Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids | Purl Soho

The Easy Baby Cardigan from Joelle’s More Last-Minute Kitted Gifts has become a Purl Soho classic… but it wasn’t the original! Before she knit up that worsted weight cardigan, Joelle first conceived of a lightweight, all-season pullover. At 7 stitches to the inch, it wasn’t exactly a “last minute knitted gift” and so it evolved; but Joelle never forgot the adorable prototype she had decided to shelve!

Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids | Purl Soho

The inspiration behind both sweaters was always Joelle’s intrigue with an over-the-top construction. Starting at the bottom back, knitting up and over the shoulders and sleeves, then down the front, this sweater is a one-piece engineering wonder! The Easy Baby Pullover may not be as quick as its cardigan cousin, but it’s just as easy! And just as beautiful, with the gorgeous hand dyed subtlety of Koigu Premium Merino. Wonderfully soft, machine washable and as gorgeous as yarn comes, KPM is one of our all time favorites!

Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids | Purl Soho

This timeless design is filled with design details that make it cozy for tots and easy for parents: a roomy neck opening for quick on and off, cuffs designed for rolling, and a loose, casual style for busy little bodies!  A new classic? We think so!

P.S. Curious about the cute hat too? It’s our Little Fair Isle Hat and you can find out all about it right here!

Update: Additional Sizes

January 2014
Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids | Purl Soho

When we added three new sizes to the Easy Pullover pattern, we thought we’d knit up a new version in a new color! This sweet peach of a color is Koigu Premium Merino #1111.5. You can see more pictures of this version here!

Update: New Yarns!

July 2017
  • Post Image
  • Post Image
  • Post Image
  • Post Image

Our Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers + Kids is such a classic, we rely on it over and over, like an old friend. This year we’ve knit it up in, not one, not two, but three different Purl Soho yarns, each one with its own unique beauty! For more information on these yarns and for additional pictures, be sure to visit our new post here!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoEasyPulloverForBabiesToddlersAndKids. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

  • 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins of Koigu’s Koigu Premium Merino (KPM), 100% merino. Each skein is 175 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 700–1750 yards required. The denim blue is color #1010.5 and the peach is color #1111.5.
  • US 4 (3.5 mm), 32-inch circular needle
  • 4 stitch markers
  • Stitch holder or scrap yarn

Gauge

28 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

12-24 months (2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, 12 years)

  • Chest Circumference: 20½ (23, 26, 30, 32½, 34½, 36½) inches
  • Length from Shoulder to Bottom Edge: 14 (16, 17, 19½, 20½, 22½, 24) inches
  • Length from Cast-On to Underarm: 9 (10½, 11½, 13½, 14½, 16, 17) inches
  • Armhole Depth: 5 (5½, 5½, 6, 6, 6½, 7) inches
  • Sleeve Length from Underarm to Cuff, unfolded: 8¾ (11, 12¾, 15, 15½, 15½, 16¼) inches
Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids | Purl Soho

Notes

This pullover is worked flat. It is worked in one piece from the bottom edge of the Back, over the shoulders and sleeves, then down to the bottom edge of the Front.

Seed Stitch: (multiple of 2 stitches + 1) All Rows: K1, *p1, k1, repeat from *.

Stockinette stitch: Knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows.

Errata

This pattern was updated on January 2, 2014 to include 3 additional sizes. The update also includes revisions to the original sizes, adjusting fit to better align with standard sizing. The original January 12, 2012 pattern is now only available on Ravelry as a free downloadable pattern (click here to go to Ravelry). And for the most up-to-date version, just read on right here!

Pattern

Back

Cast on 71 (81, 91, 105, 113, 121, 127) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Work in Seed Stitch for 1½ (1½, 1½, 1½, 2, 2, 2) inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Work in Seed Stitch for 5 stitches, work in stockinette stitch to last 5 stitches, work inSeed Stitch to end.

Work as set by last row until piece measures 2½ (2½, 2½, 2½, 3, 3, 3) inches from cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.

Change to all stockinette stitch. Work even until piece measures 9 (10½, 11½, 13½, 14½, 16, 17) inches from cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.

Cast on for Sleeves

Row 1 (right side): With right side facing, use a Cable Cast-On to cast on 60 (74, 88, 102, 106, 106, 110) stitches. Work across cast-on stitches in Seed Stitch for 25 (29, 33, 37, 37, 37, 37) stitches, place a marker (pm), knit to end. [131 (155, 179, 207, 219, 227, 237) stitches]

Row 2: With wrong side facing, use a Cable Cast-On to cast on 60 (74, 88, 102, 106, 106, 110) stitches. Work across cast-on stitches in Seed Stitch for 25 (29, 33, 37, 37, 37, 37) stitches, pm, purl to next marker, work in Seed Stitch to end [191 (229, 267, 309, 325, 333, 347) stitches]

Row 3: Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, work in stockinette stitch to next marker, work in Seed Stitch to end.

