Baby It's Cold Outside
Author
by Julie Holetz
Introduction
A couple of years ago, I made this beautiful “one piece” knit baby sweater using a pattern from some magazine from the 70’s. It started from the back and continued in one piece over the shoulders, picking up one side to finish. It was easy enough but it took me 6 weeks to complete, because I just wasn’t that good at knitting. I thought how nice it would be to have a similar pattern in crochet. So, I adapted it, and voila, here it is. The nicest thing about it is that, with the chunky yarn, it only takes about 3 hours to make. There are two options for sweater bands below.
Materials List
- 1 skein, Lionbrand Homespun Yarn (Bulky/6 oz/185 yards). Note: for 12 months you will need a little more than one skein.
- 1-2 ozs worsted weight yarn in contrast color for edging and buttons.
- Size K (6.5mm) hook for sweater
- 2 buttons
-
Size H (5.0mm) hook for optional crocheted buttons
-
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Finished Size
6 mos (12 mos)
Length 10” (11”)
Chest 20” (23”)
Sleeve 6.5” (7.5”)
Gauge
10 hdc and 8 rows = 4”/10cm
Notes
Samples used:
Blue: LB Homespun Montana Sky with TLC Lustre Lt Blue
Pink: LB Homespun Boston Rose with TLC Lustre Black
Coral: LB Homespun Coral Gables with Bernat Satin Pink
Green: LB Homespun Florida Keys Green with GGH Samoa Fuchsia
US Pattern Notations Used
Ch = chain
St = stitch
Sc = single crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
Sc2tog = single crochet two together
Sweater is made in one piece starting at the bottom of the back side. The turning chain counts as the first hdc of a row, and the next hdc is made into the next stitch.
The Pattern
Begin
Ch 26 (29)
Row 1: Hdc into 3 rd Ch. Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. – 25 (28) Hdc
Rows 2-9: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows before moving on to next row.
Row 10: Hdc across. Fasten off.
Row 11: Add sleeves: Ch 15(17). With right side facing, Hdc into 1 st st, where you fastened off (leaving chain hanging off the hook, wrap the yarn over the hook, insert into first st and complete Hdc). Hdc across. Ch 16(18), turn.
Row 12: Hdc into 3 rd ch and Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. – 55(62) Hdc.
Rows 13-19: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows before moving on to next row.
Row 20: Hdc for 22(24) sts. Sl st in next 11(14) sts. Hdc in last 22(24) sts. Ch 2, turn.
Rows 21-22: Hdc across 22(24) sts. Ch 2, turn.
Row 23: Hdc across. Ch 12(14), turn.
Row 24: Hdc into 3 rd ch. Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. – 33(37) Hdc.
Rows 25-27: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows before moving on to next row.
Row 28: Hdc into first 18(20) sts. Ch 2, turn. – 18 (20)Hdc
Rows 29-38: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows hdc before fastening off.
Fasten off.
Pick up for the left sleeve.
Row 1: With front of sweater facing you, begin at the outside edge. Insert hook into first st and Ch 2. Hdc in next 21(23) sts. – 22(24) Hdc.
Row 2: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: Hdc across. Ch 6(8) and turn.
Row 4: Hdc into 3 rd ch and Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. – 27 (31)Hdc.
Rows 5-7: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows before 
moving on to next row.
Row 8: Hdc in first 12(14) sts. Ch 2, turn. – 12(14) Hdc
Rows 9-18: Hdc across. Ch 2, turn. For 12 mos, do two more rows hdc before fastening off.
Fasten off.
To finish.
Option 1, as shown in Florida Keys Green with fuchsia band (shown left):
With contrast color and with the right side facing you, loosely sc along left placket. Place 3 sc in corner at the beginning of the neckline. Sc around neckline. Place 3 sc in top corner of right placket and sc down the right side. Ch 1, turn. Sc back around, placing 3 sc in the right corner, until you reach the top of the left placket. Place 3 sc in left corner and sc in next st. To make long buttonhole, ch 8 and join with sc to same st. Sc in next 3 sts, ch 8 and join with sc to same st. Sc to end. Fasten off. Add two rows of loose sc in contrast color to short end of both sleeves. Fold sweater along shoulder with right sides facing each other. Connect seams with either whipstitch or slip stitch, along both sides of body and under sleeves. Turn right side out. Place buttons, using buttonholes as a guide, and sew to right side.
