These baby blankets, sweaters, hats and other baby projects are designed to use up leftover yarn. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 1/13/23.
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.
Free Patterns
Thursday Sweater
Colorful baby and toddler sized pullover jumper that is perfect for using up scraps or mini skeins. The neckline is nice and stretchy. Great stash buster for sock yarn leftovers! Sizes 3-6 mo, (6-12 mo), 1-2yr, (2-3yr), 3-4 yr. Designed by Beata Jezek for Hedgehog Fibres.
Fruit Smoothie Tam
Baby and child sized beret hat knit in at least 6 colors so it's a great stashbuster for leftover yarn. Sizes Baby (Toddler, Child). Designed by Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Standout Stripes Cardigan
Long-sleeved sweater with colorful strips that make it a great stashbuster! Sizes 12 months, 18 months, 2-3 years, 3-4 years. Designed by Lion Brand Yarn. Aran weight yarn.
Train Blanket
Baby blanket with trains running on a railroad track border. Designed for at least 6 colors so it's great for stashbusting. Worsted weight yarn. Sizes 28" wide x 30" long. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns.
Penguin Beanie
Adorable baby hat with a penguin wearing a hat and scarf. Uses less than a skein of several colors so it's great for stashbusting. Worsted weight yarn. Sizes Newborn to 4 Years. Designed by Wendy Goeckner.
Baby Coat of Many Colors
Striped garter stitch cardigan coat for babies and toddlers free knitting pattern. Designed as a stashbuster to use up leftover odds and ends of fingering weight yarn. Sizes 3 (6, 12, 18) months. The mitered jacket is reversible down to the last detail. And no weaving in of ends! Designed by Patricia DeWitt.
Animal Lovies
Baby comfort blankies or loveys in cuddly colorful animal designs including Giraffe, Lamb, and Piglet. Each requires small amounts of yarn for the striped blanket, head, arms, face, and other featurs, so they're perfect for stashbusting leftover and scrap Worsted weight yarn! Designed by Thora Bey.
- Get the GIRAFFE free knitting pattern
- Get the LAMB free knitting pattern
- Get the PIG free knitting pattern
- See more Baby Lovey Knitting Patterns
Colorful Fish Bath Baby Mitt
Fun wash cloth mitt shaped like a fish with soft knit scales for scrubbing. Great for stashbusting leftover and scrap Sport weight yarn! Designed by Anna Meier Designs. Pictured projects by designer and wondrlanding
Super Rainbow Swaddle Blanket
Easy striped baby blanket knit with a 2 row zigzag stitch. Designed for 10 colors it's perfect for stashbusting, though you can purchase the total yarn used in this sample for under $25. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sys Fredens for Hobbii.
Striped Baby Girl Sun Hat
Adorable baby sun hat with a ruffled brim to keep sun out of baby’s eyes and protects delicate heads from sunburn and wind. Hat is knit in 2 colors with garter stitch. The flower is crocheted but you can substitute a knit flower or other decoration. Uses less than a skein each of 2 colors of Aran yarn for the hat, and scraps for the flower. Designed by Wendy Goeckner.
Baby Shoes
Four baby and toddler shoe designs knit mostly in garter and stockinette stitch. May only be free a limited time. Designs include Thick Tab Shoes, Ankle Fastening Shoes, Bow Shoes, and Side Fastening Flower Shoes. Sizes 0-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-2 Years. The 2 color designs make them a great use for leftover or stash baby yarn. Designed by Sirdar. DK weight yarn. Yarn also available on pattern page.
READ INSTRUCTIONS! This may only be free a limited time. When you click below, you will go to the pattern site. Make sure you select the free PDF option and the price is 0. if it's not 0 the offer has ended. Add the pattern to your basket. Then "check out" without payment to get the link to download the pattern
Classic Baby Hats
Three baby hats that can all be knit with just two skeins (220 yards each) of the recommended fingering weight yarn. This also would make a good use for leftover partial skeins. Includes a striped hat, hat with rolled brim and popmpom, and a hat with contrasting garter brim. Sizes Newborn (Baby). Designed by Purl Soho.
