Free baby knitting patterns

Here's a quick list of some companies that offer free baby knitting patterns - Lion Brand, Berroco, Coats and Clark, Crystal Palace, Jimmy Bean's Wool, Caron Yarns, and Naturally Caron. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

You can make any baby knitting smaller or larger just by varying your yarn choice and the size of your knitting needles.

Have pity on the busy mom and use machine washable yarn when knitting for babies.

Babies love bobbles, tassels and textures. Just be sure that there is nothing baby could swallow or choke on attached to what you knit.

Colors can be soothing or stimulating. Black and white (sharp contrast) helps babies' eyesight and recognition of shapes and colors.

When choosing yarn:

1. Think soft and convenient - washable cottons and wools are best.

Babies grow quickly!

2. Knit garments one size bigger than you think the baby needs.
3. Knit a blanket - one size fits all, and becomes a shawl for an older child or adult.

Sensitive skin?

4. Explore the world of merino wool, cashmere, pima cotton, silk, rayon, and bamboo.
5. Knit with fine yarns on small needles, using smooth stockinette or lace stitches instead of highly textures cables, knots, etc.

Need ideas for something new?

6. Try a new stitch, new hat pattern, booties, diaper covers, or toys. Knitted blocks provide an interesting texture and can help with motor skills and eye development.

For many years it has been traditional to knit clothes, blankets and accessories as a gift for a new baby. It is also very practical and economical to knit for your own baby and it is still a pleasant pass time enjoyed by many grandmothers.

Baby clothes are no longer old fashioned and out dated as they were often thought to be. The arrival of some wonderful new knitting yarns have meant that you can now create a variety of lovely clothes and accessories for your little one in some great colours and styles. Yarn is no longer restricted to scratchy wool but now comes in some lovely soft cottons which are gentle on the skin and very fashionable. Also available are some great free baby knitting patterns.

Knitting patterns used to be restricted to the ones that you could buy in the wool stores and the occasional fee give away ones in magazines. Now, with the arrival of the World Wide Web, there are lots of websites which have a good selection of free baby knitting patterns. These include patterns for clothing, blankets and a whole selection of accessories and even toys.

Some of the websites will ask you register in order to gain access to the free baby knitting patterns, but many of them require no filling in of forms or having to give an email address. These ones really are just websites with something for nothing! Some of the sites are particularly interesting as they include forums where you are able to chat to other enthusiasts. Here you are able to exchange patterns and knitting tips and also you are able to source knitting yarns which you are finding it hard to buy.

The advent of good quality cotton yarn has meant that a whole new range of free baby knitting patterns are now available. You are able to knit baby sleep suits for new born babies which are soft and gentle on the skin. These are easily machine washable and the modern yarn keeps its shape well. Being able to make your own sleep suits and rompers for the baby means that you can create individual designs which will be different from the usual store bought items. All these patterns are available on websites.

Included on some of the websites you will find free baby knitting patterns for toys. There is a range of dolls that can be knitted which make wonderful toys for babies as they are completely soft and contain nothing which can injure them at all. They vary from well known characters to scarecrows and cowboys etc. and are always popular. Also available in the range of knitted toys are some lovely snowmen and Santa Claus dolls. These make wonderful presents for the little ones at holiday time.

With the choice of baby knitting patterns which can now be found on both the internet and in magazines, you will never be stuck for new ideas for either presents for your friends' new arrivals, for your own baby or for your new grandchild. Enjoy knitting and make the most of the patterns available.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

Knit these up in any color or in the traditional black and white. Pastel and white for a 'baby' look or black and white for the future sports champ. The black and white has the additional advantage of helping baby's eyesight develop because of the sharp contrast.

Find the pattern for knitted converse baby booties here.

Interweave Press (my favorite pattern source this side of heaven) offers a service called Knitting Daily. Sign up and you can immediately download free knitting pattern ebooks, including this one with 7 baby patterns.

As you can see from the picture, you get something for every baby need - hat, socks, blanket, sweaters, you name it! Plus the free knitting patterns just keep on coming.

Knitting for babies is fun because projects go quickly. Still, wool is not cheap and babies grow fast - so this grow-along baby sweater is perfect because the drop shoulders accommodate shoulders as they get wider, and the body and sleeves can be made long.

