Storybook Baby Hoodie – Free Baby & Toddler Knitting Pattern

Storybook Baby Hoodie. Photo © Lion Brand

Storybook Baby Hoodie is a free baby and toddler cardigan knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Worked in cozy garter stitch, this classic hooded cardigan comes in four sizes ranging from 3–6 months to 4 years.

The design uses worsted-weight yarn and simple textured garter stitch throughout. A roomy hood, long sleeves, buttoned front and playful tassel give the finished sweater its charming storybook look.

Storybook Baby Hoodie Pattern Details

• Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
• Pattern number: 90427AD
• Published: January 2010
• Craft: Knitting
• Category: Baby and child hooded cardigan
• Pattern availability: Free pattern
• Sizes: 3–6 months (12–18 months, 2 years, 4 years)
• Yarn weight: #4 Medium / Worsted
• Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love
• Needles: 4 mm (US 6)
• Crochet hook: 5 mm (US H-8), for the tassel
• Gauge: 18 stitches + 40 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch
• Main stitch: Garter stitch
• Construction: Worked flat and seamed
• Features: Hood, long sleeves, buttons and tassel
• Language: English

A Classic Hooded Cardigan for Babies and Toddlers

Storybook Baby Hoodie combines the practicality of a cardigan with the extra warmth of a knitted hood. The simple garter-stitch fabric gives the sweater plenty of texture without requiring an elaborate stitch pattern.

The buttoned front makes the cardigan easy to layer over other baby clothes, while the hood and long sleeves make it especially appealing for cooler weather.

Four Baby and Child Sizes

The free Lion Brand pattern includes four sizes: 3–6 months, 12–18 months, 2 years and 4 years.

The approximate finished chest measurements are:

• 3–6 months: 19½ inches (49.5 cm)
• 12–18 months: 21½ inches (54.5 cm)
• 2 years: 23 inches (58.5 cm)
• 4 years: 25 inches (63.5 cm)

The approximate finished lengths are:

• 3–6 months: 9½ inches (24 cm)
• 12–18 months: 10 inches (25.5 cm)
• 2 years: 11 inches (28 cm)
• 4 years: 12 inches (30.5 cm)

When choosing a size, compare the finished measurements with a garment that fits the child comfortably rather than relying only on age.

Garter Stitch Knitting

One of the defining features of Storybook Baby Hoodie is its all-over garter stitch.

The pieces are worked flat, so the garter-stitch fabric is created by knitting every row. The horizontal ridges give the cardigan a soft, textured appearance while keeping the stitch pattern consistent throughout the project.

How Is the Storybook Baby Hoodie Constructed?

The main sweater body is initially worked in one piece up to the armholes. At that point, the knitting is divided to form the two fronts and the back.

The sleeves are knitted separately, and the hood is also worked as a separate piece. The completed pieces are then assembled and seamed according to the Lion Brand instructions.

Because the pieces are worked back and forth rather than in the round, the project does not require knitting the sleeves on double-pointed needles or using another small-circumference method.

Yarn for the Storybook Baby Hoodie

The original pattern uses Lion Brand Pound of Love, a #4 Medium / Worsted acrylic yarn.

Lion Brand specifies one ball of Pound of Love for the pattern. Because a Pound of Love ball contains a very generous amount of yarn, the designer notes that the specified amount is sufficient for more than one sweater.

If you substitute another worsted-weight yarn, do not simply buy one ball. Skein sizes vary dramatically between yarns, so use the pattern requirements and gauge when calculating your substitute.

For a baby or toddler cardigan, softness, durability and easy washing are useful qualities to consider when choosing yarn.

Needles and Gauge

Storybook Baby Hoodie uses 4 mm (US 6) knitting needles.

The specified gauge is: 18 stitches + 40 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch.

Checking gauge is particularly important for a fitted garment because it determines whether the finished chest and length measurements will correspond to the intended size.

The Hood and Tassel

The hood is one of the features that gives this cardigan its distinctive appearance. It is knitted separately and attached during finishing.

A tassel adds a playful detail to the top of the hood. Lion Brand uses a small amount of crochet when finishing the tassel, so the materials list also calls for a 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook.

The crochet portion is only a small part of the overall project; the cardigan itself is a knitting pattern.

Buttons and Finishing

The pattern calls for two ½-inch (13 mm) buttons. These create the simple front closure while leaving the lower portion of the cardigan open.

Lion Brand also notes that the button and buttonhole placement can be reversed, allowing you to customize the front closure if desired.

Since the sweater is constructed from flat pieces, neat seaming is an important part of the finishing process. Taking time with the shoulder, sleeve and hood seams will help give the cardigan a polished appearance.

Skills Used in the Storybook Baby Hoodie

Useful techniques for this project include:

• Garter stitch
• Working back and forth on straight or circular needles
• Increasing stitches
• Dividing the body for fronts and back
• Buttonholes
• Basic garment shaping
• Seaming knitted pieces
• Attaching sleeves and a hood
• A small amount of crochet for the tassel

About the Skill Level

Older versions of the Lion Brand pattern described Storybook Baby Hoodie as Easy+. Lion Brand's current pattern page uses its newer classification of Level 4 – Intermediate+.

