Knitting patterns for sweaters for babies and children with animal themes. Updated 3/13/2023.
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These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Scottie Cardigan and Beret
Child's round neck, button up cardigan with stranded design of Scottish terrier dogs. Sizes 1-2 (2-3, 3-4, 4-5) years. Designed by Martin Storey.
Penguin Pullover
Long-sleeved child's sweater with a cute penguin who hides a convenient pocket. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns.
Panda Sweater
Baby and child sized sweater jumper with panda faces along the yoke. Sizes 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 4 years and 6 years.. Designed by Sys Fredens for Hobbii. Worsted weight yarn.
Elephant Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater with stripes and stranded colorwork elephants around the bottom. Two-ball baby cardigan designed by Lisbet Clements.
Humpback Whale Sweater
Child's pullover with stranded colorwork whale. Sizes 4 yrs/104 cl (6 yrs/116 cl) 8 yrs/128 cl (10 yrs/140 cl) 12 yrs/152 cl. Designed by Karen S. Lauger for Ficolana. Available in English, Danish, and German
Happy Cat Baby Sweater
Cat face pullover created with easy color bocking, sewn on ears, and a little embroidery. Sizes 12 mos, 18 mos, 24 mos. Designed by Bernat. DK weight yarn.
Betta Swetta Set
This pullover and hat duo features cute little fishes swimming across the surface in stranded colorwork. The long-sleeved sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top-down. Sweater sizes 3-6 mo (12-24 mo, 2-4 yr, 4-6 yr). Hat sizes Baby (Toddler, Child) Designed by Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarns. DK weight yarn.
Children's Duck Cardigan
Long-sleeved cardigan sweater for children with intarsian ducks. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. Worsted weight yarn.
Cat and Mouse Sweater
Long-sleeved pullover for children. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. DK weight yarn.
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Teddy Bear Cardigan & Pullover for Baby
Long-sleeved sweaters in 2 styles with intarsia teddy bears. Three sizes from infant-6 mos. to 1-2 years. Designed by Crystal Palace Yarns. Pictured project by JenLab
Baby Sweater with Owl
Long-sleeved pullover with colorwork owl. 4 Sizes from Newborn to 18 Months. Designed by Schachenmayr. Available in English and German in one pdf
Icelandic Sweater with Horses Sweater
Pullover sweater for children and adults with stranded colorwork featuring prancing horses around the yoke. Sizes Child, Woman, Man. Hestapeysa designed by Jóhanna Hjaltadóttir. Pictured projects by wigdis and PolarPurls. Available in English and Icelandic
More Free Patterns
Giraffe Ballerina Sweater
Pullover sweater for children featuring dancing giraffes. To Fit Age: 2 Years to 6 Years. Designed by Lion Brand.
Pondemonium Sweater
This little Fair Isle pullover inspired by the children’s song “The Little White Duck,” features a kid's favorite creatures: ducks, frogs, bugs, and snakes floating in the water, separated by rows of lily pads. The sweater is finished with special lily pad elbow patches. To Fit Age: 6 12, 18 months. Designed by Jennifer Small. Pictured project by bearmtpicnic
Lion Pullover
Long-sleeved child's sweater with intarsia lion. To Fit Age: 2 Years to 6 Years. Designed by Natalie Bayer for Lion Brand.
Baby Whales Cardigan
The "Save the baby whales!" sweater is sized for babies, toddlers, and young children, and features whales and waves in stranded colorwork. Baby sizes:1-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months Toddler sizes: 12-18, 18-24 months, 2-3 years. Runs big! Designed by Sargantana Formenterenca. Sport weight. Pictured projects by raleuen and MillieMartha.
Animal House Pullover
Long-sleeved child's sweater with intarsia giraffe, elephant, and lion on a color blocked background. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. Pictured projects by KayBej and knitter99
Spring Meadows Toddler Sweater
This child's pullover features a grassy meadow under white fluffy clouds. A pocket hidden in the grass is perfect for a little friend to ride along (bunny pattern included). Sport weight yarn. Designed by Liz Hartman. Pictured projects by the designer and tiger2paws
Baby Bear Hoodie
Designed by Lynda Cyr for Red Heart. Sizes from 6 months to 24 months.
Lion Sweater
Long-sleeved pullover with a lion's face created with duplicate stitch (though I think you could interpret the chart for intarsia) and a knit circular mane that is added on. Sizes Newborn-3m-6m-12m-18/24m. Designed by Phildar Design Team. This pattern appears to be only available on the Internet archive but I loved how cute it was.
