"Heartbeat" Baby Sweater - Free Crochet Pattern with Tutorial

This cute crochet baby sweater was designed for a baby boy, but if you would change the colors, place the buttonholes on the other side and add a cute applique, you'll have a sweet little sweater for baby girls. In my opinion, it' s a perfect unisex sweater pattern.

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Heartbeat Baby Sweater
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SIZE: 6-9 months

Sweater Measurements:
See the scheme below! All measurements are in cm.

SUPPLIES:
- 3 skeins total of aran weight yarn. I have used 2 skeins of Red Heart Soft Baby Steps White (color B) and 1 skein of Red Heart Soft Yarn, colorway Toast ( (color A)
- 5 mm crochet hook
- 4 buttons
- tapestry needle to sew in the ends
- sewing needle and thread to sew the buttons on
- scissors

STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS):
- ch: chain
- back bump behind the chains: (see my TUTORIAL) Working into the back bump of the foundation chain will give the edge a nice, finished look.
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- flo: front loop only
- blo: back loop only
- sk:skip
- st: stitch
- sp: space
- V-st = (1hdc, 1ch, 1 hdc) into same stitch
- csdc: chainless starting double crochet (See this Tutorial by Moogly). If you do not master the chdc, you could replace it with ch3.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The Yoke

Notes: The cardigan is worked top down in rows, turning the piece after each row.

For the yoke, on the right side all the stitches (including the V-sts) will be worked into the back loops of the stitches from previous row; on the wrong side all the stitches (including the V-sts) will be worked into the front loops of the stitches from previous row.

With yarn color A start with 47 chains.

Row 1: Working into the back bump of the chains, 1 sc into 2nd ch from hook and 1 sc in each ch across, change to B color at the end of the row. Ch 1. Turn (46 sts)

Row 2 (flo): Work each st (inclusive the V-st) into the front loops of the stitches from previous round (flo). With B work 1 hdc flo into each of next 6 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 8 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo in each of next 14 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 8 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo into each of next 6 sts; ch 1, turn. ( 54 sts)

Row 3 (blo): 1 hdc blo into each of next 7 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 10 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo in each of next 16 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 10 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo into each of next 7 sts ch 1, turn. ( 62 sts)

Row 4 (flo): 1 hdc flo into each of next 8 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 12 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo in each of next 18 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 12 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo into each of next 8 sts, ch 1, turn. (70 sts)

Row 5 (blo): 1 hdc blo into each of next 9 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 14 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo in each of next 20 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 14 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo into each of next 9 sts, ch 1, turn. (78 sts)

Row 6 (flo): 1 hdc flo into each of next 10 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 16 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo in each of next 22 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 16 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo into each of next 10 sts, ch 1, turn. (86 sts)

Row 7 (blo): 1 hdc blo into each of next 11 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 18 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo in each of next 24 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 18 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo into each of next 11 sts , ch 1, turn. (94 sts)

Row 8 (flo): 1 hdc flo into each of next 12sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 20 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo in each of next 26 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc flo in each of next 20 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc flo into each of next 12 sts, ch 1, turn. (102 sts)

Row 9 (blo): 1 hdc blo into each of next 13 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 22 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo in each of next 28 sts, V-st in next st, 1hdc blo in each of next 22 sts, V- st in next st, 1 hdc blo into each of next 13 sts , ch 1, turn.(110 sts)

Row 10 (flo): Separating for sleeves: 1 hdc blo into each of next 15 sts, ch 5 (for underarm), sk 24 sts, 1 hdc flo into each of next 32 sts, ch 5 (underarm), sk 24 sts, 1 hdc flo into each of next 15 sts, ch 1 and turn.

You'll have 15 sts left front side, 5 ch left underarm, 32 sts back, 5 ch right underarm, 15 sts right front side = 72 sts total

Body part:

Note: Don't cut yarn when making color changes, carry the yarns not in use from row to row.

Row 11 (blo) : 1 hdc blo in each st across, inclusive into the ch sts underarm; ch1, turn. (72 sts)

Begin of the colorwork pattern:

Row 12 : 1sc into first st, 1 sc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, *1sc in each of next 4 sts, 1dc in each of next 4 sts *; repeat from * to *, ending with 1sc in each of last 2 sts, with color change at the last st, this way: at the last pull through to complete the stitch, change to color A. Turn.

Row 13 : With yarn color A, make a chainless double crochet (this will be the first st), 1dc into next st, 1sc into each of the next 4dc, *1dc in each of the next 4sc , 1sc into each of the next 4dc *; repeat from * to * till last 2 sts, ending with 1dc in each of last 2 sc.
DO NOT CUT yarn A!
Remove loop from hook and insert a stitch marker/ stitch holder into the loop. See picture below!

Row 14:
DO NOT TURN your work! Keep working on the same side!
Go back to the beginning of previous row and pick up the yarn color B, slip stitching it through the top of the first st; ch1, 1sc in first dc, 1sc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 4sc, *1sc in each of next 4dc, 1dc in each of next 4sc *, repeat from * to *, ending with 1sc in each of last 2dc, final sc this way: insert hook into last st, pull loop through, remove yarn B from hook, pick up loop of yarn A from stitch holder and finish the last st with yarn A. Turn.

