Little Garter Baby Set

Knit an incredibly special gift for a baby that’s near and dear to your heart with our free Little Garter Baby Set pattern. In Nigh Fine, our 100% cashmere yarn, this sweet set is as soft as the baby who will wear it!

Let’s start from the top… With the hat, that is! After you cast on and work a rolled stockinette brim, you’ll work some simple short rows (so easy in garter stitch) to shape the ear flaps, then decrease to a gentle peak, and top it all off with a winsome little tassel!

You knit the vest in the round from the bottom up, divide for the front and back, then join the shoulders with a 3-Needle Bind Off. No seaming, and that neckline is super stretchy for easy wear. For the adorable booties, you start out working the sole flat and end up knitting in the round. Throughout all three patterns, you’ll encounter the same design details: simple short row shaping, columns of stockinette against a garter-stitch background, and relaxed rolled edges.

All in Nigh Fine’s exceptional feel-it-to-believe-it highest-grade Mongolian cashmere. This yarn comes from cashmere goats and their downy undercoat, which keeps them warm and insulated without weighing them down. It will do the same for baby! Holding fingering-weight Nigh Fine double makes for a quicker knit and a substantial fabric that will keep babies toasty warm, while staying marvelously light and supple.

These generous skeins are 448 yards each, so even holding the yarn double, you only need a few skeins to make the full set… Amazing! Pick from a palette of 18 beautiful heathered colors, from delicate, baby-friendly classics like Turquoise Patina to earthy neutrals like Soft Rosewood.

All three patterns come in sizes for newborns and babies, and there are extra sizes for toddler-size hats and vests. Cast on with our Nigh Fine yarn for an heirloom Little Garter Baby Set, sure to be treasured and passed on with love!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Hat originally designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson, booties by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover, and vest by Purl Soho designer, Gianna Mueller.

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

Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!

Materials

VEST

• 1 (2, 2, 2, 3) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Nigh Fine, 100% cashmere yarn. Each skein of this lace- to fingering-weight yarn is 448 yards/ 55 grams; approximately 448 (585, 650, 800, 955) total yards required. We used the colors Soft Rosewood and Turquoise Patina.
• US 4 (3.5 mm), 16- or 24-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making
• Spare US 4 or smaller circular knitting needles, any length
• A set of four or five US 4 double pointed needles 
• A US 5 (3.75 mm) knitting needle, any type
• Stitch markers, including one unique
• Stitch holders or scrap yarn

NOTE: We used every last yard for the Newborn size. To avoid running short, be sure to check your gauge, reuse your swatch yarn, and keep tails short. Or, consider ordering an extra skein. If you don’t end up needing it, you can return unwound yarn for a refund within 30 days of purchase, or within 6 months, for store credit. Our Return Policy has all the details!

HAT

• 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Nigh Fine, 100% cashmere yarn. Each skein of this lace- to fingering-weight yarn is 448 yards/ 55 grams; approximately 150 (190, 235) total yards required. We used the colors Soft Rosewood, Cloud Blue, and Pink Crepe.
• US 5 (3.75 mm), 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making OR US 5, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
• US 4 (3.5 mm), 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making OR US 4, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
• If using short circular needles: A set of four or five US 4 double pointed needles 
• Removable stitch markers, including 1 unique

BOOTIES

• 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Nigh Fine, 100% cashmere yarn. Each skein of this lace- to fingering-weight yarn is 448 yards/ 55 grams; approximately 125 (145) total yards required. We used the colors Soft Rosewood, Cloud Blue, and Pink Crepe.
• A set of four US 4 (3.5 mm) double pointed needles
• A small crochet hook and scrap yarn (for Provisional Cast On)
• Removable stitch markers, including 1 unique

NOTE: Want to make a set? Determine how many skeins of Nigh Fine you’ll need by adding up the yardages required for each piece, then dividing by 448.

GAUGE

26 stitches and 50 rows/rounds = 4 inches in garter stitch, with yarn held double (see Notes)

SIZES

VEST

Newborn (6–12 Months, 1–2 Years, 2–3 Years, 3–4 years)

To fit actual chest circumference of approximately 15–17 (17–19, 18–20, 21–23, 23–25) inches, with approximately 3–6 inches of ease

• Finished Chest Circumference: 20¼ (22¼, 23½, 26½, 29) inches
• Finished Body Length from Bottom Edge to Underarm: 6 (6½, 7, 7¾, 8½) inches
• Finished Body Length from Bottom Edge to Top of Shoulder: 10 (11½, 12, 13¼, 14½) inches

SAMPLES: We knit the Newborn size for our vests.

