Easiest Sweater to Crochet in Child Sizes

I made every effort to keep it simple here! With beginners in mind, I’ve created a garment with minimal shaping and only basic stitches, ensuring that there are not too many new concepts to consider when working on your first crochet garment.

In sizes from baby to 10 years, this pattern ensures a comfortable, relaxed fit for both boys and girls. It’s quick to whip up too, using worsted weight yarn and no complicated stitch patterns to remember. That makes it a good project to do in front of the TV too!

In this post you’ll find everything you need to know how to make this quick crochet sweater, including materials, stitches, a detailed video tutorial and free written pattern for blog subscribers.

Just because we are using basic stitches and an easy construction, this sweater will still look amazing. It’s got cozy, stylish and wholesome vibe – perfect for the kids to run around in outside, whilst keeping them nice and warm.

Once you’ve started crocheting garments for children, I am sure you will love it and want to make more! Check out my other Crochet Patterns for Babies and Children.

Brava Tweed by WeCrochet is a premium acrylic, enhanced with flecks of viscose Tweed to add depth to sweaters, blankets, and more while maintaining the durability and affordability you can expect from the Brava family.

The range of coordinating colours all feature cream, coffee, and charcoal tweed flecks, and for even more colour options, Brava Tweed can mix and match with Brava Worsted or Brava Speckle to create beautiful projects!

Hypoallergenic, hard-wearing, and machine washable, as always, Brava Tweed is sure to please.

It’s a category 4, worsted weight yarn which is what makes these sweaters so cozy and warm. Check our handy yarn weight chart and guide to find out more about yarn weights and categories.

For the sweater pictured above, I used Goldenrod but there are 15 different colours to choose from in the range so don’t be shy!

The City Tweed yarn I used for this two tone version below is now discontinued but Brava Tweed Wasabi and Wren are a great match for it!

How much yarn do I need to crochet the easiest sweater?

This sweater is designed with a small amount of positive ease for child sizes to be a close fitting sweater. It is however really easy to adjust the width and length of the sweater as you’d like to.

There are numerous options for adding length to the sweater body, cuff and sleeves to make it perfect for you but make sure to order plenty of yarn if you are making adjustments to the pattern.

The following yarn amounts are estimated as a total as the pattern is written assuming a single colour is used.

Sizes: 0-6 months (6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years).

You will require approximately 320 (350, 450, 510, 575, 640, 735) metres, 350 (385, 490, 560, 630, 700, 805) yards of yarn to crochet the sweater.

This is 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls of the recommended yarn.

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this free worsted weight crochet sweater pattern to your crochet Pinterest board!

• The Sweater is made from the bottom up with the Back and Front made in one piece.
• Beginning with the Bottom Rib we work to the width of the Sweater.
• Then we work into the sides of the Bottom Rib rows to create the Back
• A space for the Neckline is then created before working the Front.
• With the Front complete, we then add a Join As You Go Front Bottom Rib.
• The Sleeves are then crocheted on each side in rows with a Join As You Go Sleeve Cuff worked into them.
• To finish, we seam both sides at the side and underarm of the Sweater.

Crochet Terms You’ll Need to Know

Glossary and Abbreviations

beg – beginning

blo – back loop only

ch(s) – chain(s)

ch-sp(s) – chain space(s)

flo – front loop only

rep – repeat

RS – right side

sp – space

ss/sl st – slip stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

WS – wrong side

Yoh – yarn over hook

Stitches

The pattern is written in standard US terms and uses the following crochet stitches:

sc – single crochet (UK dc – double crochet)

hdc – half double crochet (UK htr – half treble crochet)

Special Stitches

This pattern really only uses basic crochet stitches that nonetheless create a beautiful effect.

Single Crochet (sc)

This stitch is the equivalent to a UK double crochet (dc).

• Insert the hook into the next stitch.
• Yarn over and pull up a loop.
• Yarn over again, and pull the yarn through both loops on the hook.

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

This stitch is the equivalent to a UK half treble crochet (htr).

• Yarn over, and insert the hook into the next stitch.
• Yarn over and pull up a loop.
• Yarn over again, and pull the yarn through all three loops on the hook.