Roll those cuffs up and let the additional length keep the baby's bum warm, then as he grows roll the sleeves down and the length shortens too! The pattern is simple but charming, easy enough for an intelligent beginner, and I'd love to see it in some bright colors! although the traditional browns and grays are lovely as well.

This is a great project for using up those odds and ends of different colors.

Download pdf files of vintage baby knit patterns for free from this delightful nostalgic website. All patterns are offered for free because they are no longer covered by copyright law. This lovely baby dress with picot details is just one of several baby patterns; you'll also find patterns for all ages at Vintage Purls

It's lovely and it's free! Do it up in a primary color and it would suit a baby boy as well.

There are other free knitting patterns, for babies or others, on this site as well, but this one caught my eye. So many free patterns are rather crudely done, or are downright ugly, but this one is adorable.

Knitwits Heaven

This is an adorable pattern, with endless variations. You can knit Fair Isle patterns into it, simple stripes, or knit it up with variegated yarn. Not only is it cute, but when you get to your destination, take the hat off of baby and s/he'll be entertained with the patterns and pompoms.

Gauge:
20 sts=4" in St st

Sizes:
0-3 months (6-9 months, 12 months)

Materials:
Needles appropriate to yarn to obtain gauge
3 ounces worsted weight yarn

Instructions

Directions are given in smallest size, larger sizes are in parentheses. Where one number is given it applies to all sizes.

Front:
Starting at lower edge, CO 29 (33, 35) sts and work in k1, p1 rib for 4 inches. (This gives a turned-up rib to double over the ears. If you don't want this, just work 2 inches of ribbing and subtract 2 inches from the final measurement.)
Change to St st.
Continue until piece measures 8½" (9½", 9¾") from beg.
End after purl row.
Next row: Knit 10 (11, 12) sts, place on holder. Knit next 9 (11, 11) sts, turn.
Place rem 10 (11, 12) sts on holder.
Purl across center 9 (11, 11) sts.
Next row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts; k2tog, k1.
Next row: Purl.
Continue to rep these two rows until 3 sts rem, k3tog, cut yarn and pull through loop to finish.

Make back the same way.

Finishing:
Sew side seams, graft stitches across top on either side of center "point", sew sides of "point" together. Add pom-poms to each point.

Instructions are from Swallow Hill Creations, and are for two sizes of buttons.

Materials

Small amount #8 perle cotton

1 pair 1.25 mm (0000) knitting needles

10gms (2 strings) #10 beads

1 beading needle

Bandaid - with needles this sharp, you may need this!

Abbreviations

K1 Knit one stitch

K2tog Knit two stiches together

KF+B Knit in the front of the stitch, then knit into the back of the same st (inc 1)

S2B Slide 2 beads up to the previously worked stitch

Instructions

Transfer beads to knitting cotton using a beading needle if beads are loose. It the beads are on strings, tie one end of the bead string around the knitting cotton using a single knot and slip beads one inch at a time from the bead string to the knitting cotton.

Using the cotton strung with the beads, cast on (loosely) 4 stitches.

Row 1

Knit

Row 2

K1, *S2B K1* across

Row 3

KF+B, K to last st, KF+B (6 stitches)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 two more times, ending with a knit row (10 sts)

Row 8

K1, *S2B K1* across

Row 9

Knit

Repeat Rows 8 and 9 seven more times, ending with a knit row

Row 24

K2tog, S2B, *K1 S2B* to last 2 sts, K2tog (8 sts)

Row 25

Knit

Repeat Rows 24 and 25 until 4 sts remain ending with a knit row; do not bind off, and cut cotton leaving about a 10 inch tail.

Finishing

Thread working tail through needle and stitch a running stitch catching the end stitches of each row around your work, finishing by threading the cotton through the stitches remaining on the needle. Pull tightly and knot the end. Using your fingers, smush the button into shape.

Note - to make a smaller button, start with 3 stitches, work as set out above, increasing to 7 stitches with six rows total (3 beaded rows) following before beginning the decrease section to decrease back to 3 stitches. Finish as above.