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet Archive
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Phildar Phil Coton 3 yarn at Loveknitting
- See more Lion Knitting Patterns
Elephant Sweater
The Snuffle Pullover features an elephant motif with a trunk formed by the sweater arm. Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 years. Designed by Lorna Miser by Red Heart. Rated easy by the designer.
Child’s Foxy Tunic
Red Heart created this fun design for a dress that can be worn by itself in warm weather or as a tunic over a shirt and leggings in cold weather. In four sizes – 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, and 8 years.
Hip Hippo-Ray! Pullover
Child’s sweater has a surprise – a hidden pocket in the hippo’s mouth. Hippotamus knit in intarsia. Sizes 2 (4, 6). Designed by Amy Bahrt. Bulky weight yarn
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns® Cherub Chunky yarn on Amazon
Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan
Jennifer Little’s sweater is sized for 9-12 months.
Butterfly Poncho
Poncho for children with lace butterfly motif on front and back. Sizes: 2T (4T, 6, 8, 10) . Designed by Vera Sanon. Pictured project by samisan2012. Available in English and Italian
Patterns for Purchase
Gabriel Baby and Toddler Cardigan
No longer free. Long-sleeved baby sweater with adorable sheep. Sizes 12/24/36 months. Designed by Debbie Bliss. Pictured project by pielinda. DK weight yarn.
Garden Baby Sweater
Baby cardigan with a border of flowers, snails, and more. Knit in one piece seamlessly from the top down. Sizes 9-12m/ 12-18m / 2-3 yrs. Designed by Svetlana Genova. DK weight yarn.
Baby and Child Sweaters with Animals
Designer Emma Heywood of Instarsia has created several animal themed sweaters for sizes from newborn to 5 years old. I've pictured 6 here for unicorn, fox, owl, puppy, cat, and tiger, but there are many more.
Animal Sweater Sets
Each set includes matching pullover or cardigan, hat, and booties. Available themes include Fox Cub, Hedgehog, Owl, Sheep, and Hungry Caterpillar. Available in a variety of sizes, depending on the pattern, from newborn to 24 months, and the booties are in sizes newborn up to 4 years. Designed by Hennie. DK weight yarn.
Animal Sweaters by iKnitDesigns
Pullovers and cardigans with a variety of animal motifs in a variety of baby and child sizes including cat, mouse, puppy, elephant, penguin, owl, polar bear, sheep, whale, dragon, unicorn, horse, butterflies, and more. Designed by Denny Gould
Baby Sweaters with Matching Toys
Knit a sheep cardigan with matching lamb toy, monkey pullover with matching monkey cuddle blanket, teddy bear pullover with matching cushion, and puppy pullover with matching dog softie. Sizes Newborn to 24 months. Kits are also available. Designed by Sirdar.
- Get the SHEEP pattern set or kit
- Get the MONKEY pattern set or kit
- Get the BEAR pattern set or kit
- Get the PUPPY pattern set or kit
Dinosaur Sweaters by iKnitDesigns
Pullovers and hoodies with dinosaurs including Velociraptor, Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and more, in a variety of baby and child sizes. Designed by Denny Gould
Prehistoric Tank Tops
Sleeveless tops or vests for babies and children with intarsia dinosaurs. Sizes 0 6 Months (6-12Months, 1-2 Years, 2-3 Years, 4-5 Years). Designed by Emma Heywood. One of the 21 patterns in Issue 88 of Knit Now.
Princess Charlotte Yellow Sheep Cardigan
Inspired by the cardigan Princess Charlotte wore in her 2nd birthday portrait taken by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, this sweater features a colorwork yoke with sheep. Sizes 6-12 months or 12-24 months. DK weight. Designed by nicolaluke.
Happy Penguin Hoodie Sweater
Child’s pullover sweater in sizes Newborn (3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months) 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 years. Designed by Jessica Anderson so the hood looks like the penguin’s head while pocket panel in the front is colored white like a penguin’s breast.
Penguin Pullover Sweater
Child’s pullover sweater in sizes 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 with two penguins on the front and two on the back. The wide boat neck is easy to pull on or off.
Owl Baby Onesie and Owl Toy
With sweet little details like the ruffled tail feathers, a knit and purl textured belly, and an owl face hood, this romper is sure to keep baby warm and Mom smiling! If that wasn’t enough, this onesie comes with a precious matching stuffed Owl toy for baby to cuddle with too! Designed by Lauren Riker