Half Double Crochet Two Together (hdc2tog)

A half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog) in crochet is a great way to decrease the number of stitches we have in a row or round.

It involves making 2 stitches into just 1 so that on your next row or round you have 1 less for every hdc2tog that you work.

1. Yarn over hook and locate the first stitch to work into.
2. Insert hook into stitch. Yarn over hook and pull through.
3. You now have 3 loops on the hook.
4. Yarn over hook.
5. Insert hook into next stitch. Yarn over hook and pull through.
6. You now have 5 loops on the hook.
7. Yarn over hook.
8. Pull through all the loops on the hook to complete the stitch.

blo – back loop only

To work the back loop only, turn your work so that the top is facing you to see the front and back loops. Work into the back loop by inserting the hook into the loop furthest from you.

Making Your Quick Crochet Sweater Perfect For You

Once you have chosen the correct chest size you’d like to make, the rest of the design is easy to adjust to fit as you would like it to.

The Sweater is designed to have a small amount of positive ease all over with gently tapered sleeves. The garment is worked from the Bottom up with the Back and Front made in one piece so you can easily adjust the length.

LENGTH

Bottom Rib: you can adjust the Bottom Rib length by working more or less stitches. Make sure to work the same number of stitches for the Front Bottom Rib.

Main Body Length: To adjust the length, you can work more or less rows of the Back Section. You will then need to match this amount on the Front to make sure it is even.

You will need to work 3 less rows for the Front than the Back to make sure that the Neckline sits in the correct place.

When adding the Sleeves, you then need to make sure that you also take your extra rows into account.

SLEEVES

Sleeve Length: You can adjust the Sleeves by working as many or as few rounds as you like before adding the Sleeve Cuff. Make sure to work a matching number of rounds for each sleeve.

NECK BAND

You can make your Neck Band any length you like by working more or less chains on the Foundation Chain.

• A ch1 at the beginning of a row does not count as st.
• Turn at the end of every row.
• Read through the entire pattern before beginning.
• Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).
• Make sure that you are familiar with all of the stitches in the abbreviations list before you begin.
• The count number referring to each size is laid out as follows: 0-6 months (6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years) unless otherwise indicated.
• If an instruction does not apply to a particular size then an X is used instead of a number. E.g. X (X, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6) means that the 0-6 months and 6-12 months sizes do not apply to this instruction.
• Stitch counts are given in [ ] at the end of each Row or Round. If no stitch count is given, then the count is the same as the previous Row or Round.

Free Easiest Sweater to Crochet in Child Sizes

There are a few options for you to access and enjoy this crochet pattern:

Copyright Notice

The Easy Tweedy Child Sweater Crochet Pattern and its contents are fully owned and copyrighted by HanJan Crochet Ltd., and all rights are reserved.

This pattern is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author (Hannah Cross of HanJan Crochet Ltd). 

Unauthorised distribution or reproduction of this pattern or elements of the instructions is strictly prohibited. The free to view crochet pattern is intended for personal viewing only. By accessing this pattern, you acknowledge and agree to comply with these copyright terms and conditions.

Pattern Support

I am delighted to invite you to join the HanJan Crochet Community Facebook Group where we host all pattern support queries and love to see your progress, yarn choices and finished projects! 

Crochet Pattern Free for Blog Subscribers to View

US Terminology

FRONT BOTTOM RIB

All Sizes

We now work a Join As You Go Rib for the Front Rib of the sweater.

Foundation chain: ch7.

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and next 5 chains, ss into next st of Front Section, turn. [6]

Row 2: sc in blo of each st, turn.

Row 3: ch1, sc in blo of each st, ss into next 2 sts of Front Section, turn.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Front Rib Set Pattern. Repeat this across the Front Section. Once complete, break yarn.

SLEEVES

All Sizes

Before beginning the Sleeves, place stitch markers either side of the sweater to mark where the Sleeves will go.

With the RS facing, counting from the Front Section towards the Neckline, place a stitch marker in the side of Row 14 (15, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30).

With the RS facing, counting from the Back Section towards the Neckline, place a stitch marker in the side of Row 14 (15, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30).

These now mark where your Sleeves will begin and end.

With RS facing, join yarn to the side of the row with the first stitch marker in.

