Knitting patterns for cardigan sweaters for babies. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 1/3/23.
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
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.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
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Free Patterns
Chick Baby Cardigan
Baby cardigan with fuzzy chick appliques knit separately. Sizes 0-3 [3-6, 6-12, 12-18] months. Designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. DK weight yarn. Pictured projects by designer and sofiecat
Easy Baby Cardigan
Easy baby cardigan in stockinette with garter stripe details. Sizes 6-9 months, (12 months, 18 months, 2T, 3T). Designed by Plymouth Yarn Design Studio as 3312 Girl's Cardigan. DK weight yarn.
Autumn Leaves
Baby cardigan with leaf lace yoke. Sizes 6-9, 9-12, 12-15 months. DK weight yarn. Designed by Nikki Van De Car. Available in English and French. Pictured projects by BerryFine and montague
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get Nikki’s book What to Knit When You’re Expecting
Cascade Baby Cardigan
Sweater with asymmetric front with leaf lace edge on front band. Sizes 3 months [6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, 6]. Designed by Raya Budrevich. Worsted weight yarn.
Fairytale Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater with lace front and back. Instructions for garter stitch lace up booties included. Sizes Premie, Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months. Designed by Sarah Hatton for West Yorkshire Spinners. Fingering weight yarn.
Zipped Baby Cardigan and Bootees
Baby sweater with patch pockets, long sleeves, and zip front. Instructions for garter stitch lace up booties included. Sizes 6 (12, 24) months. Booties and cardi are worked flat from the bottom up and seamed. Designed by Bergère de France. DK weight yarn.
Jessica Baby Cardigan
Long-sleeved round neck baby sweater with all over lace pattern and pretty picot edges. Sizes 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18 months; 2 years. Designed by Linda Whaley. Fingering yarn. Pictured projects by designer and the KnittingNixon. A kit is also available
Baby Baseball Jacket
Long-sleeved baby cardigan sweater by Debbie Bliss designed to look like a classic baseball jacket. Knit flat from the bottom up with raglan sleeves. Sizes 3 to 48 Months. Designed by Debbie Bliss. Sport yarn. Pictured project by MaryBethK and the designer.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- See more of Debbie's Knitting Patterns
- Get the Baseball Buttons on Etsy
Leaf Yoke Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater with leaf lace yoke and a body of all over Little Birds Stitch. Sizes 6-12months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months. Designed by Lion Brand Yarn. Aran yarn.
Quickie 5-hour Baby Sweater
Baby cardigan knit top down with eyelets at neck and hem you can thread ribbon through for embellishment. Rated easy by Ravelrers, who confirm this is a quick project. Shared by Anne Stoddard. Worsted yarn. Pictured projects by AngelaTong and knittingwren.
Olive You Baby
Baby sweater for boy or girl, knit top down, with an offset button front and cable panel. Sizes 0-3 months 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months. Designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs. Worsted weight yarn. Pictured project by freshstitches. Available in English and Italian
4 Row Repeat Textured Baby Cardigan
Long-sleeved baby sweater knit flat in a 4 row repeat stitch pattern and seamed. Front button band is knit separately and sewn on. Sizes 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 months. Designed by Patons Australia. Fingering yarn.
More Free Patterns
Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater
Short sleeved baby cardigan with cables on front. To fit 3–6 (9–12, 18–24) months. Designed by Rebecca L. Daniels. Pictured project by ElvieandBoo who reversed the left hand cable to make 2 mirror image cables and made the sleeves shorter, just knitting 2 rounds of stockinette before the garter trim
4 Row Repeat Agnete Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater with knit seamelessly in one piece from the top down with a 4 row repeat slipped stitch colorwork pattern. Designed by Karen S. Lauger for Filcolana. Fingering weight yarn. Available in English, Danish, and German.