HAT

Newborn (6–12 Months, 2–4 Years)

• Finished Circumference: 12¼ (14¼, 16) inches, comfortably stretching 1–2 inches
• Finished Height: 6½ (7¼, 8) inches, from bottom of ear flap to top of hat (not including tassel)

SAMPLES: We knit the 6-12 Months size for our Hats.

For help choosing a hat size, check out our complete guide on How to Knit the Right Hat Size!

BOOTIES

Newborn (Baby)

• Finished Foot Circumference: 4¼ inches
• Finished Leg Circumference: 4½ (5) inches
• Finished Foot Length: 3½ (4) inches
• Finished Height from Heel to Top of Cuff: 4 inches

SAMPLES: We knit the Baby size for our Booties.

NOTES

YARN DOUBLED

For all pieces, you will hold two strands of yarn together throughout. If you only have one ball, pull one strand from the inside and one strand from the outside, or you can wind two evenly sized balls!

SLIP STITCHES

Slip all stitches purlwise with yarn in back (wyib) unless otherwise specified.

PROVISIONAL CAST ON

For assistance, including how to put live stitches back onto needles, please visit our Provisional Cast-On: One-Step Method Tutorial.

SHORT ROW SHAPING: WRP-T (WRAP + TURN)

On both right and wrong sides: Keeping yarn in back, slip next stitch purlwise from left needle to right needle. Bring yarn to front. Return slipped stitch to left needle. Turn work so other side is facing you.

See this technique in action in our Short Row Tutorial at 0:30 seconds, except do not bring the yarn to the back before you turn. Also, because you’ll be working in garter stitch, there’s no need to pick up the wraps when you get to them. Just knit the wrapped stitches as usual!

S2KP (SLIP 2, KNIT 1, PSSO)

Slip 2 stitches together knitwise with yarn in back, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch and off right needle. [2 stitches decreased]

For additional help, please visit our S2kp Tutorial.

VEST PATTERN

ROLLED HEM

With yarn doubled (see Notes), cast 132 (144, 152, 172, 188) stitches onto main circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 2 rounds even.

BODY

Set-Up Round: K66 (72, 76, 86, 94), place marker (pm), knit to end of round.

Round 1: [Slip 1 (see Notes), purl to next marker, slip marker (sm)] 2 times.

Round 2: Knit to end of round, slipping marker as you come to it.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6 (6½, 7, 7¾, 8½) inches from cast-on edge, unrolled, ending with Round 1.

DIVIDE FOR FRONT + BACK

Division Round (right side): Bind off 4 (4, 4, 5, 6) stitches, knit to next marker, remove marker, slip remaining 66 (72, 76, 86, 94) stitches onto stitch holder or scrap yarn for Front, remove unique marker. [62 (68, 72, 81, 88) stitches remain on needles for Back]

BACK

SHAPE ARMHOLES

NOTE: You will now work back and forth in rows.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Bind off 4 (4, 4, 5, 6) stitches, knit to end of row. [58 (64, 68, 76, 82) stitches remain]

Row 1 (right side): K1, knit two together (k2tog), knit to last 3 stitches, slip slip knit (ssk), k1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 2: Knit to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 four (4, 4, 5, 5) more times. [48 (54, 58, 64, 70) stitches remain]

Knit every row until piece measures 9 (10½, 11, 12, 13) inches from cast-on edge, unrolled, ending with a wrong-side row.

SHAPE SHOULDERS

NOTE: To shape Shoulders, you will work back and forth in short rows, turning the piece partway through each round.

Short Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 2 stitches, wrp-t (see Special Instructions).

Short Row 2 (wrong side): Repeat Short Row 1.

Short Row 3: Knit to 2 stitches before wrapped stitch, wrp-t.

Repeat Short Row 3 seven (9, 9, 11, 13) more times.

Short Row 4 (right side): Knit to end of row.

Next Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.

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

FRONT

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Return 66 (72, 76, 86, 94) on-hold Front stitches to main circular needles.

Join yarn, ready to work a right-side row.

Row 1 (right side): Bind off 4 (4, 4, 5, 6) stitches, knit to end of row. [62 (68, 72, 81, 88) stitches remain]

Row 2 (wrong side): Repeat Row 1. [58 (64, 68, 76, 82) stitches remain]

Row 3: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 4: Knit to end of row.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 four (4, 4, 5, 5) more times, ending with Row 4. [48 (54, 58, 64, 70) stitches remain]

DIVIDE RIGHT + LEFT FRONT

With right side facing you, k24 (27, 29, 32, 35) and place these stitches onto stitch holder or scrap yarn for Left Front, knit to end of row. [24 (27, 29, 32, 35) stitches remain on needles for Right Front]

SHAPE RIGHT FRONT

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.

