Easy Toddler Pullover – 3 Ways

henry for website

Plain, stripes, fair isle, or fabric appliqué? This tutorial walks you through the knitting as well as three different treatments to make your sweater unique.

Sizes: 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T (see sizing chart below)
Needles: size US 5 (3.75mm), 24” circulars and double-pointed needles
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash, (50g/110 yards per skein); or another washable wool or wool-blend yarn, worsted weight (also called 10 ply weight)
– 6-12 mo, 12-18 mo, 18-24 mo = 4 skeins
– 2T, 3T = 5 skeins
– 4T, 5T = 6 skeins
Additional Materials: 4 stitch markers, thin scrap yarn, tapestry needle
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch, after blocking

sizing chart VP

PDF pattern download + links to seven-part video tutorial, $8 US via PayPal. addtocart

This tutorial is a collaboration with the YouTube channel Pancake Manor, a channel with puppets who get in adventures and sing songs, “for kids and awesome parents”. Be sure to see the sweaters I knit for the puppets in this video:

You can download the fabric appliqué instructions and puppet faces templates for free HERE.

puppets for website

Information on things you’ll see in these videos:
The yarn I used in my sweaters is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash.

The 16″ circular needles I used are from this interchangeable set.

The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The green scarf I’m wearing is Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The bamboo double-pointed needles I use are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

57 comments on “Easy Toddler Pullover – 3 Ways

  1. Hooray! I have been waiting for this latest pattern and tutorial since you mentioned it during your interview with Judy. I’m finishing up the Rodeo Drive Poncho first, then making this awesome little pullover.

    Thank you! Your tutorials and patterns are wonderful.

  2. Can you tell me what stitch markers that you used in your video for the toddler raglan sweater?? I really like them !!

  3. Staci,
    This is awesome sweater! I am going to try this. One suggestion for keeping the yarn colors bright ( to prevent fading ) is when washing a sweater like this for the first time, is to when filling your washer with water & detergent, add 1 full cup of vinegar to your wash water. ( then you can add your fabric softener crystals or your downy ball ) This little trick will keep your clothes from fading ( not just knits, you can do this to any load of washing.) To keep the colors from fading with further washing, repeat the 1 cup of vinegar every 10 washings or so.
    You can use any type of vinegar, White or Apple Cider, it doesn’t matter.

  4. This is really a cute idea. I have 3 grandsons with a 4th due in August and this would be a great Christmas gift. I have plenty of time to plan. The videos were great. Thanks Staci!

  5. Hi Staci, I just want to check the needle size you are suggesting for the toddler sweater. 3.75mm needles for 10 ply yarn seem very small. I would have thought 4.5mm to 5mm needles would be required. Can you please confirm what size needles are correct. Many thanks. Melanie.

  6. Yes, the needle size 5 (3.75mm) is correct, or whatever it takes for any knitter to get the same gauge of 6 stitches per inch.

    S t a c i

  7. This will be the very first pattern I’ve purchased from you, Staci, but with all the techniques you offer on this one, I think it’s a perfect choice to be the first of many to come.. Thanks so much for the invaluable tip for eliminating that pesky jog! ?

  8. Staci,
    I’m interested in making a striped pullover. Will this pattern show me how to make the stripes look continuos even across the raglan sleeve so that they line up with the body of the sweater? I’d like to confirm that before I purchase the pattern. Thanks for your reply.

  9. Elyse – the pattern doesn’t give instructions for stripes, because you can work whatever stripe pattern you like without instructions. Since there is no stitch count necessary to make stripes work correctly, they do not disrupt the raglan increases. As long as you start and end the stripes in the same place (at the beginning of the round), they will look even throughout the whole sweater. You can also use this technique to correct the “jog” that occurs at the color change when you’re knitting in-the-round:
    https://verypink.com/2010/03/15/correcting-color-change-jog/

    S t a c i

  10. Staci,
    Thanks for your quick reply. I’m interpreting your answer to mean that if I want to put in 3 even stripes throughout, as long as I start at the BOR each time & make the stripes the same # of rows it should work using your toddler pullover! correct!

  11. Elyse – that’s the thing, you can make them ANY number of rounds, any number of colors, odd numbers, even numbers, narrow stripes next to wide stripes, the whole sweater or part of the sweater – anything. The only thing you want to do is to start new colors at the beginning of the round.