Bonnets with ties are a nice option for babies instead of caps that are easily pulled off, and these are both practical and beautiful. The ties are attached at the corners, not threaded through the eyelet rows. You can knit them up quickly with worsted weight yarn or make them a little smaller and lighter (for newborns) with sport weight yarn. Click on photo to go to the pattern.

If you can't imagine swaddling your baby or toddler in plastic, here's a comfortable, natural alternative: knit some soakers! Punk Knitters has a size chart, lots of photos, a pattern for a crocheted adaptation, and lots of updates, tips etc.

Soakers are knit in the round.

Yarn needed: worsted weight, at least 75% wool
Gauge: 5 sts to the inch
Needles: 16" circulars (or a set of double points) in size to give you the above gauge

Instructions given for newborn [small, medium, larger, toddler]

- Cast on 56 [72, 80, 88, 96] sts. Join for knitting in the round.
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 4 [5, 5, 6, 6] rows.
- Eyelet row for all sizes: (k2, yarn over, p2tog) repeat around.
- Continue in k2, p2 ribbing for another 4 [5, 5, 6, 6] rows.
- Work in stocking or garter st for 3.5" [4", 4", 4", 4"].
- Place 12 [16, 17, 19, 21] sts on a stitch holder.
- You will now be working back and forth on the remaining 44 [56, 63, 69, 75] sts.
- Dec 1 st at the beginning and end of every other row until 12 [16, 17, 19, 21] sts remain.
- Weave these sts together with the ones you placed on the holder.

Finishing touches:
- Knit an icord tie and thread through the eyelets.
- Add cuffs if you desire by picking up one st for every row along the leg opening. Stocking st cuff works great (it rolls nicely), or a ribbed cuff works too.

Designed for 6-24 months, you can expand the size range by knitting with larger needles and/or thicker yarn.

Materials:

* Yarn: Bernat Baby Coordinates (160 g/5.6 oz) Sizes 6 mos-1 ball; 12 mos-2 balls; 18 mos-2 balls; 24 mos-2 balls
* Knitting Needles: Sizes 3.75 mm (U.S. 5) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) or size needed to obtain gauge.
* 5 buttons.

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 4 ins 10 cm with larger needles in stocking st.

Sizes:
Chest measurement
6 mos 17 ins 43 cm
12 mos 19 ins 48 cm
18 mos 21 ins 53.5 cm
24 mos 21½ ins 54.5 cm

Finished chest
6 mos 21 ins 53.5 cm
12 mos 23 ins 58.5 cm
18 mos 25 ins 63.5 cm
24 mos 27 ins 68.5 cm

Instructions:

The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).

BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 52 (58-64-70) sts. Knit 5 rows, noting first row is WS and inc 5 sts evenly across last row. 57 (63-69-75) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 6½ (7-7¾-8½) ins 16.5 (18-19.5-21.5) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armholes: Cast off 5 (7-8-10) sts beg next 2 rows. 47 (49-53-55) sts. Cont even until armhole measures 4½ (5-5¼-5½) ins 11.5 (12.5-13-14) cm, ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off.

LEFT FRONT
With smaller needles, cast on 25 (28-31-34) sts. Knit 5 rows, noting first row is WS and inc 2 sts evenly across last row. 27 (30-33-36) sts.

Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 6½ (7-7¾-8½) ins 16.5 (18-19.5-21.5) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape armhole: Next row: Cast off 5 (7-8-10) sts. Knit to end of row. 22 (23-25-26) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 2½ (3-3¼-3½) ins 6 (7.5-8-9) cm, ending with WS facing for next row.

Neck shaping: Next row: Cast off 6 (6-7-7) sts. Purl to end of row. 16 (17-18-19) sts. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows then every following alt row to 11 (12-12-13) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures same length as Back to shoulders, ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off.

RIGHT FRONT
Work from to as given for Left Front. Work to correspond to Left Front, reversing all shapings.

SLEEVES
With smaller needles, cast on 35 sts. Knit 5 rows, noting first row is WS and inc 4 sts evenly across last row. 39 sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st, inc 1 st each end of needle on 5th and every following 4th row until there are 51 (55-59-61) sts.

Cont even until work from beg measures 6 (7½-8-9) ins 15 (19-20.5-23) cm ending with RS facing for next row. Place a marker at each end of last row. Work a further 6 (8-10-12) rows even. Cast off.