More Free Patterns
Apples Baby Sweater
Top-down baby dress or tunic pullover with buttons at the shoulder for easy dressing, striped, seamless and featuring colorworked apples. Uses half a skein or less of each color for some sizes so it's a great stashbuster. Worsted weight yarn. Sizes Newborn, 3m, 6m, 1y, 2y. Designed by Yarn-Madness. Pictured projects by designer and melanie-brennt
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page (pattern also available there)
- See more Fruit Themed Knitting Patterns
Multi Stripe Hat
Baby hat with earflaps and ties. Designed for 3 colors, you could easily use more colors or fewer so it's a great stashbuster. DK weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand.
Kite Bunting
Bunting that's perfect for decorating baby nursery, child's room, or baby shower parties. Perfect for stash or leftover yarn. Designed by Emily Kintigh for Knit Picks. Fingering weight yarn.
Baby Striped Hoodie
Baby pullover sweater with striped hood that's perfect for stash or leftover yarn. Sizes 3 (6-12-18) mos. Designed by Bernat. DK weight yarn.
Bunny Snuggle Blanket
Lovey comfort blanket knit mostly in garter stitch. Designed for about 120 yds of DK weight yarn with small amounts of other colors for stripes and the face, this is a great stashbuster! Designed by Louise Bollanos of Handy Little Me who says it takes about 2 hours to knit.
Little Baby Sweater
Short-sleeved baby cardigan in striped garter stitch. Designed for 4 colors, it could be knit with more or fewer, making it a great stashbuster! Sizes Newborn-6 months. Designed by Purl Soho. Fingering weight yarn. Pictured projects by designer and Elle1980
Caterpillar Learning Toy
Babies can learn colors and counting to ten with this colorful cuddly caterpillar. Made from small amounts of yarn, this toy is not only educational but is also great use for leftover stash yarn! Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Ann Franklin. DK weight yarn.
Strimma Tunic or Dress
Striped long pullover sweater knit from the top down. Great way to use up stash and scrap yarn to make the stripes as many different colors as you want. Sizes Newborn/3m, 6m, 12m, 2y, 4y, 6y, 8y, 10y. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Yarn-Madness. Pictured projects by kaniger and just-me
2 ways to get the pattern
Baby Rainbow Hat
Only a handful of yards of each color are needed for this easy Fair Isle baby hat. Great use for scrap yarn! DK weight yarn. Designed by Tanis Gray.
Bundle of Joy Baby Blanket
Easy garter stitch baby blanket of colorful stripes. Great use for leftover yarn! DK weight yarn. Designed by Judith Thiery. Available in English and German.
Scrap Sweater for the Small Ones
Pullover with fastening at shoulder for easy dressing and your option of hourglass or heart pattern. Knitted seamless and top down. The perfect sweater to use up some of the yarn scraps we all have in our stash! Sizes: Newborn, 3m, 6m, 12m, 2y, 4y, 6y, 8y. DK weight yarn. Designed by Yarn-Madness. Pictured projects by Hanrahan and designer.
Elephant Baby Mat
Elephant shaped mat created from strips of different colored squares that are seamed and sewn to batting for a patchwork effect. Great use for scrap yarn! 24 inches x 28 inches. DK weight yarn. Designed by Linda Moorhouse.
Elefante
Adorable striped toy elephant is a great stash buster. Finished size: 5 inches tall by 6 inches in length Designed by Susan B. Anderson
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
Get more toy patterns by Susan B. Anderson in Itty Bitty Toys on Amazon
Toadstool Baby Rattles
This rattle is knit around a cat ball toy with a bell. About 3 inches in diameter and 4 1/2 inches high. Designed by Purl Soho. Pictured by dramy.
