Hooded Baby Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Why you'll love it

Bear ears on the hood make it irresistibly cute.
The body is worked in one piece up to the underarms, so there are no side seams.
Post-stitch ribbing gives stretchy, knit-like cuffs and hem.
Pockets, hearts, a leaf vine, and a teddy patch add lots of charm.
Worsted yarn makes it warm and quick to finish.

About the designer

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Last updated November 6, 2026

Materials needed

Tools

5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch markers
Five 20 mm wooden buttons
Sewing needle and thread

Gauge & finished measurements

Gauge: 14 hdc and 11 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in worsted yarn with a 5.0 mm hook. Size depends on gauge, so check it before starting.

The pattern

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Body

Foundation and Row 1: With green, ch 79. Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (77 hdc)
Rows 2-3 (ribbing): Ch 2 (does not count), turn. *Dc around the front post of the next stitch, dc around the back post of the next stitch; repeat from * across, ending with a front post dc. Row 3: ch 2, turn, work each stitch as it appears, with a front post dc around each raised stitch and a back post dc around each recessed one. (77 post stitches in each row)
Rows 4-20: Change to cream. Ch 2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. Repeat for 17 rows. (77 hdc in each row)
Right front (Rows 21-32): Rows 21-28: ch 2, turn, hdc in the first 19 stitches only (19). Row 29 (neck edge): sl st in the first 5 stitches at the neck edge, ch 2, hdc across (14). Row 30: ch 2, turn, hdc across, dec at the neck edge (13). Rows 31-32: hdc across (13). Fasten off. (13 hdc at the shoulder)
Back (Rows 21-32): Join cream in the next stitch after the right front. Rows 21-32: ch 2, turn, hdc in the next 39 stitches only. Fasten off. (39 hdc in each row)
Left front (Rows 21-32): Join cream in the next stitch after the back and work the last 19 stitches as for the right front, mirroring the neck shaping so it falls on the center front edge. Fasten off. Sew 13 stitches of each front to the matching 13 stitches at each end of the back for the shoulders. (13 hdc at the shoulder)

Sleeves (make 2)

Round 1: With green, ch 24 and join to form a ring. Ch 2 (does not count), hdc in each ch around, join. (24 hdc)
Rounds 2-4 (cuff ribbing): Ch 2, *dc around the front post of the next stitch, dc around the back post of the next stitch; repeat from * around, join. Repeat for 3 rounds. (24 post stitches in each round)
Rounds 5-7 (stripes): Round 5: cream, ch 2, hdc around, join (24). Round 6: mustard, ch 2, hdc around, join. Round 7: cream, ch 2, hdc around, join. (24 hdc in each round)
Rounds 8-19: Change to green. Round 8: ch 2, [hdc in the next 11 stitches, 2 hdc in the next stitch] 2 times, join (26). Continue in hdc, increasing 2 stitches evenly on Rounds 11 and 14 (28, 30). Rounds 15-19: hdc around (30). Fasten off, leaving a long tail. (30 hdc after Round 19)

Hood and Front Band

Hood Row 1: With the right side facing, join cream at the right front neck edge. Ch 2, work 50 hdc evenly around the neckline to the left front neck edge. (50 hdc)
Hood Rows 2-22: Ch 2, turn, hdc across. Repeat for 21 rows. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Fold the hood in half and sew the top edges together (25 stitches on each side). (50 hdc in each row)
Band Row 1: With green, join at the bottom of the right front. Sc evenly up the right front (48 sc), around the hood edge (66 sc), and down the left front (48 sc). (162 sc)
Band Row 2: Ch 1, turn. On the left front (for girls) or right front (for boys), work sc 2, [ch 2, skip 2, sc 8] 4 times, ch 2, skip 2, sc 4 over the 48 front stitches. Sc in each stitch around the hood and the other front. (162 sc with 5 buttonholes)
Band Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc and 2 sc in each ch-2 space. Fasten off. (162 sc)

