Hilla Overall in Novita Venla - NFFP011 - Downloadable PDF

Hilla Overall in Novita Venla – Knitted Baby and Toddler Overalls Pattern (NFFP011)

The Hilla Overall is a charming, free downloadable knitting pattern designed by Sari Nordlund for Novita. This pattern produces a beautifully detailed pair of knitted overalls for babies and toddlers, sized from 56/62 cm through 92/98 cm (approximately UK newborn to age 2–3, or US 0–3 months through 2T). The finished garment features elegant lace panels on the legs and front, a practical seed stitch construction throughout the body and back, and a button band opening at the front crotch for easy dressing and nappy changes — a thoughtful design detail that makes these overalls as functional as they are beautiful.

What Is Being Made

The Hilla Overall is a pair of full-length knitted overalls designed for infants and young toddlers. The garment is worked from the bottom up, beginning with each leg separately before joining at the crotch to work the body in the round. The completed overalls include inner sleeve length (with ribbing folded in half) of 18–27 cm, an inner leg length of 22–33 cm, and a length from neckline to crotch of 33–46 cm, with a chest circumference of 52–64 cm. The design combines decorative lace sections on the legs with a sturdy seed stitch back panel, making it both visually appealing and structurally sound for active little ones.

Construction and Techniques

This is an intermediate-level knitting pattern that requires familiarity with several construction methods. The overalls are constructed using a combination of flat and in-the-round knitting techniques, which makes it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable transitioning between the two methods.

• Legs worked separately: Both the left and right legs are knitted individually, beginning flat or in the round with ribbing at the cuff, then worked upward with the lace chart pattern incorporated throughout.
• Crotch shaping: Crotch increases are worked on each leg before joining. Stitches are bound off at the crotch join to create a neat opening, and the legs are then connected by knitting together the final stitch of one leg with the first stitch of the other — a clean and professional joining technique.
• Working in the round: After joining the legs, the body is worked in the round on a circular needle, maintaining the established lace and seed stitch patterns.
• Button band: A front button band is created by binding off the central seed stitch section of the front panel, then switching to working back and forth (flat knitting) for the upper body.
• Seed stitch panels: The back of the overalls features a substantial seed stitch section, providing a textured contrast to the lace front panels and adding durability to the back of the garment.

Stitch Patterns Used

The Hilla Overall incorporates three distinct stitch patterns, each serving a specific structural or decorative purpose:

• Ribbing (in the round and flat): A classic *k1, p1* rib is used at the cuffs and edges. When worked flat, the final stitch of each row is knitted, and subsequent rows follow the established rib by knitting knit stitches and purling purl stitches. This provides stretch and a neat, finished edge.
• Seed stitch (in the round): Worked as *k1, p1* in the round, but with a twist — on following rounds, the purl stitches are knitted and the knit stitches are purled, creating the characteristic bumpy, non-curling seed stitch texture. This stitch is used extensively across the back panel (101–137 stitches depending on size) and in the front seed stitch section (11 stitches) that forms the button band area.
• Lace pattern: The decorative centerpiece of the overalls, the lace is worked by following a dedicated chart. Two lace sections of 23 stitches each appear on the front of the garment, flanking the central seed stitch panel. The lace chart is worked in odd-numbered rows, and the pattern instructs knitters to always finish on an odd-numbered row at key construction points such as the crotch join — an important detail for