Row 1: ch1, work 24 (26, 29, 34, 36, 38, 41) sts evenly over the side of 18 (20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32) rows.

Row 2: ch1, hdc in each st, turn. [24 (26, 29, 34, 36, 38, 41)]

Row 3: (decrease row): ch1, hdc2tog, hdc in each st to last 2, hdc2tog over last 2 sts, turn. [22 (24, 27, 32, 34, 36, 39)]

The Sleeves now continue working either a repeat of Row 2 (straight row) or a repeat of Row 3 (decrease row). Following is the sequence for each size, indicating where to work a decrease row. All other rows are a repeat of Row 2 (straight row).

0-6 months: total rows to work: 11

Decrease on rows: 3, 6, 9

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 18

6-12 months: total rows to work: 13

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 20

1-2 years: total rows to work: 16

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11, 15

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 21

3-4 years: total rows to work: 20

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 24

5-6 years: total rows to work: 24

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 26

7-8 years: total rows to work: 26

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11, 16, 20, 24

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 26

9-10 years: total rows to work: 30

Decrease on rows: 3, 7, 11, 16, 20, 24, 28

Stitch count on final Sleeve Row: 27

SLEEVE CUFF

All Sizes

At the end of the last row of the Sleeve continue to work a Join As You Go Sleeve Cuff.

Foundation chain: ch7.

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and next 5 chains, ss into next st of Sleeve, turn. [6]

Row 2: sc in blo of each st, turn.

Row 3: ch1, sc in blo of each st, ss into next 2 sts of Sleeve, turn.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Sleeve Cuff Set Pattern. Repeat this across the Sleeve.

Once complete, break yarn.

SECOND SLEEVE

All Sizes

With RS facing, join yarn to the other side of the sweater at the point of the first stitch marker. Repeat the Sleeve and Sleeve Cuff instructions for this side.

NECK RIB

All Sizes

The Neck Rib is also worked in a Join As You Go method to the stitches around the Neckline.

With RS facing, join yarn to 1st st of the Neckline on the last row of the Back Section.

Foundation chain: ch5.

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and next 3 chains, ss into next st of Neckline, turn. [4]

Row 2: sc in blo of each st, turn.

Row 3: ch1, sc in blo of each st, ss into next 2 sts of Neckline, turn.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Neckline Set Pattern. Repeat this around the Neckline, slip stitching into stitches and sides of rows as required.

At the end of the last row, join the last row to the first row of the Neck Rib with a slip stitch seam to complete. Break yarn.

FINISHING AND SEAMING

All Sizes

With the sweater still flat, this is the best time to block to measurements before seaming.

Once blocked, turn to WS facing and seam (with a whip stitch or your preferred seaming method) each side and underarm of the sweater. You can begin at the Bottom Rib or Sleeve Rib as you prefer.

With the 2 seams complete, weave in ends to finish.

Join HanJan and Share Your Crochet!

It’s an honour to be able to create and share my free crochet patterns with you. I’d love to stay connected and send you regular discount codes and free patterns! Please sign up for my subscriber list to get a free gift right now! 

I look forward to seeing your finished crochet projects, especially this easy crochet pattern, so please share them with me in the HanJan Crochet Facebook group or on Instagram and tag #hanjancrochet.

More Crochet Sweater Patterns You Might Enjoy

If you’ve enjoyed making this easy children’s sweater pattern, then why not try a few more? Here’s a few other of my designs you might like:

• Easy Child Crochet Sweater – beautifully textured with a raglan neckline
• Child Granny Stitch Sweater – a modern take on the traditional granny stitch
• Crochet Sweater Pattern for Boys – the herringbone moss stitch gives a classic feel to this one

Congratulations on crocheting your very own worsted weight crochet sweater! 🌟 Now that you’ve crafted this fun project, why stop here? Dive into my other child crochet garment patterns, each waiting to be transformed into your next crochet masterpiece.

Don’t forget to share your creations with me on social media—I love seeing your unique twists and colourful creations! Join our community of crochet enthusiasts, where we share tips, tricks, and plenty of crafting inspiration. So, grab your hooks, explore more patterns, and let’s continue this crochet adventure together! Happy stitching! 🧶✨