HOOD
With smaller needles, cast on 93 (93-99-99) sts. Knit 5 rows, noting first row is WS and inc 6 sts evenly across last row. 99 (99-105-105) sts.
Proceed in stocking st, dec 1 st each end of needle on 3rd and following alt rows until there are 75 (75-81-81) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures 7 (7¼-7½-8) ins 18 (18.5-19-20.5) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape back seam: Cast off 7 sts beg next 8 rows. Cast off rem 19 (19-25-25) sts.

FINISHING: Pin garment pieces to measurements, cover with a damp cloth and allow cloth to dry.

Buttonhole Band: With RS of Right Front facing for Her or Left Front facing for Him and smaller needles, pick up and knit 50 (58-62-66) sts evenly between neck edge and lower edge. Knit 3 rows.
4th row: (RS). K2. K2tog. yfwd. K9 (11-12-13). Rep from 3 times more. K2tog. yfwd. Knit to end of row.
Knit 2 rows. Cast off knitwise (WS).

Button Band: Work as given for Buttonhole Band on Left Front for Her or Right Front for Him, omitting all reference to buttonholes.

Sew shoulder seams. Fold Hood in half at back and sew back seam. Pin and then sew shaped edge of Hood to neck opening, beg at center of button or buttonhole bands and matching back seam of Hood to center back neck edge. Sew in Sleeves placing rows above markers along armhole edges of Fronts and Back to form square armholes. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew buttons to correspond to buttonholes.

*pattern and photo courtesy of FaveCrafts.com

Just by signing up for their mailing list you can download the free hat and booties pattern from Fabulous Yarn. There are also several other free baby knitting patterns to choose from, plus patterns for other ages as well.

A little diversion from the usual free knitting pattern...

This happens to me a lot, especially when knitting baby things. I don't keep a large stash of baby yarn around, mostly sport weight, DK, and worsted weight. I find the most adorable baby pattern and then wonder if I can use yarn that I already have. What is the best way to test the gauge?

I've always knitted swatches; if I save them with a note pinned to them naming the yarn and weight, I've got a future reference. But now I hear that wraps per inch is all the rage, I assume because it's faster and easier. I've wondered how accurate it can be?

Then I read this in a knitting newsletter I get, Knitting Daily from Interweave Press:

"I gave each person a 3-by-5-inch index card printed with ¼-inch grid marks. I folded each card in thirds to make it a bit sturdier. I then cut a notch in the card and used a pen to mark off 2 inches of the grid. I gave each person one of these cards. Then I gave the participants some basic instructions for wrapping a yarn around the card to measure wraps per inch. My instructions were essentially, "Wrap the yarn around the card, not too tight, not too loose, with wraps touching but not squished together. Wrap for 1 or 2 inches and then count the wraps in 1 inch."

I also gave each person long strands of yarn, one at a time. First, I handed out strands of Cascade 220. I asked everyone to calculate wraps per inch. When everyone had done so, I asked them to announce the measurement they'd gotten. I repeated this sequence with three more yarns: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, Rowan Magpie Aran, and Schaefer Yarn Anne.

Each person got the same yarn, the same measuring tool, and the same instructions. Yet the resulting measures of wpi varied quite a bit. And in the case of Cascade's 220, no one got the published measurement; all estimates were too high. It seems that measures of the thicker yarns (such as the Magpie Aran and the 220) were more off than those of the thinner yarns. Also, not all people were consistently high or consistently low in their estimates.

I concluded that wraps per inch is not a very reliable measure."

I agree with this assessment, plus I have another thought that seems to favor the knitted swatch. What about the variations in tension that occur naturally between knitters, or that occur according to the materials the needles are made of or the fiber content of the yarn? I knit tighter when knitting with smaller needles and also when knitting with super-slick needles such as Addy Turbos. Am I missing something here? What do you think?

Knit this star up in contrasting colors such as black and white, or substitute dark blue, red, or green for the black, and give it to a baby as a fun gift that also helps their eyesight develop.

Or use sparkly yarn and top your Christmas tree with one.

Lovely lovely dodecahedron star. This knits up with NO sewing!