Option 2, as shown in Coral Gables with pink band (shown right):
With contrast color and with the right side facing you, loosely sc along left placket. Place 3 sc in corner at the beginning of the neckline. Sc around neckline. Place 3 sc in top corner of right placket and sc down the right side. Ch 1, turn. Sc back around, placing 3 sc in the right corner, until you reach the top of the left placket. Place 3 sc in left corner and sc in next st. To make buttonhole, ch 3, skip two sts and sc in next. Sc in next, ch3, skip two sts, and sc in next. Sc to end. Ch 1 and sc around bottom edge of sweater for two rows. Fasten off. Add two rows of sc in contrast color to short end of both sleeves. Fold sweater along shoulder with right sides facing each other. Connect seams with either whipstitch or slip stitch, along both sides of body and under sleeves. Turn right side out. Place buttons, using buttonholes as a guide, and sew to right side.
To make optional crocheted buttons. With contrast color and smaller hook, chain 4 and join to first ch. Six sc in center and join to first sc. Ch 1, *sc in next two sts, 2 sc in next* repeat to end of round and join. Ch 1, sc2tog around and join. Leaving a long tail for sewing button on, fasten off.
So I'm a little late to making this sweater ;) I finished it last night to give as a Christmas gift to my girlfriend's little girl. I adjusted to fit a 2-yr old which was quite easy to do.
I made it with Patons Be Mine which worked up beautifully! It took 4 balls of dark pink and 1 ball of light pink for the trim and I had enough left over to make matching cap. I gave the gift today and it was a tremendous hit! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern!!!
~ Mini
I made a baby blanket as a Christmas gift out of this really beautiful and expensive organic cotton yarn. I had just enough left to make something else out of the rest. So I found this website, and this pattern and it was perfect. It was my first time making clothing other than wrist covers, scarves and beanies. I think it came out great, what a perfect pattern to follow.
I liked the way the buttons looked, and I crocheted an oak leaf on it to tie in the theme I had embroidered on the bibs I made to go with the gift. Thank you so much for this great website. -N
I am having an extremely hard time figuring this out. I have the whole first part done, but once I got to the left side, I cannot figure out where to start. Do I start on the very first stitch that I had? If that is the case, how does it all work out? I am just having a hard time seeing how this will all come together. If you have any tips for me, I would greatly appreciate them! Thank you!
I absolutely Love this sweater. I can't wait to make one for my daughter.
three-or-more.blogspot.com
This is a great pattern! Thank You!
GOD Bless You and Remember that HE loves you greatly! Joyce
I found this pattern from a different web site like two years ago, when my son was born. I made a sweater for my son when he was like 4 months old, and then I made another beautiful sweater for a friend who had a baby. It's simple, and quick. Three days, working about two hours a day, that's pretty quick when a 18 month old likes to nurse while you chrochet. Everyone loved it, two other people asked for one for their older children. Great pattern, I love the one piece idea!
My cousin is having triplets this summer and I made them each a sweater - they will definitely have to wait until cooler weather to be worn! I used Lion Brand Homespun in lt. blue, lemonande, and mint green. They came out gorgeous!
Thank you so much for posting the pattern. I am usually nervous about making clothes and the sweater worked up quick and easy!
Take care,
Tricia
Thank you so much!
I've made 3 of them. 2 of the 6 MO size, and 1 of the 1 YO.
2 for a baby boy in a combination of green Sensations Rainbow Boucle (from Joann) and Wool-Ease, and one for a baby girl in Pink Sensations Rainbow Boucle and ivory colored worsted weight yarn (something simple, I don't remember what brand). I used 6.5 mm hook for the cardigan, and 5 mm for the trim. I used only Sensations Rainbow Boucle for the trim.
I don't have a pic online, but I can Email it somewhere. It's well worth seeing :)
Thanks again! :)
I LOVE YOUR PATTERNS!!!!
I have been crocheting for awhile now but never tried to do a piece of clothing....now that I have my first grandbaby I would like to try making your "Baby its cold outside" pattern....Ive crocheted up to line 20 and now Im baffled....rows 21-22...if i turn after doing the 24 hdc my patternsnot even across...how do I have the other arm turn out? I hope you understand what im trying to describe...Thanks so much for sharing your work...you are very fun and talented....Shyla Taylor Gresham Oregon
Hi. Just keep working the pattern. You will add the other sleeve at the end. It's a fun twist.
