How to Knit a Children’s Hoodie: The Cuddly Hoodie Pattern
A warm, practical knitting project for cool-weather days
The Cuddly Hoodie — a children’s knitted hoodie worked in stocking stitch and garter stitch.
A cosy children’s hoodie knitting pattern
Looking for a children’s hoodie knitting pattern for cool weather? This Cuddly Hoodie is a simple, practical project with a softly textured fabric made from alternating eight rows of stocking stitch and eight rows of garter stitch. The pattern includes instructions for the back, front, sleeves, hood, I-cord tie and final making up, with three size options. It is a useful reference for knitters searching for how to knit a child’s hooded sweater from separate pieces and finish it with a neat hood casing.
Pattern details at a glance: Sizes 4, 6 and 8; chest measurements 61, 66 and 71 cm; finished measurements 75, 81 and 87.5 cm.
Materials and measurements
Yarn
– 8, 9, 10 balls Sublime Organic Merino Wool DK
– 2, 2, 2 balls Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK
Needles and tools
– 3.75mm knitting needles
– 4mm knitting needles
– 4mm double pointed needles
– Stitch holder
Measurements
– Sizes 4, 6, 8
– Chest: 61, 66, 71 cm
– Finished: 75, 81, 87.5 cm
Getting started
A simple pattern of 8 rows stocking stitch, 8 rows garter.
Working pattern
Back
With 3.75mm needles and Sublime Organic Merino Wool DK, cast on 80 (88, 96) sts.
Row 1: (RS) * K2, P2, rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: (WS) * K2, P2, rep from * to end of row.
Repeat these two rows until work is 5cm, increasing 9 sts evenly across last (2nd) row 89 (97, 105) sts.
Change to 4.00mm needles and working in a pattern of 8 rows stocking stitch, 8 rows garter continue until work measures 44 (46.5, 51.5) cms. Cast off.
Front
Work from ** to ** as for back.
Change to 4.00mm needles and proceed in pattern until work measures 37 (40, 43) cm ending with RS facing for next row.
Next Row: Work across 38 (42, 46) sts, (neck edge). Turn. Leave remaining sts on stitch holder.
Next Row: Decrease 1 sts at neck edge on next 13 rows. 25 [29, 33] sts. Continue until work measures the same as the back. Cast off.
Pick up stitches off the stitch holder and beginning within the row cast off 13 sts. Work to end of row.
Next Row: Working to match the first side, cast off 1 stitch at neck edge in the following 13 rows and continue to match length of back. Cast off.
Sleeves
With 3.75mm needles cast on 44 sts. Work in rib as for back for 4cm, increasing 5 sts across last row (WS). 49(49,49) sts.
Changing to 4.00mm needles, and proceeding in pattern increasing each end of the 3rd and foll 2nd rows to 55 [59, 59] sts and then in every 4th row until 85 [93, 99] sts.
Continue until work measure 26.5 (30.5, 34.5) cm. Cast off.
Hood
With Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK and 4.00mm needles cast on 116 (122, 128) sts loosely.
Complete 4 rows stocking stitch. Place a marker at each end of last row. Cont in stocking st until work measures 24 (25.5, 26.5) cm ending with a RS row.
Shaping
Next Row: K106 (112, 118). Turn, leaving rem stitches on stitch holder.
Next Row: P96 (102, 108) Turn.
Next Row: K86 (92, 98) Turn.
Next Row: P76 (82, 88) Turn.
Next Row: K66 (72, 78) Turn.
Next Row: P56 (62, 68) Turn.
Next Row: K46 (52, 58) Turn.
Next Row: P36 (42, 48) Turn.
Leave rem sts on a holder (centre back). Break off wool leaving a long tail.
I-cord
With 2 x dpn cast on 3 sts.
K3 – slide to other end and K3. (Do not turn work).
Slide and K3. Continue in this fashion to form a tube measuring 90cm.
Thread through hood casing and tie knot in each end.
Making up
Sew shoulder seams. Fold hood in half, dividing remaining stitches onto two needles and grafting centre back.
Fold cast on edge to inside of hood to form casing and sew into position.
Sew hood to neck edge.
Sew top of sleeve equally to front and back. Beginning at waist ribbing, mattress stitch from hem to sleeve band on both sides.
You might want to check out our free knitting patterns for children’s clothing.