    S t a c i

  12. Hi Staci,

    I just bought this pattern and I’m very excited to start this sweater. It’s my third sweater pattern I bought from you. Can you tell me the colors you used and also the size you used for the pullover in picture. My other question is I would like to do the stripes where you did your pattern but don’t know when to start it. Can you give some idea ,I would like it around the same place where you started your design. Thanks so much !Linda

  13. Linda – in the finished sweater (on the boy) in the photo, I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash in Avocado, Columbine, and Coal. I believe I knit the 19-24 month size. Regarding stripes – you can add them wherever you like! The fair isle pattern is a couple of inches wide, so you can add it anywhere close to the bottom, allowing for those two inches and the length of the bottom cuff.

    S t a c i

  14. Staci- could I crochet Zacks or Reggies face on the knitting sweater or would you just do fabric applique?

  15. Hi Staci, I am working on this sweater for my grandson and I know you mentioned that under the arms there would be a hole but I have a hole that I would like to fix because it is bigger than I like. I have never fixed a hole like that and need some help. It isn’t because of a dropped stitch it just looks like I didn’t pull something tight enough. Thank you.

  16. Hi Suzanne – top down raglans create holes under the arms, which is totally normal and fixable. if you haven’t picked up the sleeves yet, you can pick up an extra stitch or two there, and decrease them out on the next round. If you have already knit the sleeves, you can use duplicate stitch to tighten up the stitch(es) that appear loose. Here is my video on duplicate stitch:
    https://verypink.com/2011/02/15/duplicate-stitch/

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

  17. Ok, I have already knit one sleeve but will pick up an extra stitch or two on the next sleeve and I will try the duplicate stitch to tighten things up. Thank you.

  18. Staci,
    I’m finally getting around to knitting the toddler sweater. I’m planning on using 3 different colors to get even stripes throughout the whole sweater including the sleeves. Will it be apparent to me where to put the stripes on the sleeves so that they match the body of the sweater? Is it just a matter of counting the rows? Also, do you have any tips for carrying the 3 yarns up? (The sweater will be a heather blue, navy & garnet red). Will it be too bulky to carry those yarns or should I cut them and weave them in later?
    Thank you so much.
    Can’t wait to get started & follow your techniques!
    Elyse

  19. Elyse – it will be clear on how to match the stripes up on the body and sleeves…whatever color you knit after separating the sleeves, make that the first round when you’re knitting the sleeves, and follow from there. Depending on how many rounds you’re doing in each of the three colors, you can probably carry the yarns and have fewer ends to weave in. Here is my video on carrying yarns for stripes: https://verypink.com/2012/02/01/carrying-colors-for-stripes/

    Good luck! I’m sure it will end up very cute!
    S t a c i

  20. My cousins have young kids, so I’m excited to break into clothing by working smaller sizes :). I recently bought the Dreamz interchangeables and I’m very excited to try them out. I have other (metal) interchangeables for the longer cords, though. Would it affect gauge to switch from wood to metal? Or do you recommend sticking with one type throughout? I’m not crazy about magic loop so I’d prefer to use the small cord for the beginning of the sweater.

  21. Sam – I switch all the time, between needle materials to change cord lengths, and I don’t notice any difference in my gauge. Your results may vary…but even if there is a difference, I doubt it would be much.

    S t a c i

  22. Staci,
    I’ll be knitting this pattern with the three colors shown – how many skeins of each color were used for size 19 to 24 mo.
    Thank you, melody

  23. Melody – you will need 4 skeins of the main color, and then just one skein each of any colors you choose for the fair isle design.

    S t a c i

  24. Hello Staci

    I’m just starting out with knitting so please forgive me if this is a real rookie question. I have seen some gorgeous yarn that I would like to use for this project – only problem is that is DK. Would I be able to make some kind of adjustment to your pattern so that I could use it? Alternatively do you have a similar raglan pattern that I could use instead?

