This free kids knit sweater pattern is a simple and wearable design that fits right in with your favorite free sweater knitting patterns.

If you have been searching for a go-to sweater that looks polished but doesn’t feel complicated to knit, this one checks all the boxes. The Youth Michael Pullover is worked top down in the round with a comfortable raglan fit and an all over wide broken rib that adds texture without slowing you down. It is written for sizes 3 years through 14 years, making it a reliable option for growing kids and everyday wear.

One of the biggest struggles with finding a good free kids knit sweater pattern is balancing simplicity with something that still looks finished and put together. This pattern solves that by using a repetitive stitch that keeps things interesting while staying easy to memorize. You can knit this while watching a show or sitting at practice and still end up with a sweater that looks thoughtfully designed.

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If you want a sweater that works for everyday life, washes well, and holds up to active kids, this design is exactly what you need. It is approachable, practical, and something you will want to knit more than once.

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What materials do you need for this free kids knit sweater pattern?

For this free kids knit sweater pattern, I used KnitPicks Mighty Stitch, which is one of my favorite yarns for kids’ sweaters. It is soft, durable, and easy to care for, which is exactly what you want when you know the sweater is going to be worn on repeat. You will need 4.5mm and 4mm circular needles to create the fabric and ribbing, giving you a nice balance of structure and stretch.

The wide broken rib really shines with a smooth yarn like this because it lets the texture stand out without getting lost. If you substitute yarn, I recommend sticking with something similar in weight and fiber so you get the same clean stitch definition.

You will also want your usual basics like stitch markers and a yarn needle for finishing. Keeping your tools simple helps this project stay relaxing from start to finish.

This is one of those patterns where the right yarn makes all the difference, and once you find your favorite color, it is hard not to cast on another.

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How is this free kids knit sweater pattern worked?

This free kids knit sweater pattern is worked top down in the round, starting at the neckline and building through the raglan increases. This means no seaming and very minimal finishing, which is always a win. You will separate for sleeves once your yoke is complete, then continue down the body in the same broken rib pattern.

Because the stitch pattern is so rhythmic, it is easy to get into a flow and keep your progress steady. The raglan construction also makes it simple to try on as you go, so you can feel confident about the fit.

If you are newer to sweaters, this is a great introduction to top down construction. And if you have knit raglans before, this one will feel quick and satisfying without being boring.

By the time you bind off, you will have a finished sweater that looks much more detailed than the effort it actually took.

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Looking for more patterns like this free kids knit sweater pattern?

If you love this style, there are a few more patterns you might want to check out:

• Baby Michael Pullover
• Ladies Michael Pullover
• Youth Granite Sweater
• Youth Noah Sweater
• Child Grace Sweater

These patterns all have that same focus on texture and wearable design, so you can mix and match styles across sizes and projects. It is always fun to build a little collection that feels connected without being repetitive.

If you enjoyed knitting this sweater, there is a good chance you will find your next project in one of these patterns. They all bring something a little different while keeping that same easy-to-knit feel.

Youth Michael Pullover Pattern

MATERIALS AND INFO

Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14) yrs

Materials: Approximately 3, 3 (3, 4) 4, 4 (4, 5) 5, 5, (6, 6) balls of KnitPick Mighty Stitch Worsted (208y/100g)

Needle Size: 7(US) 4.5mm circular needles and dpn, 6(US) 4mm circular and dpn

Stockinette gauge: 22 sts × 28 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) square on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles

Intended wearer chest circumference: 23½, 23½ (23½, 25¾), 25¾, 25¾ (28, 28), 30, 30 (32¼, 32¼) in / 60, 60 (60, 65.5), 65.5, 65.5 (71, 71), 76.5, 76.5 (82, 82) cm.

METHOD

This crew-neck raglan is worked in the round from the top down. Sleeve stitches are held while the body is completed, then returned to the needles and worked in the round. The yoke, body, and sleeves are worked in Michael Rib, with 1×1 ribbing at the neck, hem, and cuffs.

