by Below is a clear, beginner-friendly, detailed crochet guide for making a “Little Sweetheart” Baby Cardigan / Pullover.
You can use it as a written pattern or adapt it to your own style and yarn.
🌸 Little Sweetheart Baby Cardigan / Pullover (Crochet Pattern)
Skill level: Beginner – Easy Intermediate
Construction: Top-down, seamless yoke
Sizes: 0–3 months (adjustments included)
Style: Can be made as a cardigan (open front) or pullover (closed front)
🧶 Materials Needed
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Yarn: DK / Light Worsted (Category 3)
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Approx. 150–200 g (soft baby yarn, acrylic or cotton blend)
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Hook: 4.0 mm (G/6) or size to match gauge
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Buttons: 3–4 small buttons (for cardigan version)
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Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers
📏 Gauge
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16 dc x 9 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
(Gauge is not critical for baby items, but helps with sizing)
🧵 Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)
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ch – chain
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sl st – slip stitch
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sc – single crochet
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hdc – half double crochet
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dc – double crochet
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inc – increase (2 stitches in same stitch)
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sk – skip
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sp – space
💖 Yoke (Top-Down Construction)
Step 1: Foundation Chain
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Pullover: ch 52
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Cardigan: ch 54 (extra stitches allow front opening)
Join with sl st (pullover only).
For cardigan, do NOT join — work in rows.
Step 2: Yoke Setup
Row 1:
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Ch 2 (counts as hdc)
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Hdc in each stitch across
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Turn
Place stitch markers to divide yoke:
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Front – 10 sts
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Sleeve – 8 sts
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Back – 16 sts
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Sleeve – 8 sts
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Front – 10 sts
Step 3: Yoke Increases (Sweetheart Shape)
Rows 2–6:
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Ch 2, hdc to marker
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(hdc, ch 1, hdc) in marked stitch (corner increase)
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Repeat at all 4 markers
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Turn
This creates the rounded sweetheart yoke.
👕 Body Separation
Step 4: Divide Sleeves and Body
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Ch 2, hdc across front
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Skip sleeve stitches, ch 6
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Hdc across back
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Skip second sleeve, ch 6
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Hdc across front
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Turn
Now the cardigan/pullover body is formed.
👗 Body Length
Step 5: Body Rows
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Work hdc rows evenly
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Continue until body measures 7–8 inches from yoke
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For a flared look, add inc stitches evenly every 3rd row
Step 6: Bottom Border (Sweet Finish)
Round:
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Sc evenly around
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(sc, ch 2, sc) in every 5th stitch for picot edging
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Fasten off
👶 Sleeves
Step 7: Sleeve Attachment
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Join yarn at underarm
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Hdc evenly around sleeve opening
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Join with sl st
Step 8: Sleeve Length
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Work 12–14 rounds for long sleeves
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Or 6–8 rounds for short sleeves
Finish with sc or picot edging.
🌼 Cardigan Finishing (Skip for Pullover)
Step 9: Front Border
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Join yarn at bottom front edge
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Sc evenly up one side, around neck, and down other side
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Work 2–3 rows of sc
Step 10: Buttonholes
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On the right front:
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(sc 2, ch 2, sk 2) evenly spaced
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Sew buttons on opposite side
💕 Optional Embellishments
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Crochet a small heart appliqué
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Add satin ribbon through yoke holes
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Use contrasting yarn for borders
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Embroider tiny flowers or initials
📐 Size Adjustments
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Bigger size: Add 4–6 chains to foundation and 1–2 yoke rows
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Smaller size: Reduce initial chains by 4
🌸 Finished Look
The Little Sweetheart Cardigan/Pullover is:
✔ Soft and cozy
✔ Seamless and comfortable
✔ Perfect for baby showers, gifts, or keepsakes
If you’d like, I can:
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Convert this into a printable PDF
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Add step-by-step photos
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Adjust for newborn, 6–12 months, or toddler sizes
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Rewrite it as a YouTube video script
Just tell me 💕
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