Regardless of the label, it is useful to review the techniques and construction before beginning. The garter stitch itself is simple, but the project also involves garment shaping, separate sleeves and hood, buttonholes, seaming and finishing.

Why Knit the Storybook Baby Hoodie?

Storybook Baby Hoodie is a versatile children's project because the same free pattern covers both baby and toddler sizes.

Its garter-stitch texture keeps the knitting visually simple, while the hood, tassel, buttons and cardigan construction add enough detail to make the finished garment special.

It can also make a lovely handmade baby gift, especially because you can return to the same pattern in a larger size as the child grows.

Get the Free Storybook Baby Hoodie Pattern

The complete Storybook Baby Hoodie, pattern 90427AD, is currently available free from Lion Brand Yarn.

Get the Free Storybook Baby Hoodie Pattern at Lion Brand

Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability and access requirements on external websites may change over time.

Ducky Hoodie - Knitting Pattern

The photo above © sofiecat

Looking for a playful hooded baby and child knitting pattern? The design shown here is Duck Soup by annypurls, a clever nearly seamless jacket with a distinctive knotted hood, decorative i-cord closures, and generous sizing designed to give growing children extra wear.

Originally published in 2008, Duck Soup combines practical construction with whimsical details. It can be worn first as a roomy little coat and later as a more fitted cardigan as the child grows.

Duck Soup Hoodie Pattern at a Glance

Pattern: Duck Soup

Designer: annypurls

Craft: Knitting

Category: Baby / Child Hooded Jacket

Construction: Top-down and nearly seamless

Yarn Weight: Bulky

Gauge: 16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Main Needle Size: US 8 / 5.0 mm

Additional Needle Size: US 2 / 2.75 mm

Yardage: Approximately 400–900 yards (366–823 m)

Sizes: 3 months to 4/5 years

Pattern Availability: Paid pattern

About the Duck Soup Hoodie

Duck Soup is a hooded jacket designed by annypurls for babies, toddlers, and young children. The pattern stands out because of its playful knotted hood and handmade i-cord closures.

The jacket is worked mostly back and forth on a circular needle, while the sleeves are knitted in the round. This keeps seaming to a minimum and gives the finished garment a clean construction.

A Jacket Designed to Grow with a Child

One of the most interesting features of Duck Soup is its generous fit. The design was intentionally created so that a child could wear it in more than one way as they grow.

It can begin as a roomy three-quarter-length coat with folded cuffs and a folded hood brim. Later, those sections can be unfolded so the same garment works more like a fitted cardigan.

That makes this pattern especially appealing for knitters who want to put time into a handmade garment that can be worn for more than a very short baby-size window.

Available Sizes

The current Ravelry listing includes the following sizes:

• 3 months
• 6 months
• 18 months
• 2–3 years
• 4–5 years

Always check the original pattern page before choosing a size, since the designer's current listing is the authoritative source for measurements and construction details.

Yarn and Yardage

The jacket is designed primarily for bulky-weight yarn. The original samples used Classic Elite Yarns Countess for the main garment.

Depending on size, the listed total yarn requirement is approximately:

400–900 yards (366–823 meters)

Small amounts of contrasting yarn can also be used for the decorative i-cord closures, making this a nice project for adding colorful accents.

Needles and Gauge

The published main gauge is:

16 stitches × 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

The listing includes US 8 / 5.0 mm needles for the main bulky-weight fabric and US 2 / 2.75 mm for smaller details.

Row gauge is especially important in this design because it affects the depth of the armholes and the overall fit.

Knotted Hood and I-Cord Closures

The details are what make Duck Soup memorable. Instead of a conventional hood, the design finishes with a playful knot at the top.

The front uses knotted i-cord buttons together with i-cord loops, creating decorative frog-style closures rather than standard buttons.

The original pattern also includes a photo tutorial for making these closures.

Construction and Skills

Duck Soup is worked top-down and is described as nearly seamless. Depending on your experience, the project may involve:

• Top-down garment construction
• Raglan-style shaping
• Knitting back and forth on circular needles
• Knitting sleeves in the round
• I-cord
• Decorative frog closures
• Picking up or managing stitches around garment edges

The combination makes it more involved than a very basic baby cardigan, but also gives the finished jacket much more character.

Is Duck Soup a Free Knitting Pattern?

No. The Duck Soup pattern by annypurls is currently a paid pattern on Ravelry.

At the time this Amazing Knitting page was originally created, availability or external links may have been presented differently. We now direct readers to the designer's current Ravelry listing so they can see the latest price and availability.

Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted knitting instructions.

View the Duck Soup Pattern

Visit the original Ravelry page to see the current pattern details, price, sizing information, designer notes, and purchase options.

View the Duck Soup Pattern →

Pattern credit: Duck Soup was designed by annypurls. Pattern price, availability, sizing, and technical details are controlled by the designer and may change over time.

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Before You Start

Check the original Ravelry listing before buying yarn or beginning the project so you can confirm the current price, size information, materials, gauge, and any pattern updates from the designer.