This knit baby sweater pattern doesn’t mess around with the word “simple” — it really does work up in a flash using basic knit and purl stitches with super bulky yarn. The pieces (front, back, hood, sleeves, and little bear ears) come together into the cutest hooded knit baby sweater you can imagine, perfect for a baby shower gift or a snuggly winter favourite. 🐻❤️

Using a level 6 super bulky yarn and 9.00mm needles means this knit baby sweater pattern flies — most knitters finish the whole sweater in a long weekend. Sizes are written for 6, 12, and 18 months, and the design scales up easily in multiples of 4 stitches if you want to go bigger. Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Knit Baby Sweater Pattern

There’s something so satisfying about a baby project that’s quick, beginner-friendly, and looks like a million bucks when it’s done. This knit baby sweater pattern is all three. The super bulky yarn means visible progress with every row, the hood and bear ears add instant personality, and the construction is broken into manageable pieces.

• ✅ Beginner-friendly — only knit, purl, and basic increases/decreases
• ✅ Super bulky yarn + 9.00mm needles for fast finishes
• ✅ Three sizes included — 6, 12, and 18 months
• ✅ Scales up easily in multiples of 4 stitches
• ✅ Worked in pieces and seamed — manageable in short sessions
• ✅ Adorable bear-ear hood adds instant character
• ✅ Makes an unforgettable baby shower or first-winter gift

Knit Baby Sweater Pattern Details

Materials Needed

• 🧶 3 balls Bernat Softee Chunky (super bulky #6) in colour of your choice — I used Baby Pink
• 🧷 9.00mm knitting needles
• 🧵 Tapestry needle
• ✂️ Sharp scissors
• 📍 Stitch holder
• 🪡 Thread or fine yarn in similar colour for assembly

Bernat Softee Chunky is the perfect super bulky for baby projects — soft enough for newborn skin, machine washable, and budget-friendly. Yarnspirations stocks the full Bernat color range if you’d like to browse alternatives. The Craft Yarn Council has a great quick reference for yarn weights if you’d like a refresher.

Abbreviations

• Sts — Stitches
• Alt — Alternating
• Beg — Beginning
• RS — Right Side
• WS — Wrong Side
• Stockinette Stitch — Knit RS, Purl WS
• K2tog — Knit two together
• P2tog — Purl two together

The Knit Baby Sweater Pattern

The sweater is worked in six pieces (back, front, two sleeves, hood, two bear ears) and seamed together at the end. Sizes are written as 6 (12, 18) months — pick your size before starting and stay consistent throughout.

Back

Cast on 28 (32, 36) sts

Row 1-3: Knit

Row 4: Knit (RS)

Row 5: Purl (WS)

Repeat Row 4-5, creating stockinette stitch, until work from beginning measures 6.5in (7in, 7.5in). End with a purl row.

Shape armholes: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows — 22 (26, 30) sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work from armholes measures 4.5in (5, 6in). End with a purl row. Cast off.

Front

Cast on 28 (32, 36) sts

Row 1-3: Knit

Row 4: Knit (RS)

Row 5: Purl (WS)

Repeat Row 4-5 until work from beginning measures 6.5in (7in, 7.5in). End with a purl row.

Shape armholes: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows — 22 (26, 30) sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work from armholes is 1in (1.5, 2in). End with a purl row.

Begin working collar:

On RS, k 11 (13, 15). Place the remaining sts on stitch holder.

Row 1: Purl

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Purl

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: Cast off 3 sts, purl to end

Row 6: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

Row 7: P1, p2tog, p to end

Repeat Row 6-7 1 (1, 2) more times.

Continue in stockinette stitch until front panel matches the same length as the back. End with a purl row. Cast off.

Work sts on stitch holder:

With RS facing, join yarn to the first st, k to end of row.

Row 1: Purl

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Purl

Row 4: Cast off 3 sts, knit to end

Row 5: Purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1

Row 6: K1, k2tog, knit to end

Row 7: Purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1

Repeat Row 6-7 1 (1, 2) more times.

Continue in stockinette stitch until front panel matches the same length as the back. End with a purl row. Cast off.

Sleeves: Make 2

Cast on 17 (21, 21) sts

Row 1-3: Knit

Row 4: Increase 1 st in first st, knit to last st, increase 1 st in last st

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: Purl

Repeat Row 4-7 until 26 (30, 34) sts on needle.

