Get ready for Easter with this sweet knit baby sweater pattern – the Sleepy Bunny Sweater! Worked in worsted weight yarn with raglan armholes.
Design Story and Inspiration for the Sleepy Bunny Sweater
This pattern was originally designed for I Like Knitting in the April 2019 issue, and I’ve held onto it since then waiting for the perfect time to release it on the blog.
One of the storylines for that issue was sweet Easter knits for kids and babies, so I designed this sweater for that issue. I wanted a fun easy sweater that had a cute element for babies.
About the Yarn
I chose Lion Brand Feels Like Butta for the body of this sweater. I had used it before with the Polar Bear Baby Sweater and really loved the way it turns out.
This yarn is inexpensive, comes in a wide variety of colors, feels amazing, and is easy to care for. All the things I look for in a yarn when making for babies!
I tried to find a suitable Lion Brand fur yarn but at the time there wasn’t anything that would work. Now they have some fun fur options that could work for the bunny!
Knit Baby Sweater Pattern Details
This pattern is knit flat and seamed. I know a lot of people get intimidated by working in the round with circulars or dpn’s, but I’m planning a basic raglan in the round soon!
The bunny is knit separately and stitched on.
How to Customize the Sleepy Bunny Sweater
The animal could easily be changed out! Make one with different ears or leave the animal off altogether.
Adjust the length of the body and sleeves easily by knitting more or fewer rows. I like to make mine a size larger than the baby is currently wearing so he or she can wear it longer.
More Sweet Free Baby Knits:
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Save to Ravelry! (And see more photos of this design including a modeled photo!)
Sleepy Bunny Sweater
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Lion Brand Feels Like Butta: #150 Charcoal (MC) 1 (1, 2, 2) balls, #101 Pink (CC1) 1 ball (Worsted Weight #4)
Peter Pan Precious Chunky: #3430 Angel (CC2) 1 ball (Bulky weight #5)
Needles: US Size 8 (5.0 mm) straight, US Size 6 (4.0 mm) straight
Notions: Tapestry needle, scrap black yarn or black embroidery floss
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Finished Chest Size 18.5 (20, 21.5, 23)” to fit baby sizes 6 (12, 18, 24) months
Shown in size 6 month
Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st with larger needles
Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
Cast On (co)
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
K2 P2 Ribbing
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: *P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep Rows 1-2 for patt.
Sleepy Bunny Knit Baby Sweater Pattern
Back
With CC1 and smaller needles, CO 44 (48, 52, 56) sts.
Work in K2 P2 Rib for 8 (8, 12, 12) rows.
Increase 2 sts evenly across. (46 (50, 54, 58) sts)
Change to larger needles and MC, beg working in St st.
Work even in St st for 32 (36, 40, 44) rows.
Armhole Shaping
BO 2 (2, 2, 3) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (42 (46, 50, 52) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end every 3rd row 8 times. (26 (30, 34, 36) sts)
Work even 0 (1, 1, 1) row.
Neckline Shaping
Work next 6 (6, 8, 8) sts as est, slip next 14 (18, 18, 20) sts to holder, join new end of yarn and work rem 6 (6, 8, 8) sts as est. (6 (6, 8, 8) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end. (4 (4, 6, 6) sts)
Dec 1 st at neck edge. (3 (3, 5, 5) sts)
Work even 0 (1, 1, 1) row.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (2 (2, 4, 4) sts)
Sizes 6 (12, -, -) month only
BO all sts.
Sizes – (-, 18, 24) month only
Work – (-, 1, 3) rows even.
Dec 1 st at each end – – (-, 2, 2) sts.
BO all sts.
Front
Work same as Back to armhole shaping.
Armhole Shaping
BO 2 (2, 2, 3) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (42 (46, 50, 52) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end every 3rd row 5 times. (32 (36, 40, 42) sts)
Work even 0 (1, 1, 1) row.
Neckline Shaping
Work across 13 (13, 15, 15) sts, slip next 6 (10, 10, 12) sts to holder, join new end and work across 13 (13, 15, 15) sts. (13 (13, 15, 15) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end. (11 (11, 13, 13) sts)
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 2 rows. (9 (9, 11, 11) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end. (7 (7, 9, 9) sts)
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 2 rows. (5 (5, 7, 7) sts)
Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (4 (4, 6, 6) sts)
Work even 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (3 (3, 5, 5) sts)
Work even 1 (2, 2, 2) rows.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (2 (2, 4, 4) sts)
Sizes 6 (12, -, -) month only
BO all sts.
Sizes – (-, 18, 24) month only
Work – (-, 1, 3) rows even.
Dec 1 st at each end. (- (-, 2, 2) sts)
BO all sts.
Sleeve (make 2)
With CC1 and smaller needles, CO 24 (24, 28, 28) sts.
Work in K2 P2 Rib for 8 rows.
Inc 1 (3, 1, 3) sts evenly across. (25 (27, 29, 31) sts)
Change to larger needles and MC, beg working in St st.
Inc 1 st at each end every 10 (10, 12, 14)th row 3 times. (31 (33, 35, 37) sts)
Work even 6 (9, 11, 12) rows.
Shape Cap
BO 2 (2, 2, 3) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (27 (29, 31, 31) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end every 3rd row 2 (2, 2, 4) times. (23 (25, 27, 23) sts)
Dec 1 st at each end every 2nd row 11 (12, 13, 11) times. (1 st)
BO rem st.
Finishing
Sew left sleeve to front and back, and right sleeve to front only along raglan armhole seams.
Collar
With RS facing, smaller needles and CC1, pick up and knit 2 sts from right back neck edge, 14 (18, 18, 20) sts from back neck holder, 2 sts from left back neck edge, 10 (10, 12, 12) sts from left front neck edge, 6 (10, 10, 12) sts from front neck holder, 10 (10, 12, 12) sts from right front neck edge. (44 (52, 56, 60) sts)
Work 4 (4, 6, 6) rows in K2 P2 Rib.
BO loosely in rib.
Sew remaining sleeve to armhole. Sew side and sleeve seams.
Weave in ends.
Bunny
With larger needles and CC2, CO 24 sts.
Rows 1-10: Knit.
Row 11: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (22 sts)
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: Rep Row 11. (20 sts)
Row 14: Knit.
Divide for Ears
Row 1: K6, join other end of yarn, BO 8 sts, k6. (6 sts)
Rows 2-21: Knit.
Row 22: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4 sts)
Row 23: Ssk, k2tog. (2 sts)
BO rem 2 sts.
Sew bunny to sweater with CC2 using photo as a guide.
Embroider eyes with scrap black yarn or black embroidery floss.
Weave in any remaining ends.
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Today we learned how to knit a sweet knit baby sweater pattern! I hope you love it as much as I do and will knit one up for a special little one in your life.
Happy knitting!
Amanda