Patterns for Purchase
Baby Dress and Cardigan
Matching striped baby dress with shoulder fastening for easy dressing and baby cardigan with ruffled hem, embellished with bobble flowers. Designed for at least 4 colors with small amounts needed for stripes, it's great for stashbusting or scrap yarn. 7 Sizes Premature, 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-12M, 1-2Y, 3-4Y. Designed by Audrey Wilson for UK Hand Knitting Association for King Cole.
Butterfly Tunic Dress
Applique butterflies dance over this sleeveless dress or tunic top for babies and young children. Sizes 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years. Perfect for stashbusting or leftover yarn. Designed by TBeeCosy.
Jester Booties
Fun colorful baby booties with jester hat style cuffs. Sizes Sole length: 2.5, (3, 3.25, 3.5, 4)” | 6.5, (7.5, 8, 9, 10) cm. Perfect for stashbusting or leftover yarn. Designed by Kathie Popadin.
Little Loveys Set
Set of little lovey comfort toy softies including bunny, puppy, bear, mouse, and doll. The body, arms, and legs are knit in Garter Stitch and not stuffed. The head, hands, and feet are knit in Stockinette Stitch. Approx. 9” tall (without the ears), they are worked in worsted wt. (Aran/10-ply) yarn, using approx. 110 total yds. They take little yarn, so they’re great stash-busters and wonderful craft table items. Designed by Rainebo.
Forest Friends Hats
Hats with popular woodland animals including Deer, Black Bear, Fox, Owl and Raccoon. Sizes Baby, Toddler, Child. Perfect for stashbusting or leftover yarn. Designed by Cherie Marie Leck. There's also a crochet version
Baby Pinafore Vest 'I want to Create'
Garter stitch baby vest with appliqued art supplies including paint tube, paint brush, chalk, and more. It's great for stashbusting or scrap yarn. Sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24months. Designed by Marcelline Simonotti of T-Bee Cosy.
Alphabet Blanket
Baby blanket created with knit blocks containing the letters of the alphabet. Perfect for stashbusting or leftover yarn. Size 91 x 109cm (36 x 43"). Designed by Woman's Weekly
Birdie Rattles
Bird shaped baby rattles knit flat on straight needles. Each rattle is 18 cm (6 in) tall. DK weight yarn. Designed by Amanda Berry
ABCD Book
Knitted baby book with ten squares, A & Apple, B & Boat, C & Cat, D & Duck, Front & Back Cover, knitted in mosaic garter stitch. Size 14 x 14 x 4.5 cm / 5½ x 5½ x 1¾”. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Arella Seaton
Hot Air Balloons Baby Mobile
Knit hot air balloons and clouds for a colorful baby mobile. The finished balloon with basket is approximately 6.3 inches (16 cm) tall. Aran weight yarn. Great use for scrap or leftover yarn. Designed by Tatyana Korobkova
Heart Squares Baby Blanket
Blanket knit in one piece of squares with bobble hearts. Size; 34 x 36 inches (86cm x 92cm). DK weight yarn. Designed by Peach Unicorn Designs
Watercolors Baby Blanket
Texture, color, and multiple stitch patterns work together to create this whimsical baby blanket. Designed with 7 colors, you can use more or less, and it's great for stashbusting or mini skeins. Finished size is 30" x 32". Worsted weight yarn. A kit is also available. Designed by Susan Barstein.
Baby Activity Book
Little book with fun colorful symbols for baby to look at and touch including bear, car, house, fish, flower, sun, and snail. Size 25 Cms (10 inc). DK weight yarn. Looks like this is a vintage pattern so availability may be limited.
Sensory Caterpillar
This quick baby toy features bright colors, different textures, and sounds to engage baby’s senses. Each section of the caterpillar features a different texture and color and some of the sections include sound makers like rattles, squeakers, and bells. About 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. Designed by Julie Anderson Pictured projects by plumpud and carolyn22. Great stash buster!