Row 24 doesn't add up.
Row 22 has 24 st. Row 23 adds ch 14. But Row 24 works out to 36 hdc not 38. Are two more ch added to Row 23 or is it really 36 and not 38?
Or am I just totally doing this wrong?
I had the same problem as you are describing. 24 stitches plus 14 chains = 38. But when you hdc in the 3rd chain, you elimnate 2 of those stitches and get down to 36 and not the 38 that the pattern calls for.
So I just chained 16 so that I ended up with 38 as the pattern calls for.
Maybe we're both making a mistake. (By the way, I finished the sweater my way and it's cute as it can be even if it is, perhaps, wrong).
Julie - can you help us? And explain if we're reading the instructions wrong in some way. This is when I love those little symbol diagrams.
Thanks for the great pattern by the way! And have you ever made it bigger? Like for a 2-3 year old?
sorry for the late reply.
I looked at the pattern and found a couple of errors on the larger size. Let me also say that the chain 2 should always count as your first hdc and your next hdc is made into the next stitch.
Row 24 should say : - 33(37) Hdc.
Row 28 should say: Hdc into first 18(20) sts. Ch 2, turn. - 18(20) Hdc
I had the same questions about the # of chains and # of hdc made. I just added to the chains, not counting 2 chains as hdc, and it worked ok. Thanks for the correction though.
Because I wanted to use up some of my worsted weight yarn, I used the pattern with worsted weight using a size N hook. It isn't as "tight" a stitch as the picture shows but it is a nice sweater for a baby without one. Hopefully, I can make several more to give away to our church charity.
The other nice part of this pattern is it works up fast. Thank you.
I love this pattern - I just gave one at a baby shower that I crocheted in white with hot pink trim and they loved it too. Thanks!
Hi
I've just come across you pattern and i'd like to make it for my sister who is expecting her first baby next month. However, I live in the U.K and Lionbrand seems really hard to get hold of - could you suggest any alternatives? Would any bulky worsted weight yarn do?
Thanks alot!
Yes! You can certainly substitute any yarn of the same weight. Keep in mind the yarn's qualities re: warmth and washability, and make a gauge (tension) swatch before you start to make sure your sweater will be the right size.
I made this today using Plymouth Yarn's Encore. Love it!! The pattern was well written & easy to follow. The resulting sweater is darling. Thanks so much for the great pattern!
My blog entry June 25, 2006 - A Big Fat Thank You to Julie.
Have Faith -
Yep – “have faith†was definitely the catch phrase of the crochet class I took yesterday at Anacapa Fine Yarns a LYS (little yarn shop) I frequent these days. The teacher, Anastasia Poland , found the pattern in the Crochet Me an online magazine, Issue 4; February / March 2005. She requested permission from the pattern designer, Julie Holetz to teach the class using her pattern. In the name of education Julie granted Anastasia permission. Thank you so much Julie!! This was a fabulous learning experience and I enjoyed this class far more than words can express on this blog.
The class was for an adorable crochet, kimono-style, baby sweater. This pattern is fabulous and it was easy-peasy, so long as you continued to “have faith†in it. I’m here to tell you, I wouldn’t have ever completed this sweater if it hadn’t been for mdf, E (my dear friend, Elisa) (again) who is a “crochet goddess†in my eyes, [if you recall, she’s the one who taught me to crochet], as she was able to finish the sweater before she went home.
If I hadn’t seen the odd shapes this project took on during class, I’d have a whole lot of lovely yarn, and I'd wonder what it could have become – if I’d just “had faithâ€. Well.......I took my half finished sweater home and after dinner I started to work on it again. I was so hoping I wouldn’t forget what I had learned earlier in the day. I found myself repeating the words I heard over and over in class - “have faith". I had my doubts on more than one occasion, but I kept "the faith" and voila’ – my first “real†garment project (not an accessory, mind you) is complete. So I’m doin' what mdf, E calls the “happy danceâ€.