Row 1 (right side): K1, k2tog, knit to end of row. [1 stitch decreased]

Row 2: Knit to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 thirteen (14, 16, 17, 18) more times. [10 (12, 12, 14, 16) stitches remain]

Knit every row until piece measures 10 (11½, 12, 13¼, 14½) inches from cast-on edge, unrolled, ending with a wrong-side row.

Cut yarn.

Place stitches onto stitch holder or scrap yarn.

SHAPE LEFT FRONT

Return on-hold Left Front stitches to main circular needles.

Join yarn, ready to work a wrong-side row.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.

Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Row 2: Knit to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 thirteen (14, 16, 17, 18) more times. [10 (12, 12, 14, 16) stitches remain]

Knit every row until piece measures 10 (11½, 12, 13¼, 14½) inches from cast-on edge, unrolled, ending with a wrong-side row.

Do not cut yarn.

FINISHING

SEAM SHOULDERS

Place 48 (54, 58, 64, 70) on-hold Back stitches onto spare needles.

With right side of Front facing you and holding main needles in front, parallel to spare needles in back, use a Modified 3-Needle Bind Off to bind off 10 (12, 12, 14, 16) stitches, joining Left Front stitches to Back.

Cut yarn.

Return 10 (12, 12, 14, 16) on-hold Right Front stitches to main needles.

Now with right side of Back facing you and holding spare needles in front, parallel to main needles in back, join yarn at Armhole edge and use a Modified 3-Needle Bind Off to bind off 10 (12, 12, 14, 16) stitches, joining Right Front stitches to Back. [28 (30, 34, 36, 38) stitches remain on spare needles for Back Neckline]

Do not cut yarn.

WORK ROLLED EDGES

NECKLINE EDGE

NOTE: To see exactly how to pick up stitches for this project, visit our Picking Up Stitches Tutorial and scroll down to the “Along A Vertical Edge: Garter Stitch, Between Ridges” section.

With double pointed needles and main yarn at Right Shoulder seam, knit across 28 (30, 34, 36, 38) Back Neckline stitches, then pick up and knit one stitch between each garter ridge down Left Front neckline edge, then up Right Front neckline edge.

Place unique marker and join for working in the round.

Knit 2 rounds even.

With larger needle, bind off knitwise loosely to end of round.

Cut yarn.

ARMHOLE EDGES

With double pointed needles and beginning at center of underarm, pick up and knit one stitch into each bound-off stitch and between each garter ridge around Armhole edge.

Place unique marker and join for working in the round.

Knit 2 rounds even.

With larger needle, bind off knitwise loosely to end of round.

Cut yarn.

Repeat for other Armhole.

WEAVE IN ENDS + BLOCK

Weave in the ends and block as desired!

HAT PATTERN

BEGIN

With larger circular needles and yarn held double (see Notes), cast on 80 (92, 104) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 2 rounds even.

Change to smaller circular needles.

Next Round: K4 (5, 5), place marker (pm) for Left Ear Flap, k72 (82, 94) for Front, pm for Right Ear Flap, k4 (5, 5).

SHAPE LEFT EAR FLAP

NOTE: For both Ear Flaps, you will work back and forth in short rows, turning the work partway through each round, rather than continuing to the end of the needles. See Notes for more help.

Short Row 1 (right side): Knit to first (Left Ear Flap) marker, slip marker (sm), k12 (13, 15), wrp-t (see Notes).

Short Row 2 (wrong side): K2, wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch (no need to knit wrap, see Notes), wrp-t.

Repeat Short Row 3 seventeen (19, 23) more times, until you have wrapped the stitch next to the Left Ear Flap marker, ending with a wrong-side row. [10 (11, 13) garter ridges total]

SHAPE RIGHT EAR FLAP

Short Row 1 (right side): Knit to 10 (11, 13) stitches before Right Ear Flap marker, wrp-t.

Short Row 2 (wrong side): K2, wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch (again, no need to knit the wrap), wrp-t.

Repeat Short Row 3 sixteen (18, 22) more times, until you have wrapped the stitch next to the Right Ear Flap marker, ending with a right-side row.

Repeat Short Row 3 one more time. [10 (11, 13) garter ridges total]

Partial Row (right side): Knit to end of round.