Continue in stockinette st until work from beg is 7.5 (8.5, 9.5) in. End with a purl row, cast off.

Bear Ears: Make 2

Cast on 7 sts

Work 6 rows in stockinette st.

Row 7 (RS): Decrease 1 st at each end (5 sts)

Row 8: Purl

Row 9 (RS): Decrease 1 st at each end (3 sts)

Row 10: Purl

Row 11 (RS): Decrease 1 st, k1 (2 sts)

Row 12: Purl (2 sts)

Row 13 (RS): Increase 1 st, k1 (3 sts)

Row 14: Purl

Row 15 (RS): Increase 1 st at each end (5 sts)

Row 16: Purl

Row 17 (RS): Increase 1 st at each end (7 sts)

Row 18-24: Work stockinette stitch. Cast off.

Hood

Cast on 50 (54, 58) sts

Row 1-3: Knit

Row 4+: Work stockinette st, decreasing 1 st at each end of the next and every other row until 30 (34, 38) sts remain.

Work stockinette st for 2.5in more.

Cast off 3 (3, 4) sts at the beginning of next 6 rows. Cast off remaining sts.

Assembly

Switch to matching thread or fine yarn for assembly — it disappears into the super bulky stitches better than the main yarn.

• Sew the sleeves together with wrong side facing
• Attach the front to the back panels, stopping at the armholes
• Attach the sleeves at the armholes (seam pointing downwards)
• Attach the hood around the neckline
• Fold each bear ear in half and sew along the edges to seal them shut
• Attach ears to the hood — fold the bottom of each ear in half (creates a pucker) and stitch in place at your preferred angle
• Weave in all ends

Tips for the Perfect Knit Baby Sweater

• Check your gauge. Super bulky yarn varies between brands — a quick 4in swatch saves headaches.
• Use a smaller thread for seaming. Embroidery thread or fine yarn disappears into the chunky knit much better than the working yarn.
• Block before seaming. A light wet-block makes the pieces lay flat and seam together much more cleanly.
• Pin before sewing. Bulky pieces shift easily — pinning the front to back before stitching keeps everything aligned.
• Size up easily. To make a 2T or 3T version, increase the cast-on in multiples of 4 stitches and add length to the body before armhole shaping.
• Try a different ear shape. Swap the bear ears for cat ears (pointed triangles) or bunny ears (long ovals) for a different animal-themed variation.

Knit Baby Sweater Pattern FAQ

How long does the knit baby sweater pattern take to make?

About 8-12 hours total — 5-6 hours for the panels, 2 hours for the hood and ears, and 1-2 hours for assembly. The super bulky yarn moves fast, so this is one of the quickest baby sweaters you’ll knit.

What sizes does this fit?

The pattern is written for 6, 12, and 18 months (chest 21, 23, 24 inches). To make a 2T or 3T size, increase the cast-on in multiples of 4 stitches and add length proportionally before the armhole shaping.

Can I use a different yarn?

Yes — any super bulky #6 yarn will work. Bernat Blanket, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, or Caron One Pound Chunky all knit up similarly. Just check your gauge against 11 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches.

Is super bulky yarn safe for babies?

Yes — Bernat Softee Chunky is machine washable and gentle enough for newborn skin. For extra-sensitive skin, look for “baby” or “soft” labelled super bulky yarns specifically marketed for infant garments.

Can I make it without the bear ears?

Absolutely — skip the ears section entirely and you’ll have a classic hooded baby sweater. Or swap them out for kitty ears, bunny ears, or a pom pom at the back of the hood.

Can I sell finished sweaters?

Yes — small batch sales of finished items are permitted with this knit baby sweater pattern. Please credit SeeLoveShare as the designer and don’t redistribute or resell the pattern itself.

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Save This Knit Baby Sweater Pattern for Later

Want to come back to this pattern later? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it the next time you need a quick baby shower gift — and share it with your knitting friends!

This knit baby sweater pattern, photos, and instructions are © SeeLoveShare LLC. For personal use only — please do not redistribute or resell the pattern. Small-batch sales of finished items are welcome with credit. Thank you for supporting an independent designer! 🐻