If you are looking for a textured baby pullover knitting pattern, this Baby Michael Pullover is a great addition to your collection of free sweater knitting patterns.
Designed with an all-over wide broken rib texture, this sweet little sweater adds plenty of visual interest while still being simple enough for relaxing knitting. The top-down raglan construction makes it easy to try on as you go, and because it is worked in the round, there is minimal finishing when you are done. This baby pullover knitting pattern includes sizes from 0–3 months through 24 months, making it a practical option for baby gifts, handmade wardrobes, and sibling matching sets.
One of my favorite things about this sweater is how polished the texture looks while using only basic knit and purl stitches. The broken rib gives the sweater structure and stretch without becoming overly complicated, which makes this pattern approachable for adventurous beginners and enjoyable for experienced knitters alike.
Because the sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down, you can easily adjust body or sleeve length if needed. It is one of those timeless baby knits that looks classic dressed up or paired with everyday leggings and overalls.
What Materials Do You Need for This Baby Pullover Knitting Pattern?
To make this baby pullover knitting pattern, you will need just a few simple supplies:
KnitPicks Swish is one of my favorite yarns for baby sweaters because it is soft, machine washable, and holds textured stitches beautifully. The wide broken rib texture in this pattern really pops with a smooth worsted-weight yarn like Swish.
Using two needle sizes helps create neat ribbing at the cuffs and hem while keeping the body fabric soft and flexible. It gives the finished sweater a more polished and professional look.
This yarn also comes in a huge variety of colors, so you can customize this sweater for boys, girls, neutrals, or seasonal wardrobes. Whether you want a classic cream or a bold modern shade, this pattern works beautifully with nearly any color choice.
How Is This Baby Pullover Knitting Pattern Constructed?
This baby pullover knitting pattern is worked from the top down in one piece using raglan increases. You will begin at the neckline, work the yoke in the round while increasing for the raglan shaping, then divide for sleeves and continue the body downward.
The seamless top-down construction means no sewing pieces together later, which is always a win in my book. It also allows you to check fit and length throughout the knitting process.
Because the broken rib texture is repeated throughout the sweater, the stitch pattern is easy to memorize after a few rounds. That makes this a relaxing knit once you get going.
The raglan shaping gives the sweater a comfortable fit through the shoulders while still leaving plenty of stretch for wiggly babies. It is a practical everyday sweater that still feels special enough for photos and gifts.
Looking for More Sweater Knitting Patterns Like This?
If you love this baby pullover knitting pattern, here are a few more sweater patterns you may enjoy:
- Baby Granite Sweater
- Child Love Came Down Sweater
- Youth Michael Sweater
- Ladies Michael Sweater
- Child Grace Sweater
These patterns coordinate beautifully if you enjoy knitting matching sweaters for siblings or family sets. Several of them feature similar timeless textures and classic wearable styling.
Whether you are building a handmade wardrobe or planning ahead for gifts, these sweater patterns give you plenty of options for every age and stage.
The Michael sweater collection in particular is a favorite if you love matching family knits with cohesive design details. It is always fun to see the same stitch pattern adapted across multiple sizes.
Baby Michael Pullover Pattern
MATERIALS AND INFO
Size: 0-3m, 3-6m (6-12m, 12m) 18m, 24m
Materials: Approximately 3, 4 (4, 5) 5, 5 balls of Swish Worsted (110y/50g), needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 8(US) 5mm circular needles and dpn, 6(US) 4mm circular and dpn Gauge (tension): 20sts & 28 rows to make 10cm square, using size 8(US) 5mm needles working in stockinette stitch
Chest Measurement: 41, 44 (47, 50) 52, 54 cm
METHOD
This pattern a crew neck raglan worked in the round from the top down with 10cm of ease. The sleeves are held and then picked up and worked in the round. The main body is knit in stockinette stitch stripes while the edges are worked in a 1×1 rib pattern. I suggest using helical stripes to give the most finished look.
1X1 RIB PATTERN
Row 1 (right side row) – (k1, p1) across
Row 2 – knit all the knit stitches, purl all the purl stitches.
