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I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I love more than an easy crochet baby sweater pattern to make. There’s something about making gifts for little ones that I find so satisfying and now having two boys of my own I’m loving making things for them.
So today I’m really excited to share a free crochet baby sweater pattern with you – The Lazy Day Jumper. It’s a modern crochet baby pattern in a simple raglan sweater style made almost entirely from half treble (UK)/half double crochet (US) stitches. The textured detail you see on the front panel is made from just placing the stitches in either the front or back loop of the stitch and so is super easy!
You can find the free pattern here on the blog or you can purchase an ad-free version to download here if you prefer.
About the Lazy Day Jumper – an easy crochet baby sweater pattern
Like so many people I’ve always been a bit intimidated by crochet garments and so I thought a great place to start would be with little ones! The best thing about baby and child garments is that they work up so fast!
I made the front and back panel in one evening, the sleeves the next and seamed it together the last night – three evenings in total to make it! It was so much fun too.
For anyone worrying about shaping, please don’t! If you can increase (make 2 stitches in a stitch instead of 1) and decrease (work 2 stitches together to form just 1) then you’re absolutely good to go.
After designing the jumper when my boy Elliot was only tiny I had so many requests to release the pattern in lots of sizes and so it can be made in sizes from newborn to 7 years.
If you enjoy crocheting for babies and little ones then here are a few more of my free patterns you might enjoy:
- Baby Bunny Hat (free crochet pattern)
- Oyster Shell Blanket (free PDF to download and yarn pack option)
- Pumpkin Beanie Hat (free crochet pattern)
Pattern Options
The crochet baby sweater pattern is shared here for free in both UK and US terms but if you would like to purchase an ad-free version to keep then just choose one of the options below:
Get the ad-free PDF version of the Lazy Day Jumper Pattern on Etsy
Get the ad-free PDF version of the Lazy Day Jumper Pattern on LoveCrafts
Add the Lazy Day Jumper pattern to your Ravelry queue
If you don’t want to download the PDF then that’s absolutely fine too – read on and find the full pattern for free here on this blogpost.
Sign up to HanJan Crochet for a FREE copy of my most popular pattern PDF!
Yarn
I used Scheepjes Merino Soft DK yarn to make my little jumper (50% wool superwash merino, 25% microfibre, 25% acrylic; 105m/50g) which is beautifully soft and has washed well so far and Elliot wore it so much when he was little so it’s wearing well too.
You will need 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 6) balls of Michelangelo (603)
A great alternative yarn is Naturally Soft Merino by MillaMia which is equally as lovely to work with.
Tension and Sizing
17st and 12 rows of the main pattern = 10cm by 10cm/4in by 4in.
Size | Chest (inches) | Length (inches) |
0-6 months | 17 3/4 | 9 1/2 |
6-12 months | 20 | 11 |
1-2 years | 22 | 12 3/4 |
2-3 years | 24 1/2 | 15 |
4-5 years | 25 1/2 | 16 1/2 |
6-7 years | 28 | 19 |
Materials
Along with the yarn to make your project you will also need:
4.5mm (US 7 G+) crochet hook – my favourites are Furls Streamline Swirl crochet hooks or Clover Amour crochet hooks. |
Tapestry needle |
Scissors |
Stitch markers if desired |
2 x 2 cm buttons of your choice for the fastening at the front collar.
Notes
Work the front and the back of the jumper exactly the same.
Work both sleeves exactly the same.
The ch1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch throughout.
Glossary/Abbreviations
ch(s) – chain(s)
ss – slip stitch
sk – skip
st(s) – stitch (es)
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
rep – repeat
sp – space
beg – beginning
Stitches –
UK terms | US terms |
dc – double crochet | sc -single crochet |
htr – half treble | hdc – half double crochet |
tr – treble crochet | dc – double crochet |
Special Stitches
FP – front post
BP – back post
FL – front loop
BL – back loop
Lazy Day Sweater Crochet Pattern – UK terms
(In standard UK terms – please scroll down for pattern in US terms)
Front and Back panels worked the same –
Bottom Cuff
Foundation chain: ch39,43,47,53,57,61
Row 1: (RS) htr in 2nd and each [38,42,46,52,56,60]
Row 2: ch1, dc, *FPhtr, BPhtr, rep from * to last, dc in last
Row 3: Repeat Row 2
Main body
Row 1(WS): ch1, htr in FL of each [38,42,46,52,56,60]
Row 2: ch1, *htr, htr in BL, rep from * across
Row 3: ch1, *htr in FL, htr, rep from * across
Rows 2 and 3 create the pattern.
Repeat the pattern 4,6,7,10,12,15 more times
Last row for main body: Repeat Row 2 again, then continue to shape the top of the panel.
Shape Raglan
Row 1: ss in3, ch1, *htr in FL, htr, rep from * to last 2, leave last 2 unworked [34,38,42,48,52,56]
Row 2: ss in 2, ch1, *htr in BL, htr, rep from * to last, leave last unworked [32,36,40,46,50,54]
Row 3: ss in 2, ch1, *htr in FL, htr, rep from * to last, leave last unworked [30,34,38,44,48,52]
Rows 2 and 3 create the decrease pattern.
Repeat the decrease pattern 5,6,7,7,8,8 more times to complete the panel [10,10,10,16,16,20]
Sleeves
Make 2
Bottom cuff:
Foundation chain: ch23,25,27,29,29,31
Row 1: (RS) htr in 2nd and each ch [22,24,26,28,28,30]
Row 2: ch1, dc, *FPhtr, BPhtr, rep from * to last, dc in last
Row 3: Repeat Row 2
Main sleeve body:
Row 1: ch1, 2htr in FL, htr in FL of each to last, 2htr in FL [24,26,28,30,30,32]
Row 2: ch1, htr in each
Row 3: Rep Row 2
Row 4: ch1, 2htr, htr in each to last, 2htr in last [26,28,30,32,32,34]
Rows 5-8: Repeat Row 2
Rows 4-8 create the increase pattern.