WORK BODY OF HAT

Now working in the round…

Round 1: Purl to end of round, removing stitch markers except end-of-round marker.

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 3½ (3¾, 4) inches from the rolled edge at the center of an Ear Flap, or until approximately 3 (3½, 4) inches shy of desired finished height, ending with Round 2.

CROWN

NOTE: Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.

Set-Up Round: P9 (11, 12), k1, place removable stitch marker on previous stitch, [p19 (22, 25), k1, place removable marker on previous stitch] 3 times, purl to end of round. 

Round 1 (Decrease Round): [Knit to one stitch before next marked stitch, remove marker, s2kp (see Notes), place removable stitch marker on resulting stitch] 4 times, knit to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]

Round 2: [Purl to next marked stitch, k1] 4 times, purl to end of round.

Round 3: Knit to end of round.

Round 4: Repeat Round 2.

Repeat Rounds 1–4 seven (9, 10) more times. [16 (12, 16) stitches remain]

Next Round: Repeat Round 1. [8 (4, 8) stitches remain]

SIZES NEWBORN AND 2–4 Years ONLY

Next Round: Repeat Round 2.

Next Round: [Knit 2 together] 4 times. [4 stitches remain]

ALL SIZES

Next Round: Knit to end of round.

FINISHING

Cut yarn leaving a 24-inch tail, thread onto tapestry needle, and pull through remaining stitches. Follow our Tiny Attached Tassel Tutorial for a cute topper!

Weave in the ends and gently wet block.

BOOTIE PATTERN

SOLE

NOTE: For this section, you will work back and forth in short rows, turning the work partway through each round, rather than continuing to the end of the needles. See Notes for more help.

With crochet hook and scrap yarn, use a Provisional Cast On (see Notes) to cast 23 (26) stitches onto one double pointed needle.

With yarn held double (see Notes) and beginning to work in Short Rows…

Row 1 (right side): Knit to end of row.

Short Row 2 (wrong side): Knit to last 6 stitches, wrp-t (See Notes).

Short Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Short Row 4: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch (no need to knit wrap, see Notes), wrp-t.

Short Row 5: Knit to last 4 stitches, wrp-t.

Short Rows 6–10: Repeat Row 4 five more times. [5 ridges with right side facing you]

Short Row 11 (right side): Knit to end of row.

Rows 12–15: Knit to end of row.

Short Row 16 (wrong side): Knit to last 2 stitches, wrp-t. [8 ridges with right side facing you]

Short Row 17: Repeat Row 16.

Short Row 18: Knit to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, wrp-t.

Short Rows 19–22: Repeat Row 18 four more times. [11 ridges with right side facing you]

Short Row 23: Knit to end of row.

Short Row 24: Repeat Row 18.

At this point you have 6 stitches on the right needle and 17 (20) stitches on the left needle, with right side facing you.

FOOT

Carefully remove scrap yarn from Provisional Cast On, slipping stitches onto a spare needle as you go.

NOTE: For help with picking up stitches, please visit our Picking Up Stitches Tutorial and scroll down to the Along A Vertical Edge: Garter Stitch, Between Ridges video.

Set-Up Round 1 (right side): With working needle, k11 (13) from left needle; with an empty needle, k6 (7) from left needle, with same needle, pick up and knit 5 stitches between garter ridges for Toe, with same needle, k6 (7) cast-on stitches from spare needle; with another empty needle, k17 (19) cast-on stitches from spare needle. [51 (57) total stitches: 17 (19) stitches on each needle]

Place unique marker and join for working in the round.

Set-Up Round 2: P25 (28), k1, place removable stitch marker on previous stitch, purl to end of round.

Round 1 (Decrease Round): Knit to one stitch before marked stitch, remove marker, s2kp (see Notes), place removable stitch marker on resulting stitch, knit to end of round. [2 stitches decreased]

Round 2: Purl to marked stitch, k1, purl to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 nine (10) more times, redistributing stitches on needles as needed. [31 (35) stitches remain]

Repeat Round 1 one more time. [29 (33) stitches remain]

LEG

Set-Up Round: Purl to marked stitch, remove marker from stitch, place marker on needle, k1, purl to end of round.

Round 1: Knit to end of row.

Round 2: Purl to marker, slip marker, k1, purl to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 five more times, or until piece measures approximately 3¾ inches from bottom of Sole, ending with Round 2 and removing marker on last round.

CUFF

Knit 6 rounds even.

Loosely bind off knitwise, going up a needle size, if necessary, so the edge isn’t tight.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends and make another bootie. Gently wet block your finished pair!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 45 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 1000’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!