I am looking for a pattern for knitting a baby kimono style sweater and I came across a pattern by Julie Holetz which she came across in some magazine from the 70's that was "one piece" knit baby sweater.She stated that it started from the back and continued in one piece over the shoulders, picking up one side to finish.As she stated it was easy enough but it took her 6 weeks to complete as she was not good at knitting, but she thought how nice it would be to have a similar pattern in crochet, so, she adaped it and it is on your net work. It is called "Baby it's cold outside by Julie Holetz. I made a copy of it as it was free, but if you could find me the pattern in the knitting version, I would greatly appreciate it as I am not very good at crocheting and much better at knitting. Would appreciate hearing from you on this matter and I hope you can find me the original version in the knitting pattern. Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara J. Mudd bjmudd@sbcglobal.net
Mason-Dixon Knitting Book has a beautiful one piece kimono in it. It is a very easy pattern to follow. There is also a one piece kimono in the One Skein Wonder book.
Hope that helps.
Cora
Can this go bigger-say toddler size??
HI JULIE,
I MADE THIS PATTERN AND IT TURNED OUT GREAT!! AND IT WAS SO EASY! THANKYOU!!
HAVE YOU DESIGNED THE SAME FOR ADULTS? I WANT TO MAKE IT FOR MYSELF. IF NOT, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW OR WHERE TO FIND TIPS ON RESIZING A CHILD-SIZE PATTERN TO ADULT.
THANKS AGAIN,
MINDY
Mindy,
I'm going to try making an adult version myself. Seems to me one would make the beginning chain half the length of one's chest measurement, plus an inch or two for ease (extra room) and seaming. For example, 44" chest /2 = 22", 22" + 3" = 25".
I'll use a similar bulky /5 yarn, so gauge will not be a problem.
Now I'm just crossing my fingers that I have enough of the yarn, since I found it on sale! It may end up a vest rather than a cardigan...probably more useful here in South Texas!
Gilder
(I'm guessing here, with apologies to Julie, the designer, and with no guarantees given nor implied.)
For the sleeves
X = number of chains needed for desired length for right sleeve plus a little extra for cuff (or to allow for the chain drawing up as the hdc's are worked).
Row 11 (or first sleeve row : Chain X. Hdc across. Chain X + 1 (base for left sleeve).
Work the back (rows 2-9), the right sleeve (rows 12-19) and the front to the desired length (sides) or width (sleeve) plus extra for ease (see previous post) and seaming.
You can adapt to your desires: front and back can be bolero, waist, or hip length; sleeves can be wide/narrow (even flared or tapered if you increase/decrease!); length elbow, 3/4 length, wrist (or no sleeve at all).
Remember, you will probably wear another layer under this sweater, and it's supposed to be "boxy".
Gilder in Texas
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/
Julie's creative commons license for this work allows derivative works, so I *think* my comments above are OK.
Gilder, hopeful
Julie has reassured me off list.
Gilder
I actually saw a very similar pattern by Red Hearts. The pattern was .97 cents at Walmart, so I'm going to go back and buy that one soon. It only had one button closure, but the style looked the same. I think the construction was a bit different though, but it would get the basic size idea across anyway.
I made this pattern with Lion Wool-Ease Chunky Willow for the main body and Wool-Ease Fisherman for the trim. It turned out gorgeous. For the 6 mo. size I literally had only inches left on the 1 skein of Willow when I was finished. If you use that yarn, be stingy with your lengths for starting and finishing, or buy extra. It turned out great though, and it's gorgeous. My little baby is 5 weeks and it should fit him by the time it starts getting cold here.
Can anyone explain how in the world to do the crochet buttons though? I have no clue. I've never really joined chains or anything like that, so I have no idea how to do the 6 sc and attach it and all that. I'm completely lost. Thanks :)
Just a side comment: when I made this I didn't bother with a gauge swatch (I was too impatient and wanted to start on it right away), and it turned out to be closer to a 0-3 mos size. The bigger size would probably need more yarn.
I started making this sweater with Baby Clouds yarn and it turned out beautiful. Made about 5 in one week. I just adjusted the size and made it for my 9 year old daughter with a worsted weight yard and a fun fur combined. It turned out gorgeous! Thanks for the amazing pattern.
I made this sweater for my baby I am expecting in september. It turned out fantastic! Thanks so much for posting this pattern.
Hi,
This is my first sweater and I am alittle confused. I made it to row 28 with no problems. However, row 29 confused me. When it says hdc across does it mean across the 18 sts or the whole piece? Also when adding the left sleeve- row 3 where you chain 8. I think I am doing it correctly, but how does the right and left side get connect? Please help me.
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Just wanted to take a moment to thank you THANK YOU for taking the time to write out a pattern and being generous enough to share it, FOR FREE!
WA-HOO!
I have two of these babies on my two do list.
THANK YOU !