FREE Crochet Baby Cardigan Pattern 12 Months

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This free crochet baby cardigan pattern 12 months size, is a simple, top‑down raglan design made in soft aran yarn, creating a cosy and practical toddler crochet cardigan that’s easy for beginners to make.

Inspired by the popular Baby Bear Cardigan Free Pattern, this 12‑month version keeps the same charming style with a wider front panel for comfort and everyday wear.

This toddler-sized crochet baby cardigan jacket free pattern keeps all the charm of the original Baby Bear Cardigan.

About This Pattern The Baby Bear Crochet Cardigan (12 Months)

This 12-month size baby bear crochet cardigan is the toddler-sized version of our popular baby bear hoodie.

Made with soft aran-weight yarn, it’s warm, durable, and perfect for everyday adventures or those all-important first birthday photos.

The extra-wide front design keeps little ones comfortable, while the classic top-down raglan shaping makes it easy to wear and layer over any outfit.

The simple stitches and step-by-step instructions for the crochet baby cardigan make it a relaxing crochet project, even for beginners.

Best of all, it’s completely free right here on the site, so you can make this adorable cardigan in any colour combination you love.

Stitches & Techniques Used in the 12 months Crochet Baby Cardigan Pattern

• Construction: Top-down crochet cardigan pattern worked from neckline to hem in one piece.
• Yoke: Double crochet stitches with 3-dc raglan increases for shaping.
• Body: Worked in double crochet (dc) throughout for warmth and simplicity.
• Sleeves: Picked up from the armhole and worked in rows, tapered slightly towards the cuff.
• Basic Crochet Stitches Used:
  • Double crochet (dc) – main stitch
  • Single crochet (sc) – edging and finishing
• Increases for YOKE : 3 dc in one stitch to widen yoke
• Edging: Single crochet border around the baby cardigan fronts creating the buttonholes

Size Chart for Simple 12 month crochet baby cardigan pattern free

This pattern is written for the long front side to be across the front for a GIRL, to make for a boy: after the YOKE, FLIP the cardigan inside out and continue working if needed to get a RS finish on the last rounds Work 1 more row in each section 

What you will need to crochet the 12 months Toddler Baby Cardigan

YARN: worsted /Aran (10 wraps per inch) 12 mo (yours): 400–520 yd (365–475 m) → 3 × 100 g balls, I like to grab a fourth ball to ensure no yarn dramas halfway through the project. 

Crochet Hook: I used a 4.50mm hook (However I am an extremely loose crocheter so suggest a 5.0mm crochet hook to achieve Gauge)

Scissors and a measuring tape.

Gauge : 4dc = 1 inch, 2 Rows = 1 inch 

• Total cardigan length of approximately 12 inches from neck to hem use the above measurements table to ensure the cardigan will fit.
• The cardigan has 2 inches positive ease.

Abbreviations (US TERMS)

• ch – chain
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• sk – skip

PATTERN STARTS HERE: 12 Months Crochet Baby Cardigan Pattern

Foundation Chain: Ch 64.

Row 1 (RS – start wide front): dc in 4th ch from hook (counts as first dc) and in next 15 sts – wide front (16 sts total including starting ch-3). 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 8 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 16 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 8 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each remaining st to end – short front (10 sts). Final stitch count: 70 sts. Turn.

Row 2 (WS – start short front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 9 sts – short front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 10 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 18 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 10 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – wide front (18 sts). Final stitch count: 78 sts. Turn.

Row 3 (RS – start wide front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 17 sts – wide front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 12 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 20 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 12 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – short front (12 sts). Final stitch count: 86 sts. Turn.

Row 4 (WS – start short front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 11 sts – short front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 14 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 22 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 14 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – wide front (20 sts). Final stitch count: 94 sts. Turn.

Row 5 (RS – start wide front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 19 sts – wide front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 16 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 24 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 16 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – short front (14 sts). Final stitch count: 102 sts. Turn.

Row 6 (WS – start short front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 13 sts – short front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 18 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 26 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 18 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – wide front (22 sts). Final stitch count: 110 sts. Turn.

