Pattern: Easy crochet baby cardigan.

Lovechunk Baby Sweater

Every baby needs a simple, drop shoulder cardigan for cooler days and photo opportunities. I chose aran weight for this design because it has just the right amount of squish without being too stiff. 

This quick cardigan is worked in 5 pieces. 

Mix it up with colour changing yarn or use 2 yarns to create a colour block effect. It is sure to be your go-to gifting sweater for many years to come. 

Gauge 

13 sts and 10 rows to 10cm/4in with Hdc using 5mm crochet hook. 

Please take time to swatch for tension. If there are fewer stitches in your swatch than suggested, decrease by 0.5mm increments until you get the right amount. If there are more stitches than shown above, increase your hook size by 0.5mm increments until you meet the amount. 

Sample shown in size 2 (6-12m)

Notes

Ribbing: 

The bottom waistband and the button bands are made with single crochet rib. This is a technique that involves making a single crochet stitch only in the back loop of every previous stitch. Normally, the hook goes under both loops, but for creating texture, you need to only insert into the back loop. 

Size Chart

Glossary 

Ch: Chain. This either means yarn over and pull through a loop or it refers to the chain at the top of the previous stitch. 

Hdc: Half double crochet (UK half treble). Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook. 

Sc: Single crochet (UK double). Insert hook, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. 

Sk: Skip stitches

St(s): Stitch(es)

Pattern uses US terms throughout

Materials

• 130 (150/180/200)g/ 4.5 (5/6/7)oz of aran weight yarn such as Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran 180m/ 197yd per 100g/ 3.5oz ball. Colours used are Paper White and Slate Grey. 
• 1 15mm/ 0.5in button. 
• 1 removable stitch marker 
• Darning needle
• 5mm/ US 8 crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge. 

Instructions:
Back   

Ch 7. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 6 scs. Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. Ch 1, turn. 6 sts. 

Repeat last row 27 (31/35/39) times, or until waistband measures 20 (23/25/27)cm/ 8 (9/10/11)in when stretched. On last row, end with sc.

Without fastening off, ch 2 (counts as hdc) and hdc 25 (29/33/37) sts across top of waistband. 26 (30/34/38) sts total. 

Work 11 (13/15/17) more rows, or until total back measures 16 (18/20/22)cm/ 6 (7/8/9)in.

If changing colour, work the next 11 (12/13/14) rows in colour 2. 

If using 1 colour, work another 11 (12/13/14) rows, or until total back measures 26 (30/33/36)cm/ 10 (12/13/14)in. Fasten off. 

Front panels (Make 2)

Ch 7. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 6 scs. Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. Ch 1, turn. 6 sts. 

Repeat last row 13 (15/17/19) times, or until waistband measures 10 (11/12/13)cm/ 4 (4.5/5/5.5)in when stretched.  On last row, end with sc.

Without fastening off, Ch 2 (counts as hdc) and hdc 12 (14/15/16) sts across top of waistband. 13 (15/16/17) sts total. 

Work 11 (13/15/17) more rows or until entire front panel measures 16 (18/20/22)cm/ 6 (7/8/9)in. 

Shape neck 

Hdc across 11 (13/13/14) sts. Ch 2, turn, leaving last 2 (2/3/3) sts unworked. 11 (13/13/14) sts total. 

If changing colour, work the next 10 (11/12/13) rows in colour 2. 11 (13/13/14) sts total. 

There is no obvious wrong side/right side so either work both panels the same as above and turn one piece over or cut yarn and skip 2 (2/3/3) sts before continuing hdc to end for the second panel. This will then leave a neck opening for left and right front. 11 (13/13/14) sts total. 

If using 1 colour, work another 10 (11/12/13) rows, or until total front measures 26 (30/33/36)cm/ 10 (12/13/14)in. Fasten off. 

Mark button hole

Using a removable stitch marker, mark the 19th (20th/21st/22nd) row of the right panel. This will be where the buttonhole goes.  

Sleeves (Make 2) 

Ch 7. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 6 scs. Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. Ch 1, turn. 6 sts. 

Repeat last row 13 (15/17/19) times, or until cuff measures 11 (13/14/15)cm/ 4 (5/5.5/6)in when stretched. On last row, end with sc.

Without fastening off, ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc 13 (15/17/19) sts across top of cuff. Ch 2, turn. 14 (16/18/20) sts total.

Row 2: Hdc in 1st st, hdc to last st. 2 hdc in last st. (2 sts increased) Ch 2, turn. 

Row 3: Hdc in 4th ch from hook. Hdc to end. Ch 2, turn.  

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until 10 (12/12/14) sts have been created. 24 (28/30/34) sts total. 

Work even in hdc until sleeve measures 13 (16/20/22)cm/ 5 (6/8/9)in total. If changing colour, do so in the last 2 rows. Fasten off. 

Finishing 

1. Join shoulder seams first, starting from outer edge of shoulder and working your way inwards towards neck opening. 

2. Sew each side seam up to armholes.         3.Seam sleeves and attach to armholes. 

Buttonband 

Attach yarn, starting at right bottom edge of front right panel. Sc into the side of every hdc row up to neck, around top of neck and down the left side hdc rows. 

Sc in every sc until you get to the 19th (20th/21st/22nd) marked row of the right panel. Ch 1, sk 1 and sc to end. Remove marker. 

Fasten off. Sew on button. Weave in ends and block, if desired.