Ears, Pockets and Details

Ear (make 4 pieces): Front (make 2): cream MR; Round 1: 6 sc; Round 2: 2 sc in each (12); Round 3: [sc, 2 sc in next] 6 times (18); change to green; Round 4: [sc in next 2, 2 sc in next] 6 times (24). Back (make 2): work the same in green only. Place a front and back together and sc around through both layers. (24 sc)
Pocket (make 2): With green, ch 13. Row 1: hdc in the 3rd ch and each ch across (11). Rows 2-6: ch 2, turn, hdc across. Rows 7-8: work post-stitch ribbing as for the body hem. Fasten off. (11 stitches in each row)
Bear patch: With tan, MR; Round 1: ch 1, 6 sc, join; Round 2: 2 sc in each (12); Round 3: [sc, 2 sc in next] 6 times (18); Round 4: [sc 2, 2 sc in next] 6 times (24). Add a cream muzzle (MR 6 sc), two tan ears (MR 6 sc), and embroider the face. Bow tie: green ch 7, sc 6 for 3 rows, pinch the center. (24 sc face)
Heart (make 20): Make a MR. Ch 3, 2 tr, 2 dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, 2 dc, 2 tr, ch 3, sl st in the ring. Pull the ring closed and fasten off, leaving a tail. Make 6 in mustard and 6 in green for the hem and 8 in cream for the sleeves. (1 heart)
Leaf (make 8): With green, ch 6. Sl st in the 2nd ch, sc, hdc, dc, 3 hdc in the last ch. Along the other side: dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Fasten off. Embroider a green chain-stitch vine on the left front and sew the leaves along it. (11 stitches per leaf)

Abbreviations

This pattern is written in US terms. Your current view: US.

US	UK	Meaning
MR	MR	magic ring (adjustable ring) · how to
ch	ch	chain · how to
sl st	ss	slip stitch · how to
sc	dc	single crochet (UK double crochet) · how to
hdc	htr	half double crochet (UK half treble) · how to
dc	tr	double crochet (UK treble) · how to
tr	dtr	treble crochet (UK double treble) · how to
dec	dec	decrease: work 2 stitches together (invisible decrease in amigurumi)
st(s)	st(s)	stitch(es)

Assembly

1
Sew the shoulders and set in the sleeves.
2
Work the hood, seam its top, and work the front band.
3
Sew the bear ears to the top of the hood, about 2 in (5 cm) on either side of the seam.
4
Sew the pockets to the lower fronts just above the hem ribbing.
5
Sew the bear patch to the right front chest and add its bow tie. Embroider the vine and sew the leaves to the left front.
6
Sew the mustard and green hearts in a row along the hem above the ribbing, and 4 cream hearts on each sleeve above the stripes.
7
Sew on the buttons, weave in all ends, and lightly steam to shape.

Important notes

Tip: This is an original pattern inspired by the photo. Hidden details are interpreted from the image, and the pattern has not been physically test-crocheted.
Tip: Abbreviations (US terms): ch = chain, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, sl st = slip stitch, MR = magic ring, dec = decrease.
Tip: Post stitches are written out in full: work a dc around the post of the stitch from the front (front post) or from the back (back post) instead of into its top.
Tip: The ch 2 at the start of hdc and post-stitch rows does not count as a stitch.
Tip: Sizing assumes a 9-12 month chest of about 19 in (48 cm). Babies vary, so measure if possible.
Tip: Safety: buttons and appliques can be choking hazards. Sew everything very securely and never leave a baby unattended in a hood.

Pattern FAQ

How do I work post-stitch ribbing?

For a front post dc, yarn over and insert the hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch below, then finish the dc as usual. For a back post dc, insert the hook from back to front to back. Alternating them creates raised and recessed columns that look like knit ribbing.

Can I skip the hood?

Yes. Instead of the hood, work 3 rows of post-stitch ribbing around the neckline and continue the front band up to the neck.

How do I make it bigger?

Use a 5.5 mm hook for about 12-18 months, and add 2 body rows, 2 armhole rows, and 2 sleeve rounds.

How do I wash it?

Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water with baby detergent, or hand wash. Lay flat to dry and reshape the ears and pockets while damp.

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Hooded Baby Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Why you'll love it

About the designer