Repeat the pattern 1,2,2,3,4,5 more times [28,32,34,38,40,44]
For Sizes 1 and 4:
Repeat Rows 4, 5 and 6 [30,40]
For Sizes 3,5 and 6:
Repeat Rows 4, 5, 6 and 7 [36,42,46]
Final stitch count for end of increase [30,32,36,40,42,46]
Shape Raglan
Row 1: ss in3, ch1, *htr in each to last 2, leave last 2 unworked [26,28,32,36,38,42]
Row 2: ss in 2, ch1, *htr in each to last, leave last unworked [24,26,30,34,36,40]
Repeat Row 2: 11,12,13,14,15,16 more times [2,2,4,6,6,8]
Completion row: ch1, htr in each
Repeat completion row: 0,0,1,0,1,0 more times [2,2,4,6,6,8]
Sew side seams and set in sleeves to all but the front of the jumper.
Collar
With RS facing, join to side of 6th row of sleeve shaping from collar.
Row 1: ch1, 12htr evenly to top of sleeve, htr in each along sleeve top, htr in each along back top, htr in each along other sleeve top, 12htr evenly to 6th row of sleeve side [38,38,42,52,52,60]
Row 2: ch1, dc, *FPhtr, BPhtr, rep from * to last, dc in last
Row 3: Rep Row 2
With RS facing, join to 1st stitch of front panel.
Row 1: ch1, htr in each across [10,10,10,16,16,20]
Row 2: ch1, dc, *FPhtr, BPhtr, rep from * to last, dc in last
Row 3: Rep Row 2
Finishing
Sew the buttons in place on the jumper and slot the collar over them in between stitches of Row 2 and 3 of the collar to secure.
Lazy Day Sweater Crochet Pattern – US terms
Front and Back panels worked the same –
Bottom cuff
Foundation chain: ch39,43,47,53,57,61
Row 1: (RS) hdc in 2nd and each [38,42,46,52,56,60]
Row 2: ch1, sc, *FPhdc, BPhdc, rep from * to last, sc in last
Row 3: Repeat Row 2
Main body
Row 1(WS): ch1, hdc in FL of each [38,42,46,52,56,60]
Row 2: ch1, *hdc, hdc in BL, rep from * across
Row 3: ch1, *hdc in FL, hdc, rep from * across
Rows 2 and 3 create the pattern.
Repeat the pattern 4,6,7,10,12,15 more times
Last row for main body: Repeat Row 2 again, then continue to shape the top of the panel.
Shape Raglan
Row 1: ss in3, ch1, *hdc in FL, hdc, rep from * to last 2, leave last 2 unworked [34,38,42,48,52,56]
Row 2: ss in 2, ch1, *hdc in BL, hdc, rep from * to last, leave last unworked [32,36,40,46,50,54]
Row 3: ss in 2, ch1, *hdc in FL, hdc, rep from * to last, leave last unworked [30,34,38,44,48,52]
Rows 2 and 3 create the decrease pattern.
Repeat the decrease pattern 5,6,7,7,8,8 more times to complete the panel [10,10,10,16,16,20]
Sleeves
Make 2
Bottom cuff:
Foundation chain: ch23,25,27,29,29,31
Row 1: (RS) hdc in 2nd and each ch [22,24,26,28,28,30]
Row 2: ch1, sc, *FPhdc, BPhdc, rep from * to last, sc in last
Row 3: Repeat Row 2
Main sleeve body:
Row 1: ch1, 2hdc in FL, hdc in FL of each to last, 2hdc in FL [24,26,28,30,30,32]
Row 2: ch1, hdc in each
Row 3: Rep Row 2
Row 4: ch1, 2hdc, hdc in each to last, 2hdc in last
Rows 5-8: Repeat Row 2
Rows 4-8 create the increase pattern.
Repeat the pattern 1,2,2,3,4,5 more times [28,32,34,38,40,44]
For Sizes 1 and 4:
Repeat Rows 4, 5 and 6 [30,40]
For Sizes 3,5 and 6:
Repeat Rows 4, 5, 6 and 7 [36,42,46]
Final stitch count for end of increase [30,32,36,40,42,46]
Shape Raglan
Row 1: ss in3, ch1, *hdc in each to last 2, leave last 2 unworked [26,28,32,36,38,42]
Row 2: ss in 2, ch1, *hdc in each to last, leave last unworked [24,26,30,34,36,40]
Repeat Row 2: 11,12,13,14,15,16 more times [2,2,4,6,6,8]
Completion row: ch1, hdc in each
Repeat completion row: 0,0,1,0,1,0 more times [2,2,4,6,6,8]
Sew side seams and set in sleeves to all but the front of the jumper.
Collar
With RS facing, join to side of 6th row of sleeve shaping from collar.
Row 1: ch1, 12hdc evenly to top of sleeve, hdc in each along sleeve top, hdc in each along back top, hdc in each along other sleeve top, 12hdc evenly to 6th row of sleeve side [38,38,42,52,52,60]
Row 2: ch1, sc, *FPhdc, BPhdc, rep from * to last, sc in last
Row 3: Rep Row 2
With RS facing, join to 1st stitch of front panel.
Row 1: ch1, hdc in each across [10,10,10,16,16,20]
Row 2: ch1, sc, *FPhdc, BPhdc, rep from * to last, sc in last
Row 3: Rep Row 2
Finishing
Sew the buttons in place on the jumper and slot the collar over them in between stitches of Row 2 and 3 of the collar to secure.
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