Sideways Baby Cardi
Long-sleeved baby cardigan sweater knit from side to side in garter stitch with scalloped button bands. Sizes 3–6 (12–18, 24, 36) months. Recommended DK yarn available on pattern page. Designed by Lena Skvagerson. DK yarn. This pattern was featured in Season 8 of Knit and Crochet Now! and is free with registration at Annie’s
- Get the free knitting pattern with free registration at Annie’s
- Get the Knit and Crochet Now video tutorial for $3.99 (includes instruction for 2 patterns and other techniques)
- Get the recommended Plymouth Yarn® Dreambaby DK yarn at Annie’s
Méabh’s Cardigan and Hat
Baby and toddler sized sweater features a shawl collar and braided cables down the front and a statement cable cascades down the back. Matching beanie features twisted rib and cables. Sizes 0-3 mths (3-6 mths, 6-12 mths, 12-18 mths, 18-24 mths, 2-3 years, 3-4 years). DK weight. Designed by Ciara Ní Reachtnín for Knotions
- Get the free knitting pattern for the cardigan
- Get the free knitting pattern for the hat
- See the Ravelry page
Watermelon Baby Cardigan
Sleeveless summer baby cardigan with watermelon slice yoke with eyelets to look like seeds. One size to fit approx 0-3 months. Designed by Stitchylinda Designs.
Baby Lace Cardigan
This raglan-style sweater features pretty lace panels on the front. Includes baby and child sizes from 6 mos – 5 years. Designed by Julie Hines for Red Heart.
Baby Ballerina Wrap
Sizes: 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-2 Years. From Sublime Yarn.
Soft Essentials Baby Cardigan
This classic baby cardigan in sizes 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months. Designed by Sara Kay Hartmann for Red Heart. Quick knit in bulky yarn.
Deborah Norville Stripey Yoke Cardigan
This sweater in baby and child sizes features a striped yoke and button front. Sizes 12m (2y, 4y, 6y)
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted yarn
Cardigan with Shawl Collar
This shawl-collared long-sleeved cardigan sweater is available in baby and child sizes. Quick knit in super bulky yarn. Sizes 6 mos, 12 mos, 18 mos, 2 yrs, 4 yrs. Designed by Bernat Design Studio
Baby Top Down Cardigan
Knit in one piece. Sizes 6, 12, 18, 24 months. From Bernat.
Denise or Denephew Baby Cardigan
This shawl-collared striped cardigan is knit seamlessly from the top down, increasing along the raglan lines. Quick knit in bulky yarn. Designed by by Ned Renfield.
Dirghagama
Henriette Roued-Cunliffe designed this lace cardigan for size 6 mos. She also has other sizes for sale.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended yarn for this project on Etsy
- Get the pictured handmade buttons on Etsy
Henry’s Sweater
Sara Elizabeth Kellner’s design is an easy, seamless, top-down cardigan that can be made in one weekend. Sizes 3-6 months, 6-12 months
Baby Sophisticate
Linden Down’s cardigan with shawl collar is knit seamlessly from the top down. Sizes 0-3 months, 6-12 months. Candace Toth added details including felted elbow pads, leather buttons, and contrasting color for this project.
Ribbed Baby Jacket
A warm unisex baby jacket with a wide ribbed lapel. Sizes 0-3 months (3-6 mo., 6-9 mo., 9-12 mo., 12-24 mo.)
Patterns for Purchase
“Gramps” Cardigan
Baby and child sized cardigan with shawl collar and cables inspired by the cozy cabled cardigan grandpa wears. This pattern is fully charted AND fully written. Size: 6 months(12 months, 18 months, 2, 4, 6, 8) DK weight yarn. Designed by KateOatesTotToppers
Lucille
No longer free! Courtney Kelley’s lace cardigan and bonnet is sized for 0-3 months (18” chest circ.), 6-9 months (20” chest circ). Pictured project by zsoofi
Blossom Baby and Child Cardigans & Shoes
No longer free! Seed stitch cardigan with vines and bobble blossoms down the front and a petal ruffled hem. Two neckline options: crew-neck or v-neck. Includes matching Mary Jane style baby shoes with blossom embellishment. Sizes Birth to 7 years for cardigan, Birth to 2 years for shoes. Kit is also available. Designed by Sirdar. DK weight yarn.
