Child's Striped Yoke Pullover in Lion Brand Homespun - LB30145

Child's Striped Yoke Pullover in Lion Brand Homespun – Pattern LB30145

This free, downloadable knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn produces a charming child's striped yoke pullover worked in the cozy, textured Lion Brand Homespun yarn. Sized to fit children aged approximately 2 through 8 years, with chest sizes ranging from 21 to 26½ inches and finished chest measurements of 27 to 35 inches, this sweater is a practical and stylish wardrobe staple for little ones. The design is rated Easy, making it an excellent project for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to work a simple shaped garment.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a classic pullover sweater for children featuring a distinctive striped yoke detail. The body of the sweater is worked in a solid main color, while the yoke area introduces a contrasting color stripe pattern that draws the eye upward and adds visual interest without overwhelming complexity. The result is a cozy, wearable knit that works beautifully for everyday wear across multiple seasons, particularly in the bulky-weight Lion Brand Homespun yarn, which gives the finished garment a soft, slightly textured, and wonderfully warm character.

Sizes and Fit

• Sizes available: 2, 4, 6, and 8 (children's)
• Chest sizes to fit: 21 (23, 25, 26½) inches
• Finished chest measurements: 27 (29, 31, 35) inches

The generous positive ease built into each size ensures comfortable movement and a relaxed fit, which is ideal for active children.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun – 2 (2, 2, 3) skeins in #302 Colonial as the Main Color (MC), plus 1 skein in #309 Deco as the Contrast Color (CC), or colors of your choice
• Knitting needles: Size 10.5 (6.5 mm) straight needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: A large-eyed, blunt tapestry needle for seaming and finishing

Lion Brand Homespun is a beloved bulky-weight yarn known for its soft, chenille-like texture and subtle sheen. It works up quickly on larger needles and produces a fabric with excellent drape and warmth — qualities that make it particularly well-suited to children's knitwear.

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch using size 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished size of a garment.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter Stitch: The lower body begins with 5 rows of garter stitch (knit every row), which creates a neat, non-rolling edge at the cast-on hem.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main body of the sweater is worked in classic Stockinette Stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — creating a smooth, even fabric that showcases the texture of the Homespun yarn.
• Stripe Pattern: The yoke section introduces a four-row stripe sequence. Row 1 is knit with the Contrast Color (CC); Row 2 is purled with CC; Row 3 is knit with the Main Color (MC); Row 4 is purled with MC. This simple two-color stripe repeat is easy to memorize and execute.
• Neck Shaping: Basic neck shaping is worked while maintaining the established stripe pattern, introducing knitters to the technique of shaping within a color sequence.
• Seaming: The blunt tapestry needle is used to join the finished pieces together, a fundamental finishing skill in garment knitting.

Construction Method