Row 7 (RS – start wide front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 21 sts – wide front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 20 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 28 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 20 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – short front (16 sts). Final stitch count: 118 sts. Turn.

Row 8 (WS – start short front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 15 sts – short front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 22 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 30 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 22 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – wide front (24 sts). Final stitch count: 126 sts. Turn.

Row 9 (RS – start wide front): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 23 sts – wide front. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 24 sts – right sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 32 sts – back. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in next 24 sts – left sleeve. 3 dc in next st – raglan increase. dc in each st to end, working final dc into top of ch-3 – short front (18 sts). Final stitch count: 134 sts. Turn.

Body of the Baby Cardigan, 12 months

Row 10–21: Ch 3 (counts as dc), starting in the next stitch, dc in each st and in each ch across. Turn at the end of each row. 84 sts in every row.

(Repeat ROW and Work until the body from the underarm measures approximately 6 inches.giving a total cardigan length of approximately 11 inches from neck to hem.)

Tapered Sleeve – 12 Months (Worked in Joined Rounds)

NOTE: “Skip the first st” means to skip the slip stitch join from the previous round. This means you will automatically decrease each round by 1 sts, without the extra bulk of working 2 stitches together.

Round 1: With RS facing and working in the opposite direction to the last row worked on the yoke, join yarn at the bottom of the armhole. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st around armhole opening, picking up 1 stitch from each POST stitch of Row 10 sts, for a total of 35 sts. Sl st to first st to join. (35 sts)

Round 2: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around to end. Sl st to first st to join. (34 sts)

Round 3: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (33 sts)

Round 4: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (32 sts)

Round 5: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (31 sts)

Round 6: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (30 sts)

Round 7: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (29 sts)

Round 8: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (28 sts)

Round 9: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (27 sts)

Round 10: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (26 sts)

Round 11: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (25 sts)

Round 12: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (24 sts)

Round 13: Ch 3, skip the first st, dc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. (23 sts) Or until work measures at least 7.5 – 8 inches from underarm  inches 

Make Sure you are working this row is RS 

Cuff: Ch 1, skip 1st  sc in each st around. Sl st to first st to join. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Edging & Buttonholes: Using a contrasting or matching color:

• Girl: Buttonholes on right front.
• Boy: Buttonholes on left front. (you will FLIP the cardigan inside out ) 

Place first loop (ch1, skip 1) buttonhole ~0.5″ below neck, then spaced evenly for 3 total.

 For small buttons, work (ch 1, skip 1 st); for larger buttons, work (ch 2, skip 2 sts). Mark buttonhole positions with pins before working.

ROW 1: Join yarn at the bottom RS of the cardigan: 

Work 1 round sc evenly around fronts, neck, and hem, making 3 sc in each corner for a flat turn. Work buttonholes in the marked spots.

Fasten off, weave in ends, and sew on buttons.

I love to crochet Baby items, and over the years I have made 100s of crochet baby sets!

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Thank you for visiting my website or purchasing a pattern. It helps me to maintain the website and buy new materials to make even more FREE PATTERNS. As always, you can make and sell items you have made from the pattern. You MUST acknowledge LisaAuch Crochet as the original designer. YOU will NOT copy or distribute the pattern online TEXT OR PDF, in part or whole anywhere else,  NO Factory Distribution nor mass production of any kind. 

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Lisa Auch Crochet crochet pattern designer

Lisa Auch – Crochet Pattern Designer LisaAuch is a professional crochet designer with over twenty years of experience creating beginner-friendly baby crochet patterns that transform simple stitches into timeless, wearable designs. With a background in visual arts and education, she combines creativity with teaching skill to make her instructions clear, practical, and easy for beginners to follow. Since founding Lisa Auch Crochet in 2011, she has built a trusted resource for free crochet patterns specializing in baby clothes, hats, bonnets, booties, blankets, and accessories. Her baby crochet hat patterns free are among her most popular designs, loved for their classic style and reliable fit. Today, Lisa is recognized as a leading voice in the crochet community. She continues to publish new patterns, step-by-step tutorials, and educational resources, helping crocheters of every level build confidence while keeping the traditions of crochet alive. Browse all of LisaAuch Crochet Free Patterns below.

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