Baby Raglan Cardigans
No longer free! Long-sleeved baby sweater in moss stitch and cables with either a shawl collar or v-neck. Sizes 3 to 48 Months. Designed by Sirdar. Sport yarn.
Little Miss Susie’s Cardigan
Baby and toddler sized cardigan is knit from the top down seamlessly in seed stitch with cable accents. Cardigan Sizes: 3 mths, 6 mths, 12 mths, 2T and 4T. Hat Sizes: NB, 3 mths, 6 mths, 12 mths, 2T, 3-5 yrs, 6 - 12 yrs and Adult. Worsted Weight yarn. NOTE: The hat pattern is sold separately – see link below. Designed by KnotEnufKnitting
Ciqala Arrowhead Sweater
Baby cardigan sweater is knitted from the bottom up, sleeves knitted separately, and then joined to the yoke. The only seaming required are the sleeve seams. The arrowhead lace detail on the yoke adds a lovely touch. Both written and charted instructions are included. Sizes 0 – 3 months -- 3 - 6 months -- 6 - 12 months -- 12 - 18 months. Sport weight yarn. Designed by OgeDesigns.
Austin Baby Cardigan and Beanie Set
Baby sweater with matching beanie knit in interesting textures of knit and purl stitches in a sampler or gansey style. Sizes To fit ages: Sizes 0-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 12-18 months. DK weight yarn. Designed by Lisa Craig.
Snuggly Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater with crew neck, long sleeves, ribbed yoke, and striped colorwork. Sizes To fit ages: (0-6; 6-12) months; (1-2; 2-3) years. DK weight yarn. Designed by Sirdar.
Garter Stitch Baby Jacket
Baby cardigan knit in garter stitch with options for knit edging or crochet edging. Sizes 0 – 3 months and 3 – 6 months. Worsted weight yarn
Garter Stitch for Baby eBook
10 Designs to knit using various weights of yarn: Baby Hat, Leg Warmers, Ripple Stripe Blanket, Teal Stripe Blanket, Hooded Sweater, Vest, Sweetie Toy, Booties, Mitts, and Fingerless Mitts. Designed by Candi Jensen and Heather Vantress
Cute & Cozy Sweaters and Blankets
This book in print or digital download contains four knit sets of a cardigan and a matching blanket. Designed by Starla Kramer. The sweaters are for size 6 months
Tiered Baby Coat and Jacket
Easy quick baby and toddler coat or jacket is knit from the top-down with minimal finishing and the sleeve knit in the round. Rated easy by the designer and most of Ravelrers. Sizes 0-3 months (3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 2/3T, 3/4T) Quick knit in bulky yarn. Designed by Lisa Chemery Pictured project by iqeverything
- See more pics and get the knitting pattern at Annie’s
Get Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash yarn used in the pictured project
Knit in a Day for Baby
This ebook is a treasury of quick and easy designs that the average knitter can complete in 2 to 12 hours. Designs include sweaters, blankets, caps, toys, totes, hanger covers, pacifier fobs, bath mitts, booties, and more.
Mayfair Lane Baby Coat With Hood
Baby hooded cardigan knit with double moss stitch in sport yarn. Sizes 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months, 2 -3 years. Designed by OGE Designs
Latte Baby Coat
Long sleeved cardigan with woven basket stitch band, optional hood, and optional pockets. Sizes 0-3mo (3-6mo, 6-12mo, 12-18mo, 2T-3T, 3T-4T). Bulky yarn. Designed by Lisa Chemery
Happy Cheer Hooded Cardigan
This sweater is super easy to knit, making it perfect for the first-time sweater knitter! Finished size to fit Child’s 6 (12, 18, 24) months.