Repeat Row 3 until piece measures 4½ (5, 5, 5½, 5¼, 5¾, 6¼) inches from beginning of Sleeve, ending with a wrong-side row.

Shape Back Neck

Row 1 (right side): Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, k51 (64, 76, 93, 99, 103, 110), pm, work in Seed Stitch over next 39 (43, 49, 49, 53, 53, 53) stitches, pm, knit to next marker, work in Seed Stitch to end.

Row 2: Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, work in stockinette stitch to next marker, work in Seed Stitch to following marker, work in stockinette stitch to last marker, work in Seed Stitch to end.

Repeat Row 2 until the back neck Seed Stitch measures ½ (½, ½, ½, ¾, ¾, ¾) inch, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Work in pattern to second marker, work 5 stitches in Seed Stitch, bind off 29 (33, 39, 39, 43, 43, 43) stitches in pattern, work in pattern to end. [81 (98, 114, 135, 141, 145, 152) stitches remaining for each side]

Left Front

Now working only the Left Front and Sleeve stitches (leaving the remaining stitches on needle), work even in patterns as established for 1 (1, 1, 1¼, 1¼, 1½, 1½) inch(es), ending with a wrong-side row.

Shape Front Left Neck

Row 1 (right side): Work in pattern to first marker, slip marker (sm), knit into front and back of next stitch (kfb), work in patterns to end. [82 (99, 115, 136, 142, 146, 153) stitches]

Row 2: Work in patterns to 1 stitch before second marker, kfb, sm, work in pattern to end. [83 (100, 116, 137, 143, 147, 154 stitches]

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six (seven, eight, eight, nine, nine, nine) more times, working increased stitches in stockinette stitch. [95 (114, 132, 153, 161, 165, 172) stitches]

SIZES – ( – , 4 YEARS 6 YEARS, 8 YEARS, 10 YEARS, 12 YEARS) ONLY

Work Row 1 again. [- (-, 133 154, 162, 166, 173) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Work even until piece measures 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14) inches from beginning of Sleeve, ending with a right- side row.

Left Sleeve

Next Row (wrong side): Bind off 60 (74, 88, 102, 106, 106, 110) stitches in pattern (removing marker), work in patterns to end. [35 (40, 45, 52, 56, 60, 63) stitches remain]

Cut yarn and place stitches on stitch holder or scrap yarn.

Right Front

With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to stitches on needle. Work even in patterns as established for 1 (1, 1, 1¼, 1¼, 1½, 1½) inch(es), ending with a wrong-side row.

Shape Front Right Neck

Row 1 (right side): Work in patterns to 1 stitch before second marker, kfb, work in pattern to end. [82 (99, 115, 136, 142, 146, 153) stitches]

Row 2: Work in pattern to first marker, sm, kfb, sm, work in patterns to end. [83 (100, 116, 137, 143, 147, 154) stitches]

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six (seven, eight, eight, nine, nine, nine) more times, working increased stitches in stockinette stitch. [95 (114, 132, 153, 161, 165, 172) stitches]

SIZES – ( – , 4 YEARS 6 YEARS, 8 YEARS, 10 YEARS, 12 YEARS) ONLY

Work Row 1 again. [- , ( – , 133 (154, 162, 166, 173) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Work even until piece measures 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14) inches from beginning of Sleeve, ending with a wrong-side row.

Right Sleeve

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 60 (74, 88, 102, 106, 106, 110) stitches in pattern (removing marker), work in patterns to end, Cable Cast-On 1 stitch for center neck, work this stitch in Seed Stitch, then work the 35 (40, 44, 52, 56, 60, 63) stitches of Left Side in patterns as established. [71 (81, 91, 105, 113, 121, 127) stitches]

Front

Row 1 (wrong side): Work in stockinette stitch to first marker, work in Seed Stitch to next marker, work in stockinette stitch to end.

Work as set by last row for 3/4 inch total, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Work entire row in stockinette stitch, removing markers.

Work even until Front measures 6½ (8, 9, 11, 11½, 13, 14) inches from end of Sleeve, or until Front is same length as Back to beginning of Seed Stitch trim above side slit, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Work in Seed Stitch for 5 stitches, work in stockinette stitch to last 5 stitches, work in Seed Stitch to end.

Work as set by last row for 1 inch total.

Next Row: Work entire row in Seed Stitch.

Repeat last row for 1½ (1½, 1½, 1½, 2, 2, 2) inches total, ending with a wrong-side row.

Bind off in Seed Stitch.

Finish

Block if desired. Using mattress stitch, sew side seams, starting above the Seed Stitch edging, and leaving 2½ (2½, 2½, 2½, 3, 3, 3) inches unsewn for side slits. Also sew the Sleeve seams.

Weave in your ends and block as desired.