Knitting Patterns for Children

Knitting for children, from first size to nearly grown

Children's knitting sits in a happy middle ground: big enough to be a proper garment with real shaping, small enough to finish before you tire of it. A DK jumper for a five-year-old is perhaps a third of the stitches of the adult version, which makes this collection a sensible place to learn colourwork, cables or set-in sleeves without committing to months of work. The patterns here are instant PDF downloads and most are written across a run of ages, typically from around one or two years up to eleven or twelve.

Getting the size right when the child is not there

Ages on patterns are a rough guide only; children of the same age vary enormously. Work from the chest measurement instead, and if you can, measure a jumper the child already wears and likes, flat across the chest and from underarm to cuff. Then add growing room in the right places: length in the body and sleeves is easy to add and easy to forgive, whereas excess width just looks wrong. Deep cuffs that can be turned back for a season are the classic trick, and they buy you a whole extra year of wear.

Which yarn survives a school term

• Superwash wool or wool-acrylic blends: the default. Warm, machine washable, holds ribbing at cuffs and neck.
• Acrylic DK: hard-wearing and cheap enough that a lost jumper is not a disaster.
• Cotton: good for summer tops and for children who find wool itchy, though it has no elasticity, so ribbing goes slack.
• Aran and chunky: quick to knit and lovely for outdoor layers, but heavy on a small child – keep the shape simple.
• Pure untreated wool: beautiful, but check it is soft enough next to the skin and that the washing instructions suit the household.

Safety and practicality

Avoid long ties and drawstrings at the neck on anything for a young child, and use buttons that are firmly sewn with a shank rather than loose toggles on knits for under-threes. On hats, a snug ribbed brim keeps the hat on in the wind far better than any tie. For toys knitted alongside, embroider the face rather than using safety eyes if the toy is destined for a baby. Pockets are always popular, and a patch pocket added after the fact is one of the easiest modifications you can make.

Making it quick

If time matters more than tradition, choose aran or chunky and a seamless top-down construction. A yoked jumper knitted from the neck down can be tried on mid-project – useful with a child who has grown since you cast on – and finishes with only the underarms to graft. Hats, mittens and simple tabards are evening projects and make good use of leftover balls from bigger garments.

Care and handing down

Wash children's knits on a wool cycle at a low temperature and dry flat; hanging a wet knitted jumper by the shoulders will stretch it permanently. Store clean, because moths are drawn to food and skin traces rather than the wool itself. Keep a spare metre or two of each yarn tucked inside the garment for repairs; a darned elbow in matching yarn is nearly invisible and adds another year of life before the jumper moves down to a younger sibling.

Children's knitting questions

How much yarn does a child's jumper take? It depends on age and yarn weight, so use the yardage printed in the pattern for the size you are making and buy one spare ball.

What size should I knit if I'm unsure? Go one size up and add length to the sleeves. Children grow into width slowly and length quickly.

Which yarn is best for a child with sensitive skin? A soft merino blend or cotton, and keep seams flat with mattress stitch.

Are there quick projects here? Yes – hats, mittens and chunky tabards can be finished in an evening or two.

Can I knit these on straight needles? Flat, seamed patterns yes; seamless top-down designs need a circular needle.