1X1 RIB PATTERN

Every round: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

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

Worked over a multiple of 6 sts when repeated continuously around.

Round 1: Knit.

Round 2: *P2, k4; repeat from * around.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for the pattern.

Youth Michael Pullover Pattern

YOKE

Cast on using U.S. 6 circular needle: 72, 72 (80, 76) 76, 84 (80, 84) 88, 88 (92, 92) sts.

Join in the round.

Work in 1×1 ribbing until the neck measures 1 in (2.5 cm) from the cast-on edge.

Set-up round (RS): Knit 30, 30 (32, 32), 32, 34 (34, 36), 38, 38 (40, 40) front sts, place marker.

Knit 6, 6 (8, 6), 6, 8 (6, 6), 6, 6 (6, 6) sleeve sts, place marker.

Knit 30, 30 (32, 32), 32, 34 (34, 36), 38, 38 (40, 40) back sts, place marker.

Knit 6, 6 (8, 6), 6, 8 (6, 6), 6, 6 (6, 6) sleeve sts.

Place a distinctive beginning-of-round marker. This also marks the fourth raglan boundary.

RAGLAN SHAPING ROWS/ROUNDS

Beginning with Michael Rib Round 1, alternate one raglan increase round with one round without increases a total of 13, 14 (11, 14), 15, 12 (15, 14), 15, 16 (17, 16) times.

Then work 3 rounds without increases followed by one raglan increase round a total of 2, 2 (4, 3), 3, 5 (4, 5), 5, 5 (5, 6) times.

Continue alternating Michael Rib Rounds 1 and 2 throughout. Work the raglan increases on the knit rounds.

Keep the 2 stitches immediately before and after each raglan marker knitted on every round.

On Michael Rib Round 1, knit all stitches.

On Michael Rib Round 2, maintain the established knit and purl columns. Use the size-specific starting fragments below to position the pattern within the original front, back, and sleeve stitches. Extend the established six-stitch repeat into the newly increased stitches as space becomes available. Do not restart the repeat after each increase.

Where a panel ends before a complete repeat has been worked, work only the stitches needed to reach the final 2 knit raglan stitches.

After the m1l on the front/back

3yr – Work in Michael rib across

4yr – Work in Michael rib across

5yr – k1, Work in Michael rib across

6yr – k1, Work in Michael rib across

7yr – k1, Work in Michael rib across

8yr – k2, Work in Michael rib across

9yr – k2, Work in Michael rib across

10yr – k3, Work in Michael rib across

11yr – k4, Work in Micael rib across

12yr – k4, Work in Micael rib across

13yr – p1, k4, Work in Michael Rib across

14yr – p1, k4, Work in Michael Rib across

After the m1l on the sleeves

3yr – p2

4yr – p2

5yr – k1, p2, k1

6yr – k2

7yr – k2

8yr – k1, p2, k1

9yr – k2

10yr – k2

11yr – k2

12yr – k2

13yr – p2

14yr – p2

After completing all increases, work 3 rounds without increasing.

STITCH COUNT CHECK

Once all the raglan increases have been completed you will have 192, 200 (200, 212) 220, 220 (232, 236) 248, 256 (268, 268) sts on your needles divided as follows:

60, 62 (62, 66) 68, 68 (72, 74) 78, 80 (84, 84) sts (front),

36, 38 (38, 40) 42, 42 (44, 44) 46, 48 (50, 50) sts (sleeve),

60, 62 (62, 66) 68, 68 (72, 74) 78, 80 (84, 84) sts (back),

36, 38 (38, 40) 42, 42 (44, 44) 46, 48 (50, 50) sts (sleeve)

DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES

Work across the 60, 62 (62, 66), 68, 68 (72, 74), 78, 80 (84, 84) front sts in the established pattern. Remove the raglan marker.

Place the next 36, 38 (38, 40), 42, 42 (44, 44), 46, 48 (50, 50) sleeve sts on waste yarn or a stitch holder.

Cast on 6, 4 (4, 6), 4, 4 (6, 4), 6, 4 (6, 6) underarm sts using the backward-loop method. Remove the next raglan marker.

