Free Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern: The Floren Sweater

I really love making baby items, and although one day I would like to start designing items for adults, baby sweaters at the moment are a really nice, sweet, satisfying way to get into garment making. One of the nicest materials to use when knitting a raglan sweater is cotton, and when it’s doubled up, like in this pattern, it adds a really durable texture that’s thick enough to be warm but soft enough to be comfortable. Great for layering, this little sweater was designed a few years back for a big yarn company, and I’m really pleased to be able to offer it to you now completely for free.

The Floren sweater is a plain raglan jumper which is very approachable for intermediate and advanced beginner knitters due to its relaxing repeats that slowly form sleeves, and it’s knitted in one piece, which means that it’s very easy to pick up, put down, and minimises seaming. What makes this jumper very special is its delicate floral embroidery on the front. This is great for using up scraps. You can be as adventurous, imaginative, and creative as you like with the embroidery, but I kept it simple with just a few little flowers embroidered on here and there.

I hope you love this little pattern as much as I loved designing it!

Pattern Details

Free Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern: The Floren Sweater

Level: Upper Intermediate
Measurements: 0–6 months (Standardised sizing; always measure the intended recipient if possible)
Gauge: 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches in stocking stitch using the yarn held double.

Schematic

Yarn and Materials

Main Yarn: 3 balls of Hobbii Baby Cotton in White (01) (150g / 510m / 558 yards total)
Embroidery Scraps: Small amounts of Hobbii Baby Cotton in Curry (24) and Pink (18) for the floral accents
Yarn Substitution Note: You can substitute the main yarn by using any cotton yarn that achieves a gauge of 27 stitches and 38 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches per single strand. The yarn in this pattern is held double throughout to achieve the required gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches.

Tools and Equipment

Circular Needles (Collar & Body): 3.5mm and 4mm circular needles – 40 cm / 16 inches
Circular Needles (Sleeves): 3.5mm and 4mm circular needles – 23 cm / 9 inches (or long enough to work the magic loop method)
Stitch Markers: Four stitch markers total, including one in a contrasting colour or design to indicate the beginning of the round
Notions: Flexible tape measure, scissors, yarn needle, and two 30 cm scraps of waste yarn (or stitch holders)

Skills and Abbreviations

Cast on (long tail and thumb): (co)
Knit stitch: (k)
Purl stitch: (p)
Beginning of round: (bor)
Place marker / Slip marker: (pm / sm)
Knit into the back loop: (ktbl)
Slip stitches purlwise: (sl st pwise)
Knit into the front and back of the stitch: (kfb)
Bind off: (bo)
Right side / Wrong side: (RS / WS)

Important Hints and Tips

Working with Held-Double Yarn: The yarn is held double throughout the pattern by taking one strand from the centre pull of the ball and the second strand from the outer end, allowing you to work smoothly from just one ball at a time.
Tension Squares: Always work, wash, and block a tension square before starting your project to guarantee proper sizing and fit.
Join Method: This pattern uses an invisible join method for working in the round, which requires casting on one extra stitch. If you prefer a traditional approach, you can join normally and cast on 54 stitches instead of 55.

Step-by-Step Knitting Instructions

Starting Your Sweater: Working the Collar

Cast on 55 stitches using your 3.5mm 40 cm / 16 inch needles. Join in the round using the invisible join method, leaving 54 active stitches. Place your unique beginning of round (BOR) marker.
Rounds 1 to 7: Work in ribbing by repeating $k1tbl, p1$ to the end of the round.
Change to your 4mm needles.
Place your raglan shaping markers: starting from the BOR marker, knit 11 stitches, pm, knit 16 stitches, pm, knit 11 stitches, pm, knit 16 stitches. You should now be back at your BOR marker.

Raglan Increase Rounds

In the following increase rounds, wherever you see the term inc, follow this sequence: kfb, knit until two stitches remain before the next raglan marker, kfb, knit one, slip marker, kfb (repeat this across all marker sections). This increases eight stitches per round. Work one round of plain knitting between each increase round.Free Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern: The Floren Sweater

Step-by-Step Knitting Instructions

Starting Your Sweater: Working the Collar

Cast on 55 stitches using your 3.5mm 40 cm / 16 inch needles. Join in the round using the invisible join method, leaving 54 active stitches. Place your unique beginning of round (BOR) marker.
Rounds 1 to 7: Work in ribbing by repeating k1tbl, p1 to the end of the round.
Change to your 4mm needles.
Place your raglan shaping markers: starting from the BOR marker, knit 11 stitches, pm, knit 16 stitches, pm, knit 11 stitches, pm, knit 16 stitches. You should now be back at your BOR marker.