Traditionally, we see baby yarns in lovely pastel shades, but did you know that the newborn baby can't even see those colors? Newborns' eyes are not yet fully developed, so they can only see black, white, and red! In choosing yarns, therefore, select highly contrasting colors that will help baby develop her vision, or actually choose black, white, or red so both baby and the parents can see the design as it actually is.

The other considerations for baby are that the yarn be soft to accommodate sensitive newborn skin. A perfect fiber choice is a cotton/kapok blend; it is soft and "thermal regulating", keeping babies warm in winter and cool in summer, two pluses.

If you don't mind spending a little more, bamboo yarn is to die for - truly soft as cashmere with the drape of silk, it is a dream. For the baby, it's like wearing liquid, absolutely exquisite. If you follow that link, you can choose between pastels, highly contrasting colors, and even the white, black, and two choices of reds (poppy and garnet) that I mentioned above. This yarn is 45% bamboo and 55% nylon, and is machine washable.

Parents will appreciate easy care fabrics (cotton is machine washable and can be dried in a dryer or hung to dry) and gifts that the baby does not outgrow quickly. Ask the parents if they would prefer newborn sized garments or perhaps for a six-month old. Newborns grow very fast! When in doubt, knit a blanket, pillow cover, or stuffed toy.

Thanks to Jimmy Bean's Wool for this easy newborn hat pattern.

Materials

* 1 ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, shown in the color 27 Denim. (optionally, you can also use 1 ball of a contrasting color for the stripe - i used 100 White)
* US Size 2 double pointed knitting needles or size to get gauge.

Gauge: 11 sts to the inch in K3, P2 rib.
Finished Size: 10 inches around by 6 inches tall. By the time i finished the hat, Huck's head was almost 15 inches around (according to his 3 week Dr visit). The hat fit perfectly!
Abbreviations

* CO - Cast On
* BO - Bind Off
* K - Knit
* P - Purl
* sts - Stitches

Directions

* CO 110 sts
* Using the double points, join in the round
* Row 1: k3, p2 to end of round
* Repeat Row 1 until hat measures approximately 6 inches from CO edge
* (Note: using the Baby Cashmerino in white, i put a 3 row stripe in about 1 inch from the cast on edge)
* Finishing: BO all stitches... I flipped the hat inside out and used the 3 needle bind off. Alternatively, you could use Kitchener Stitch (and not flip the hat inside out).

Such an adorable hat and practical too. Make this in contrasting colors, such as white with black tassels, for added eye interest for baby. Babies love textures too so when you arrive at your destination, the hat can become a plaything to keep baby happy for a while.

Click on this link for the free Aran hat pattern for baby.

The Providence Examiner has several pages of links to online free baby knitting patterns, in their article "Getting Ready for Baby". I love the overalls pattern, so unusual! These are knit from the bottom up. Adorable!

Check out their links to patterns for blankets, hats, sweaters, booties, soakers...and even patterns for the Mommy. There are one-skein patterns, patterns perfect for using up odds and ends from your stash, or special projects for that luxury or novelty yarn. Look in your local paper online as well. Who would have thought...!

One of my favorite online yarn shops is Knit Picks.

I would alter the pattern for this Baby Hat with Handle by starting the decreasing later and decreasing more rapidly, to give it the same "puckered" look as the photo above. It will take a bit of trial and error but I think the hat is charming and worth the effort.

There are also many other adorable baby hat knitting patterns, all free, on this page.

Nothing beats wool for warming up little fingers and toes in the winter, but for that spring baby you might want a lighter, cotton blanket. Here's a colorful, easy blanket pattern for any knitter, beginner or seasoned veteran. Knit one up quick for that baby due this summer!

Bring-it-on baby blanket

A friend had a baby 3 months ago. He was born big enough that another friend's baby the same age still hasn't reached his birth weight. At 3 months, he's wearing (and filling out) 6 month old sized clothing. He outgrew his changing table in one week...wow...

So how do you plan a knitted gift that will fit any infant, and one that s/he won't outgrow quickly? Try this pinafore that becomes a tunic as the child grows. I'd be willing to bet that you could knit it straight, starting with fewer stitches, and knit it a bit shorter, for a boy. The bright primary colors are perfect for either sex, and you can change the flowers to animals or cars. What a great pattern to experiment with!