Free fair isle knitting patterns for toddlers

Knitting patterns for sweaters for babies and children with animal themes. Updated 3/5/2022.

To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.

These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.

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Free Patterns

Squirrel Sweater 5428

Baby pullover jumper sweater with colorwork squirrel and leaf texture at sleeves and hem. Sizes 0-3(3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18, 18-24) months.. Squirrel Sweater 5428 designed by Sirdar. DK weight yarn.

INSTRUCTIONS: At the pattern site, select pdf option. Make sure the price is 0. Add the pattern to your basket. Then "check out" without payment to get the link to download the pattern

• Get the free knitting pattern

Scottie Cardigan and Beret

Child's round neck, button up cardigan with stranded design of Scottish terrier dogs. Sizes 1-2 (2-3, 3-4, 4-5) years. Designed by Martin Storey.

• Get the free CARDIGAN knitting pattern
• Get the free BERET knitting pattern

Penguin Pullover

Long-sleeved child's sweater with a cute penguin who hides a convenient pocket. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Penguin Knitting Patterns

Panda Sweater

Baby and child sized sweater jumper with panda faces along the yoke. Sizes 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 4 years and 6 years.. Designed by Sys Fredens for Hobbii. Worsted weight yarn.

• Get the free knitting pattern - Hobbii requires registration to get pattern

Elephant Baby Cardigan

Baby sweater with stripes and stranded colorwork elephants around the bottom. Two-ball baby cardigan designed by Lisbet Clements.

• Get the free knitting pattern

Humpback Whale Sweater

Child's pullover with stranded colorwork whale. Sizes 4 yrs/104 cl (6 yrs/116 cl) 8 yrs/128 cl (10 yrs/140 cl) 12 yrs/152 cl. Designed by Karen S. Lauger for Ficolana. Available in English, Danish, and German

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page

Happy Cat Baby Sweater

Cat face pullover created with easy color bocking, sewn on ears, and a little embroidery. Sizes 12 mos, 18 mos, 24 mos. Designed by Bernat. DK weight yarn.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• Get the Bernat Baby Velvet Yarn at Joanns

Betta Swetta Set

This pullover and hat duo features cute little fishes swimming across the surface in stranded colorwork. The long-sleeved sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top-down. Sweater sizes 3-6 mo (12-24 mo, 2-4 yr, 4-6 yr). Hat sizes Baby (Toddler, Child) Designed by Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarns. DK weight yarn.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page

Children's Duck Cardigan

Long-sleeved cardigan sweater for children with intarsian ducks. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. Worsted weight yarn.

• Get the free knitting pattern - scroll down the pattern page to see projects!

Cat and Mouse Sweater

Long-sleeved pullover for children. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. DK weight yarn.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Cat Knitting Patterns

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Teddy Bear Cardigan & Pullover for Baby

Long-sleeved sweaters in 2 styles with intarsia teddy bears. Three sizes from infant-6 mos. to 1-2 years. Designed by Crystal Palace Yarns. Pictured project by JenLab

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns

Baby Sweater with Owl

Long-sleeved pullover with colorwork owl. 4 Sizes from Newborn to 18 Months. Designed by Schachenmayr. Available in English and German in one pdf

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Owl Knitting Patterns

Icelandic Sweater with Horses Sweater

Pullover sweater for children and adults with stranded colorwork featuring prancing horses around the yoke. Sizes Child, Woman, Man. Hestapeysa designed by Jóhanna Hjaltadóttir. Pictured projects by wigdis and PolarPurls. Available in English and Icelandic

• Get the free knitting pattern in English on the Internet archive
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Horse Knitting Patterns

More Free Patterns

Giraffe Ballerina Sweater

Pullover sweater for children featuring dancing giraffes. To Fit Age: 2 Years to 6 Years. Designed by Lion Brand.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Giraffe Knitting Patterns

Pondemonium Sweater

This little Fair Isle pullover inspired by the children’s song “The Little White Duck,” features a kid's favorite creatures: ducks, frogs, bugs, and snakes floating in the water, separated by rows of lily pads. The sweater is finished with special lily pad elbow patches. To Fit Age: 6 12, 18 months. Designed by Jennifer Small. Pictured project by bearmtpicnic

• Get the free knitting pattern

Lion Pullover

Long-sleeved child's sweater with intarsia lion. To Fit Age: 2 Years to 6 Years. Designed by Natalie Bayer for Lion Brand.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Wild Animal Knitting Patterns

Baby Whales Cardigan

The "Save the baby whales!" sweater is sized for babies, toddlers, and young children, and features whales and waves in stranded colorwork. Baby sizes:1-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months Toddler sizes: 12-18, 18-24 months, 2-3 years. Runs big! Designed by Sargantana Formenterenca. Sport weight. Pictured projects by raleuen and MillieMartha.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Sea Creature Knitting Patterns

Animal House Pullover

Long-sleeved child's sweater with intarsia giraffe, elephant, and lion on a color blocked background. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. Pictured projects by KayBej and knitter99

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Wild Animal Knitting Patterns

Spring Meadows Toddler Sweater

This child's pullover features a grassy meadow under white fluffy clouds. A pocket hidden in the grass is perfect for a little friend to ride along (bunny pattern included). Sport weight yarn. Designed by Liz Hartman. Pictured projects by the designer and tiger2paws

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Bunny Knitting Patterns

Baby Bear Hoodie

Designed by Lynda Cyr for Red Heart. Sizes from 6 months to 24 months.