Raglan Increase Rounds

In the following increase rounds, wherever you see the term inc, follow this sequence: kfb, knit until two stitches remain before the next raglan marker, kfb, knit one, slip marker, kfb (repeat this across all marker sections). This increases eight stitches per round. Work one round of plain knitting between each increase round.

Round 33: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 8: inc (62 sts total)

Round 9: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 10: inc (70 sts)

Round 11: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 12: inc (78 sts)

Round 13: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 14: inc (86 sts)

Round 15: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 16: inc (94 sts)

Round 17: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 18: inc (102 sts)

Round 19: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 20: inc (110 sts)

Round 21: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 22: inc (118 sts)

Round 23: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 24: inc (126 sts)

Round 25: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 26: inc (134 sts)

Round 27: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 28: inc (142 sts)

Round 29: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 30: inc (150 sts)

Round 31: Knit every stitch plain.

Round 32: inc (158 sts)

(Note: Continue repeating your increase and plain rounds until you reach 158 stitches, ending on a plain knit round. Your raglan depth should measure approximately 10.5 cm).

Rounds 34 and 35: Knit every stitch plain.

Separating the Sleeves (Round 36)

From the beginning of the round, slip the first 37 sleeve stitches onto your scrap yarn or stitch holder and tie a secure double knot. Cast on 4 new stitches using the thumb method. Keep your BOR marker in place while removing all working raglan markers. Knit across the next 42 body stitches, slip the next 37 sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn and tie a knot. Cast on 4 new stitches and knit across the remaining 42 body stitches. You should now be back at the BOR marker with 92 total stitches, having successfully separated the sleeves.

Working the Body Section

Rounds 37 to 65: Knit every stitch plain for 28 rounds, or until the piece measures approximately 10 cm / 4 inches from the underarm.
Round 66: Change back to your 3.5mm needles and work ktbl, p1 ribbing for 9 rounds. Bind off all stitches carefully in pattern.

Working the Sleeves (Repeat for Both Sleeves)

Transfer the 37 sleeve stitches from the scrap yarn onto your 4mm 23 cm / 9 inch needles (or your preferred small circumference method). Knit across the stitches until one stitch remains, then kfb into this final stitch to increase your count to 38 stitches. Remove the scrap yarn.
At the underarm gap, pick up 2 stitches, place your new beginning of round marker, and pick up 2 more stitches from the newly cast-on foundation (42 sts total).
Rounds 1 to 13: Knit every stitch plain.
Switch to your 3.5mm 23 cm / 9 inch circular needles.
Rounds 14 to 32: Work k1tbl, p1 ribbing to the end of the round. Bind off all stitches.

Embroidery and Finishing

Gently block your completed sweater by spraying it evenly with water and leaving it to dry completely flat. Avoid hanging the garment while wet to prevent unnecessary stretching.

Using your yarn needle and the Curry and Pink cotton scraps, embroider small, delicate floral motifs across the yoke or body of your sweater. Feel free to experiment with lazy daisy stitches, French knots, or simple straight stitches to create your unique design. Secure all ends neatly on the wrong side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I adjust this pattern for a larger baby size? Yes, you can extend the raglan increase section by working additional increase and plain rounds until you reach your desired chest circumference, keeping in mind that you will need extra yarn.
What is the best way to wash this baby sweater? Because it is knitted using 100% cotton yarn, hand washing in lukewarm water with mild wool wash and drying flat will keep the garment looking pristine and prevent shrinkage.
Can I use double-pointed needles (DPNs) instead of a small circular needle for the sleeves? Certainly. If you prefer DPNs or the magic loop method, you can easily adapt the sleeve instructions to suit your preferred knitting tools.

I hope you loved this pattern! If you enjoyed working up this project, you can explore more tutorials, stitch guides, and free patterns on Emmaknitty. Every bit of support helps me continue sharing free designs with our creative community! You can support my work directly on Ko-Fi or explore my complete PDF pattern library on Ravelry. Do tag @Emmaknitty on Instagram when sharing your completed trees so I can share your lovely makes.

Have a creative day,