Inspired by the serene beauty of misty forest mornings, and the colors of fallen leaves and acorns, this sweater is a cozy and stylish knit designed especially for children aged 3 to 12 years. This versatile sweater features timeless autumn scenes and a relaxed fit, making it perfect for exploring nature trails or snuggling up on chilly days. Whether you’re crafting it for your little adventurer or as a thoughtful handmade gift, Which what I obviously did for my lovely niece, this project will be a joy to knit and cherished for years to come. Grab your yarn and needles, and let’s create something magical for the young ones!
Overview:
- Skill level: Intermediate.
- Instructions style: written pattern + charts.
- Sizes: this kids sweater is available in five sizes for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years old (see detailed measurements below).
- The sweater is a seamless, top-down project worked with circular knitting needles, starting from the middle of the back. The knitting begins at the neck and progresses to the yoke, which is then divided into the body and sleeves. Both the body and sleeves are knit in the round, and using double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the sleeves can make the process easier.
- Required skills: increasing and decreasing stitches, working in the round, knitting using double pointed knitting needles, stranded colorwork.
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Materials:
- Suggested yarn: PoloSu Softly Lux, (100% premium anti-pilling acrylic, 3.5 oz (100 g), 274 yards (250 m), in the following colors and quantities: cream 402 (2 skeins), and brick 440 (1 skein).
- Circular knitting needles, 16" (40 cm) long, sizes US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm).
- Circular knitting needles, 24" (60 cm) long, size US 7 (4.5 mm).
- Double pointed knitting needles (DPNs) sets, size US 7 (4.5 mm).
- Ring stitch marker.
- Regular stitch marker.
- Tapestry needle.
Sizes and measurements:
| Size | Chest-bust measurements | Height measurements |
| 3-4 years old | 22"-22.5" (56-57 cm) | 38.5"-41" (98-104 cm) |
| 5-6 years old | 23"- 24" (58.5- 61 cm) | 43.5"- 46" (110- 116 cm) |
| 7-8 years old | 24.5"- 25.5" (62.5- 65 cm) | 48"- 50.5" (122- 128 cm) |
| 9-10 years old | 26"- 27" (66- 68.5 cm) | 53"- 55" (134- 139 cm) |
| 11-12 years old | 28"- 29" (71-74 cm) | 56"- 59" (141- 150 cm) |
Yardage:
- Size 3-4: 515-525 yards (470-480 m), approx.
- Size 5-6: 590- 600 yards (540- 550 m), approx.
- Size 7-8: 645- 655 yards (590- 600 m), approx.
- Size 9-10: 700- 710 yards (640- 650 m), approx.
- Size 11-12: 775- 785 yards (710- 720 m), approx.
Knitting terms:
- st: stitch.
- sts: stitches.
- k: knit.
- p: purl.
- k2tog: knit 2 sts together.
- ssk: slip, slip, knit the 2 sts together through back loops.
- stm: stitch marker.
Instructions:
Neck:
With cream yarn and 16" (40 cm) and size US 4 (3.5 mm) circular knitting needles, cast on 80 (84, 86, 88, 92) sts. Join in the round. Put a ring stm at the beginning of the round. Work as follows:
Rib round: k 2, p 2 to end.
Work rib round 6 (6, 9, 9, 9) more times. Change to 16" (40 cm) and size US 7 (4.5 mm) circular knitting needles when knitting the next round.
Yoke:
First increase round:
Knit all sts, increasing 24 (26, 26, 28, 28) sts evenly spaced [104 (110, 112, 116, 120) sts]. Knit 4 (4, 5, 6, 7) rounds.
Second increase round:
Knit all sts, increasing 32 (34, 40, 36, 40) sts evenly spaced [136 (144, 152, 152, 160) sts]. Bind brick colored yarn and knit Pattern 1. Knit one round.
Third increase round:
Knit one round increasing 24 (32, 40, 40, 32) sts evenly spaced. [160 (176, 176, 192 , 192) sts]. Work Pattern 2. Knit one round.
Fourth increase round:
Knit one round increasing 32 (36, 48, 40, 48) sts evenly spaced. [192 (208, 220, 232, 240) sts]. W ork Pattern 3. Cut brick colored yarn and knit one round.
Fifth increase round:
Knit one round increasing 24 (20, 20, 22, 30) sts evenly spaced. [216 (228, 240, 254, 270) sts]. Knit 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) rounds.
Dividing round:
From the ring stitch marker, knit 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts for half back, *place the next 44 (46, 48, 51, 55) sts on a piece of yarn for the sleeve. Cast on 6 (6, 8, 8, 8) sts for the underarm*, knit 64 (68, 72, 76, 80) sts for front and repeat between ** one more time. Knit the last 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts for half back to the end of round. Body total [140 (148, 160, 172, 176) sts]. Body and sleeves are finished separately. Put a regular stm at the middle of the back. The body piece is now measured from here.
Body:
Keep on knitting in rounds until the body measures 5.5" (6.75", 7.5", 8", 8.25") [14 (17, 19, 20, 21) cm] from the dividing round. Knit one round increasing 4 (4, 0, 4, 0) sts evenly spaced [144 (152, 160, 176, 176) sts]. Bind brick colored yarn, and work Pattern 1. Cut cream yarn.
Knit one round increasing 16 (16, 16, 20, 20) sts [160 (168, 176, 196, 196) sts].
Change to size US 6 (3.5 mm) circular knitting needles and work the rib round 9 (9, 10, 11, 11) times. Bind off all sts.
Sleeves:
Slip the 44 (46, 48, 51, 55) sts into US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed knitting needles, or 16" (40 cm), size US 7 (4.5 mm) circular knitting needles (as you prefer). Join cream yarn (on third st before the underarm) and knit them, then pick up one st out of each of the body underarm 6 (6, 8, 8, 8) sts. [50 (52, 56, 59, 63) sts]. Put a ring stm in the middle of the picked up sts to start knitting the sleeve. The sleeve is now measured from here.
Sleeve Shaping:
Knit 6 (6, 7, 8, 8) rounds then start the decreasing pattern.
Decreasing Pattern: knit the round, k2tog before stm and ssk after it. Knit 6 (8, 9, 10, 12) rounds.
Repeat decreasing pattern 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) more times [40 (42, 44, 47, 49) sts]. knit in the round until sleeve measures 6.75" (8.75", 10.25", 12", 13.5") [17 (22, 26, 30, 34) cm]. Knit one round increasing 4 (2, 4, 1) sts. for the largest size, decrease 1 st [44 (44, 48, 48, 48) sts]. Bind on brick colored yarn and work pattern 1. Cut cream yarn.
knit one round increasing 4 sts [48 (48, 52, 52, 52) sts]. Change to size US 6 (3.5 mm) circular knitting needles and work the rib round 9 (9, 10, 11, 11) times. Bind off all sts. Work the other sleeve in the same way. Weave in loose ends.
Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.
Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.