• Get the free knitting pattern

Cat's Meow Pullover

Long-sleeved child's sweater with a cat and word "meow" in intarsia, an i-cord tail, and striped sleeves. Sizes 2, 4, 6. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Cat Knitting Patterns

Lion Sweater

Long-sleeved pullover with a lion's face created with duplicate stitch (though I think you could interpret the chart for intarsia) and a knit circular mane that is added on. Sizes Newborn-3m-6m-12m-18/24m. Designed by Phildar Design Team. This pattern appears to be only available on the Internet archive but I loved how cute it was.

• Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet Archive
• See the Ravelry page
• Get the recommended Phildar Phil Coton 3 yarn at Loveknitting
• See more Lion Knitting Patterns

Elephant Sweater

The Snuffle Pullover features an elephant motif with a trunk formed by the sweater arm. Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 years. Designed by Lorna Miser by Red Heart. Rated easy by the designer.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Elephant Knitting Patterns

Bear Sweater

Long-sleeved pullover with a cute bear motif created with intarsia and additional pieces. Sizes 6, 12, 18 months. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns. Pictured projects by the designer and mcshoppe

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• See more Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns

Child’s Foxy Tunic

Red Heart created this fun design for a dress that can be worn by itself in warm weather or as a tunic over a shirt and leggings in cold weather. In four sizes – 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, and 8 years.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Fox Knitting Patterns

Hip Hippo-Ray! Pullover

Child’s sweater has a surprise – a hidden pocket in the hippo’s mouth. Hippotamus knit in intarsia. Sizes 2 (4, 6). Designed by Amy Bahrt. Bulky weight yarn

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See the Ravelry page
• Get the recommended Cascade Yarns® Cherub Chunky yarn on Amazon

Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan

Jennifer Little’s sweater is sized for 9-12 months.

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Sheep Knitting Patterns

Butterfly Poncho

Poncho for children with lace butterfly motif on front and back. Sizes: 2T (4T, 6, 8, 10) . Designed by Vera Sanon. Pictured project by samisan2012. Available in English and Italian

• Get the free knitting pattern
• See more Child Poncho Knitting Patterns

Patterns for Purchase

Gabriel Baby and Toddler Cardigan

No longer free. Long-sleeved baby sweater with adorable sheep. Sizes 12/24/36 months. Designed by Debbie Bliss. Pictured project by pielinda. DK weight yarn.

• Get the knitting pattern
• See more Sheep and Lamb Knitting Patterns

Garden Baby Sweater

Baby cardigan with a border of flowers, snails, and more. Knit in one piece seamlessly from the top down. Sizes 9-12m/ 12-18m / 2-3 yrs. Designed by Svetlana Genova. DK weight yarn.

• See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy

Baby and Child Sweaters with Animals

Designer Emma Heywood of Instarsia has created several animal themed sweaters for sizes from newborn to 5 years old. I've pictured 6 here for unicorn, fox, owl, puppy, cat, and tiger, but there are many more.

• See more pics and get the knitting patterns at Loveknitting

Animal Sweater Sets

Each set includes matching pullover or cardigan, hat, and booties. Available themes include Fox Cub, Hedgehog, Owl, Sheep, and Hungry Caterpillar. Available in a variety of sizes, depending on the pattern, from newborn to 24 months, and the booties are in sizes newborn up to 4 years. Designed by Hennie. DK weight yarn.

• See more pics and get the knitting patterns at Loveknitting

Animal Sweaters by iKnitDesigns

Pullovers and cardigans with a variety of animal motifs in a variety of baby and child sizes including cat, mouse, puppy, elephant, penguin, owl, polar bear, sheep, whale, dragon, unicorn, horse, butterflies, and more. Designed by Denny Gould

• See more pics and get the knitting patterns on Etsy

Baby Sweaters with Matching Toys

Knit a sheep cardigan with matching lamb toy, monkey pullover with matching monkey cuddle blanket, teddy bear pullover with matching cushion, and puppy pullover with matching dog softie. Sizes Newborn to 24 months. Kits are also available. Designed by Sirdar.

• Get the SHEEP pattern set or kit
• Get the MONKEY pattern set or kit
• Get the BEAR pattern set or kit
• Get the PUPPY pattern set or kit

Dinosaur Sweaters by iKnitDesigns

Pullovers and hoodies with dinosaurs including Velociraptor, Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and more, in a variety of baby and child sizes. Designed by Denny Gould

• See more pics and get the knitting patterns on Etsy

Prehistoric Tank Tops

Sleeveless tops or vests for babies and children with intarsia dinosaurs. Sizes 0 6 Months (6-12Months, 1-2 Years, 2-3 Years, 4-5 Years). Designed by Emma Heywood. One of the 21 patterns in Issue 88 of Knit Now.

• See more pics and get this issue of Knit Now at Pocket Mag

Princess Charlotte Yellow Sheep Cardigan

Inspired by the cardigan Princess Charlotte wore in her 2nd birthday portrait taken by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, this sweater features a colorwork yoke with sheep. Sizes 6-12 months or 12-24 months. DK weight. Designed by nicolaluke.

• See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
• See more Royal Family Knitting Patterns

Happy Penguin Hoodie Sweater

Child’s pullover sweater in sizes Newborn (3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months) 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 years. Designed by Jessica Anderson so the hood looks like the penguin’s head while pocket panel in the front is colored white like a penguin’s breast.

• Get the knitting pattern

Penguin Pullover Sweater

Child’s pullover sweater in sizes 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 with two penguins on the front and two on the back. The wide boat neck is easy to pull on or off.

• Get the knitting pattern at Etsy

Owl Baby Onesie and Owl Toy

With sweet little details like the ruffled tail feathers, a knit and purl textured belly, and an owl face hood, this romper is sure to keep baby warm and Mom smiling! If that wasn’t enough, this onesie comes with a precious matching stuffed Owl toy for baby to cuddle with too! Designed by Lauren Riker

• See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
• See more Baby Romper Knitting Patterns