Work across the 60, 62 (62, 66), 68, 68 (72, 74), 78, 80 (84, 84) back sts in the established pattern. Remove the next raglan marker.

Place the next 36, 38 (38, 40), 42, 42 (44, 44), 46, 48 (50, 50) sleeve sts on waste yarn or a stitch holder.

Cast on 6, 4 (4, 6), 4, 4 (6, 4), 6, 4 (6, 6) underarm sts. Remove the final raglan marker and retain the beginning-of-round marker.

There are 132, 132 (132, 144), 144, 144 (156, 156), 168, 168 (180, 180) body sts.

Continue the established rib columns across the front and back, incorporating the underarm stitches into the repeating pattern.

SWEATER BODY

Continue in Michael Rib until the body measures 7¾, 7¾ (8½, 9), 9¾, 10 (10¾, 11), 11½, 12¼ (12½, 13¼) in / 19.5, 20 (21.5, 23), 24.5, 25.5 (27, 28), 29.5, 31 (32, 33.5) cm from the underarm, or your desired length before the hem.

Switch to the smaller circular needle. Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1½ in (4 cm). Bind off in pattern.

SLEEVES

Work each sleeve separately using the larger US 7 (4.5 mm) sleeve needles.

Pick up and knit 4, 3 (3, 4), 3, 3 (4, 3), 4, 3 (4, 4) sts from the first half of the underarm.

Work the 36, 38 (38, 40), 42, 42 (44, 44), 46, 48 (50, 50) held sleeve sts in the established Michael Rib pattern.

Pick up and knit 4, 3 (3, 4), 3, 3 (4, 3), 4, 3 (4, 4) sts from the remaining underarm edge.

Place the beginning-of-round marker at the center underarm.

There are 44, 44 (44, 48), 48, 48 (52, 50), 54, 54 (58, 58) sts.

The pickup counts include one corner stitch at each side of the underarm. Do not add further stitches.

Work 7, 9 (9, 9) 11, 13 (13, 13) 13, 15 (13, 17) rounds in pattern.

SLEEVE DECREASES

Decrease round: K1, ssk, work in the established pattern to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Work a decrease round every 14th round a total of 0, 0 (0, 0), 5, 5 (0, 4), 0, 2 (3, 4) times.

Then work a decrease round every 12th round a total of 0, 0 (0, 0), 0, 0 (2, 0), 0, 0 (0, 0) times.

Then work a decrease round every 10th round a total of 0, 3 (5, 0), 0, 0 (5, 2), 8, 6 (4, 3) times.

Then work a decrease round every 8th round a total of 6, 3 (1, 8), 0, 0 (0, 0), 0, 0 (0, 0) times.

Count each interval from the previous decrease round, or from the end of the initial rounds when starting the first interval. Work intervening rounds in the established pattern.

There are 32, 32 (32, 32), 38, 38 (38, 38), 38, 38 (44, 44) sts remaining.

Continue in the established Michael Rib pattern without further decreases until the sleeve measures 7, 7¾ (8½, 9), 9¾, 10¼ (10¾, 11½), 12, 12½ (13, 13½) in / 18, 19.5 (21.5, 23), 25, 26 (27.5, 29), 30.5, 32 (33, 34.5) cm from the underarm, or your desired length before the cuff.

Switch to the smaller US 6 (4 mm) sleeve needles. Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1½ in (4 cm).

Bind off in pattern.

Repeat for the second sleeve.

CUFF

Switch to smaller dpn needles

Work in 1×1 rib for 4 cms. Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends and block as desired.

Abbreviations

k – knit

k2tog -knit 2 stitches 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

P – purl

pm – place marker

sm – slip marker

ssk – slip next st knitwise, slip next st knitwise, place stitches back onto left needle, knit both slipped sts together

If you knit this free kids knit sweater pattern, I would love to hear how it turned out for you. Did you stick with a classic color or try something bold? Let me know in the comments so we can all get inspired by each other’s versions.

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