RAGLAN INCREASES Inc row – [k2, m1l, work to 2 sts before next marker, m1r, k2, sm] repeat [to] 3 more times, then continue to end of row/round. 8 sts increased
MICHAEL RIB
Round 1 – knit around
Round 2 – (p2, k4) around
YOKE
Cast on using U.S. 6 circular needle: 60, 60 (64, 68) 68, 68 sts.
Join in the round.
Work in 1×1 rib for 2.5cms
Switch to larger needles.
Set up row (wrong side) – k24, 24 (26, 28) 28, 28, pm, 6, pm, k24, 24 (26, 28) 28, 38, pm, k6
Start working Michael Rib now with a round 1.
RAGLAN SHAPING ROWS/ROUNDS
Work raglan increases as described above every other round 11, 13 (11, 14) 12, 11, times, then every 4th round 0, 0 (2, 0) 2, 3 times working the Michael rib as follows:
After the m1l on the front/back
Newborn – k3, Work in Michael rib across
3 months – k3, Work in Michael rib across
6 months – k4, Work in Michael rib across
12 months – p1, k4, Work in Michael rib across
18 months – p1, k4, Work in Michael rib across
24 months – p1, k4, Work in Michael rib across
After the m1l on the sleeves
Newborn – k2
3 months – k2
6 months – k2
12 Months – p2
18 months – p2
24 months – p2
Then work 3, 1 (1, 3) 3, 3 rounds without increases
STITCH COUNT CHECK
Once all the raglan and neck increases have been completed you will have 148, 164 (168, 180) 180, 180 sts on your needles divided as follows:
46, 50 (52, 56) 56, 56 sts (front),
28, 32 (32, 34) 34, 34 sts (sleeve),
46, 50 (52, 56) 56, 56 sts (back),
28, 32 (32, 34) 34, 34 sts (sleeve)
DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES
Remove markers as you get to them.
Knit across the front sts, place the next 28, 32 (32, 34) 34, 34 sts on a holder or waste yarn (right sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 2, 4 (2, 4) 4, 4 sts (right underarm), knit 46, 50 (52, 56) 56, 56 sts (back), place the next 28, 32 (32, 34) 34, 34 sts on a holder or waste yarn (left sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 2, 4 (2, 4) 4, 4 sts (left underarm), knit to beginning of round marker. 96, 108 (108, 120) 120, 120 sts
SWEATER BODY
Continue in Michael Rib pattern until piece measures 12.5, 13.5 (16, 18) 19.5, 21 cm measuring from underarm.
Switch to smaller circular needle.
Work in 1×1 rib for 2.5 cm. Bind off all sts in pattern.
SLEEVES
Keeping in Michael Rib pattern and using larger needles, work each sleeve one at a time as follows: Pick up 2, 3 (2, 3) 3, 3 sts from underarm, knit 28, 32 (32, 34) 34, 34 sts of the sleeve on the holder, pick up 2, 3 (2, 3) 3, 3 sts from underarm on to U.S. 8 double pointed needles, place marker at center underarm to keep track of the beginning of round. 32, 38 (36, 40) 40, 40 sts
Work 5, 5 (5, 7) 7, 7 rounds.
DECREASES
Decrease 1 st at each side of marker every 8th round 2, 0, (0, 0) 0, 4, then every following 6th round 1, 0 (5, 3) 5, 0 time, then every 4th round 0, 6 (0, 4) 2, 0 times [26, 26 (26, 26) 26, 32 sts].
Continue without increasing in stripe pattern until sleeve measures 10, 12 (14, 16) 17.5, 19 (or desired length) measuring from underarm.
CUFF
Switch to smaller dpn needles
Work in 1×1 rib for 2.5 cm. Bind off in pattern.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block as desired.
ABBREVIATIONS
k – knit
P – purl
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
k2tog -knit 2 stitches together
ssk – slip next st knitwise, slip next st knitwise, place stitches back onto left needle, knit both slipped sts together
m1l – pick up from front to back the strand between the 2sts on your needles, knit through back loop
m1r – pick up from back to front the strand between the 2sts on your needles, knit through the front loop
I hope you love knitting this baby pullover knitting pattern as much as I loved designing it! If you make one, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what color you chose—I always love seeing your projects and hearing how your knits turn out.
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