    Thanks in advance, Catherine

  25. Catherine – using a different weight of yarn, (and therefore changing gauge in a garment) really requires that an entirely new pattern be written for the new gauge. I really recommend sticking with the weight of yarn suggested in the pattern, this video will explain more: http://youtu.be/IFMch0eAhn0

    Sorry, I don’t know of any kid patterns off the top of my head that use DK weight yarn, but I’m sure you can find several if you search Ravelry!
    Good luck –
    S t a c i

  26. Stacie,
    I enjoyed learning how to knit socks from you, and recently finished the green toddler size
    pullover as shown. Do you have other toddler knit sweater patterns availabe? If not can
    You refer some to me.
    Melody

  27. I have made several of these sweaters now and I love this pattern. You make everything so easy. I am a beginner to making sweaters and I can’t believe what I have accomplished with your great tutorials. I am wondering if it would be possible to make this exact same sweater but in an adult size. Could you help with how many stitches to start with for an XL sweater and then how many stitches to divide for the top part? I can figure everything else out from there. I hope you can help. Thanks in advance!

  28. Hi Staci,

    I’m working on the toddler pullover sweater.
    In the instructions for sleeves, for 6-12m size when you say ‘four additional rounds’ does it mean four additional rounds of knitting in the round (no decreases) ?

    Thanks in advance!

    Avi

  29. Hello Staci,
    I bought the ‘Toddler Pullover Sweater’ pattern, and I can’t wait to start knitting. I had success in downloading the pdf file for this pattern to my ipod, cell and work computer, but I am not having success in being able to click on the link for the ‘print’ pattern. When I click on the link for printed pattern, it brings me to this page. Is the ‘print’ pattern the entire pattern written; or, is the ‘print’ pattern what I see on this page? Thank you in advance.
    K in MN

  30. Kay – sorry, I can’t help you here. The ability to print a PDF has to do with your computer and/or the software you’re using, and nothing to do with the PDF file or the PDF pattern creator. I’m afraid you’ll need some computer tech support that I can’t provide. Good luck!

    S t a c i

  31. Staci – Love the easy toddler sweater and will make it for my grandkids. Also love your green shawl. Please tell me where I can acquire the pattern for this. Thank you!

  32. Gwen – you will always find everything you see in the video listed and linked in the text below the video. The green scarf I’m wearing is Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

    S t a c i

  33. Hi staci,
    I’m a new knitter so have only been knitting scarves and hats. this will be my first foray into sweater making so forgive me if my question doesn’t make sense or seems dumb.The reglan increase portion is the body/length on the sweater right? If that’s correct and I wanted to add the fair isle design, should I start that say around the 14th(6-12 months pattern) round of the reglan increase? then continue the fair isle for 15 row after which continue for 4 rounds of the reglan increase?
    Thanks
    Rita

  34. Rita – the raglan increase section is for the shoulder section, down to the underarms. If you want to add the fair isle section at the bottom, start the fair isle chart just a couple of inches shy of the desired finished sweater length. I believe I explain this further in the video.

    S t a c i

  35. HI Stacy,
    Been wanting to try a sweater for a long time now. I bit the bullet and have been making one of these toddler pullovers. Wow! I can’t belive how easy it is! Of course your videos are always THE BEST for starting and ending and anything sticky in between. Very Pink has helped me become a knitter! My next project is BIG….the man’s sweater, but after this little one, I think I can I think I can! Thank you!

  36. Hi Stacy,

    Could you apply an iron-on patch to wool knits, specifically merino? If so, how?
    Thanks!
    Nini

  37. Nini – I have no experience with using iron-on patches on knitting, but I imagine the instructions on the patch itself will say whether or not it can be applied to wool.

    S t a c i

  38. Hi Staci,

    I was wondering how long roughly it takes someone to knit the smallest size of this sweater? I know it probably depends on how fast a knitter someone is, but I am just looking to find out how long it takes on average, to get an idea.

    Thanks!

  39. Hi Aliki – yes, it’s a tough question to answer. The smallest size of this sweater (in this gauge) might take a fast knitter about 15 hours to knit, longer for average and slower knitters.

    S t a c i

  40. I knitted that sweater and it’s really marvellous :-). Wish I could leave you a photo.
    Greetings from Germany
    Ruth

  41. Hi Staci, i want this pattern so bad but I don’t have or want a paypal acct. is there another way for me to pay for this pattern (like a CC)? Please please please say yes! lol
    Patiently awaiting your reply.

  42. PS.. I just realized, we’re neighbors!
    Girl, your instructional vids on youtube are phenominal! So well done and personal. I love that!

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