Reduced sample of the pattern:

Rows 15-30: repeat as row 13 -14 with corresponding color changes, turning your work only when both strand of yarn A and B are at the left of your work.

Row 31: ch1, 1sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 32: ch1, 1sc in each sc across. Don't cut yarn. Continue with the edging.

Edging along the side!

Note: If the sweater will be made for a baby girl, change the button holes on the other side, girl version below!

Right front edging, button band (boy version):

Row 1: work 2 sc in same st as the last st just made (corner made), *work 1 sc around the vertical bars of sc stitches and 2 sc around the vertical bars of dc stitches* repeat along the color work side, work sc stitches evenly places along the yoke side (1 sc for each hdc row), ch 1, turn. (38 sts total)

Row 2: 1 sc in each st across, ch1, turn.

Row 3: 1 sc in each st across. Cut yarn. Fasten off.

Left front with button holes (boy version)

Row 1: Join yarn with standing sc into top corner at neck edge, sc evenly across right front edge till bottom corner (having the same number of sts as for the left side, 38 sts); ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 1 sc into first st, 1 sc in each of next 11 st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 sc in each of next 7 sts ) x 3 times, ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 sc in last st; ch 1, turn. (4 button holes made)

Note : To make it easier, you can add stitch markers to mark the button holes.

Row 3: 1 sc in each sc and ch1 space across. Cut yarn: Fasten off. Weave in the ends.

With sewing needle and sewing thread, sew 4 buttons on the right front side, each button corresponding to the buttonhole on the left front side.

For baby girl version, change the side of buttons and buttonholes, this way:

Left front:

Row 1: Join yarn color B with standing sc into top corner at the neck, work 1 sc evenly across left front edge to bottom corner edge; ch 1, turn. (38 sts)

Row 2: 1 sc in each st across, ch1, turn.

Row 3: 1 sc in each st across. Cut yarn. Fasten off.

Right front with button holes (girls):

Row 1: Join yarn color B with standing sc into bottom corner, sc evenly across right front edge till neck edge (having the same number of sts as for the left side); ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 1 sc into first st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 sc in each of next 7 sts ) x 4 times, 1 sc in each remaining st; ch 1, turn. (4 button holes made)

Row 3: 1 sc in each sc and ch1 space across. Cut yarn Fasten off.

Sleeves:

Note: The sleeves will be worked into round; after joining into round, ch 1 and Turn, working on the opposite site!! This will create the same texture the yoke has!

On the right side, the stitches will be worked into the back loops of the stitches from previous row; on the wrong side the stitches will be worked into the front loops of the stitches from previous row.

Decrease tip: to form the sleeve, you will decrease 2 stitches every 4th round on the right side, this way: work 2hdc tog at the beginning of round (at underarm) and work 2hdctog on the opposite side (on the top edge).

Round 1: Working blo, join yarn with a standing hdc at underarm (into the 3rd chain underarm) and work hdc blo in each st around armhole, being careful not to produce holes; join with sl st to top of first hdc. (33 sts total)

ch1, turn!

Round 2 (flo): 1hdc flo in each hdc around, join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn.

Round 3 ( blo): 1hdc blo in each hdc around, join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn.

Round 4 (flo): 1hdc flo in each hdc around, join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn.

Round 5 (blo) : Working each st into blo, hdc2tog, 1hdc blo in each of next 14 sts, hdc2tog, 1 hdc in each st till end of round. Join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn. (31 sts)

Round 6 (flo): repeat as round 2

Round 7: (blo): repeat as round 3

Round 8: repeat as round 2

Round 9: Working into blo, hdc2tog , 1hdc blo in each of next 13 sts, hdc2tog, 1 hdc in each st till end of round. Join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn. (29 sts)

Round 10: repeat as round 2

Round 11: repeat as round 3

Round 12: repeat as round 2

Round 13: Working into blo, hdc2tog, 1hdc blo in each of next 12 sts, hdc2tog, 1 hdc in each st till end of round. Join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn. (27 sts)

Round 14: repeat as round 2

Round 15: Working into blo, hdc2tog, 1hdc blo in each of next 11 sts, hdc2tog, 1 hdc in each st till end of round. Join with sl st to first st, ch 1 and turn. (25 sts)

Round 16: repeat as round 2 (don't ch1 at the end of round, turn)

Round 17: sl st into next st and in each st around. Cut yarn and fasten off invisibly. Weave in the ends.

Second sleeve: repeat as for the first sleeve.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern/ tutorial!
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"Heartbeat" Baby Sweater - Written Instructions and Pictures - Copyright © 2014 Kinga Erdem
This pattern is free for your personal use, you can sell the products of your work, a link back to my blog would be appreciated.
Do not use my photos for selling purposes or modify them in any way.
Please don't repost the pattern itself to any other sites, but please share the link to the pattern if you want to share the pattern with your friends.
You may not give away copies of this pattern.
Do not make video tutorials or translate my pattern in other languages without my written consent!
Thank you.
Kinga