Free Knitting Patterns for Girls

From first cardigan to teenage jumper

This collection covers a wide stretch of childhood, from newborn girls through to teens, and the knitting changes a good deal along the way. At the younger end you will find cardigans, dresses, pinafores, bonnets and bootees with lace edgings and small colour details. In the middle years there are school-friendly jumpers, hoodies, hats, scarves and mittens. For older girls the emphasis shifts to shapes they would choose themselves: cropped jumpers, longline cardigans, slouchy beanies and simple modern tops. Everything downloads as a free PDF.

Sizing that keeps up with growth

Work from the chest measurement rather than the age on the label, since children of the same age vary by several centimetres. Cardigans are the most forgiving garment to knit for a growing child, because the front opening absorbs a bit of extra width and the buttons can be moved. If you are between sizes, take the larger one and shorten the sleeves; sleeve length is by far the easiest thing to adjust and usually the first thing outgrown. Adding 3cm to the body and turning back a deep ribbed cuff can buy you a whole extra season of wear.

Yarn and colour

• Machine-washable DK on 4mm needles for everyday cardigans and jumpers. A size 5-6 years cardigan takes around 300-400g.
• 4 ply on 3.25mm needles for finer party knits, lacy edgings and christening pieces.
• Chunky for hats, scarves and quick winter makes from a single ball.
• Soft merino or a merino-cotton blend for anyone who complains that wool itches, which at this age is a real consideration.
• Let her pick the colour. It genuinely determines whether the finished thing gets worn.

Details worth knitting in

Small touches are what make handknits for girls feel special rather than merely practical. A picot cast-off around a hem, a row of eyelets threaded with a ribbon or an i-cord, a scalloped shell edging, a contrast Peter Pan collar, or a simple lace panel down the front of an otherwise plain cardigan. Buttons deserve real thought: heart, flower and novelty buttons are fun, but check they are washable and sew them on with doubled thread through a reinforcing stitch on the wrong side. For older girls, keep the detailing subtle; texture and a good colour beat decoration every time.

Techniques you will meet

Ribbing, increases and decreases, armhole and neckline shaping, picking up stitches for a button band and neckband, and buttonholes cover the majority of these patterns. Beyond that you will find simple lace repeats, cables, stranded colourwork yokes and intarsia motifs. Because children's garments are small, each of these is a manageable learning project rather than a marathon; a lace yoke on a size 4 cardigan is a few evenings, not a few weeks. Most garments here are worked flat on straight needles and seamed, though there are seamless top-down options too.

Finishing and care

Block the pieces to the schematic before you sew up, so the seams match row for row. Use mattress stitch for a flat join that will not rub under a school shirt. Wash superwash yarns at 30 degrees in a mesh bag, dry flat and reshape while damp; never tumble dry a handknit, and never hang a wet cardigan by its shoulders.

Common questions

Is there a free girls' cardigan knitting pattern? Yes, cardigans are one of the most popular styles here and every pattern is free to download.

Are there patterns for around age 5? Most designs are graded across children's sizes, so you can knit the same pattern again as she grows.

Can I knit them on straight needles? The majority are worked flat in pieces and seamed at the end.

How much yarn should I buy? Follow the amount listed for your size and add a ball if you plan to lengthen the body or sleeves.

Where else should I browse? See our free children's knitting patterns, knit for siblings with free patterns for boys, or make something for yourself from free knitting patterns for women.