Looking for the perfect free rainbow sweater pattern for kids? Dive into this vibrant design that’s part of my sweater pattern library—a sweater that’s fun, colorful, and easy to knit!
Turning Dreams Into a Free Rainbow Sweater Pattern for Kids
Making my children’s sweater dreams come true is one of my favorite creative pursuits. The free rainbow sweater pattern for kids known as the Youth Noah Sweater was born out of a special request from my sixth child.
When my kiddo asked for a rainbow sweater, the only guidance given was a specific palette of colors. To elevate the design, I added silver because rainbows naturally remind me of rain clouds—it’s the perfect contrasting touch. For yarn, I chose KnitPicks Mighty Stitch (affiliate link) because it’s soft, high-quality, and ideal for creating bold and beautiful stripes.
A Story Behind the Free Rainbow Sweater Pattern for Kids
The idea for the free rainbow sweater pattern for kids came to me in a dream. I envisioned my child proudly wearing the sweater, and it featured a striking 1×1 stripe pattern. When I woke up, I immediately began drafting the pattern, excited by how vivid and joyful it looked.
Creating these stripes also gave me the chance to experiment with helical knitting, which I’ve admired for its seamless, jogless effect. While it’s optional, helical knitting can take the Youth Noah Sweater to the next level by ensuring the stripes appear flawless.
Why This Free Rainbow Sweater Pattern for Kids is Special
This sweater isn’t just colorful—it’s a chance to learn and grow as a knitter. Incorporating techniques like helical knitting adds a polished finish that makes this free rainbow sweater pattern for kids stand out.
For the yarn, KnitPicks Mighty Stitch (affiliate link) was an easy choice. Its smooth texture and gorgeous colors bring the rainbow to life, making it a kid-friendly yet luxurious option. Plus, its durability ensures the sweater can handle all the adventures of childhood.
Customize Your Free Rainbow Sweater Pattern for Kids
One of the best things about the Youth Noah Sweater is its versatility. While I went with a 1×1 stripe, you can experiment with different stripe widths or even gradients. Using KnitPicks Mighty Stitch (affiliate link) gives you a wide range of colors to play with, so you can create a sweater that perfectly matches your child’s personality.
Whether you’re making this sweater as a gift or for your own little one, this free rainbow sweater pattern for kids is sure to bring smiles.
Ready to Knit the Free Rainbow Sweater Pattern for Kids?
The Youth Noah Sweater combines vibrant design with practical techniques to make a garment that’s as enjoyable to create as it is to wear. Using KnitPicks Mighty Stitch (affiliate link) ensures high-quality results, and the helical knitting technique adds a professional touch to the jogless stripes.
Head over to my free sweater pattern page to explore other designs that bring joy to little ones.
Materials and Info
Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14)yrs
Materials: Approximately 2, 2 (2, 2) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3, (4, 4) balls of KnitPicks Mighty Stitch Worsted (208y/100g) in Silver and 1 skein each of Serrano, Satsuma, Canary, Macaw, Celestial, Eggplant, needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 7(US) 4.5mm circular needles and dpn, 6(US) 4mm circular and dpn
Gauge (tension): 22sts & 28 rows to make 10cm square, using size 7(US) 4.5mm needles working in stockinette stitch
Chest Measurement: 55, 57 (59, 61) 64, 67 (70, 73) 76, 79 (82, 90) 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 – [k1, m1L, knit to 1 st before next marker, m1r, k1, sm,] repeat [to] 3 more times, then continue to end of row/round. 8 sts increased
STRIPE PATTERN
Work 1 row stripes, alternating between silver and the rainbow colors. Do 4 stripes of each color before switching to the next as such: Silver, Serrano, Silver, Serrano, Silver Serrano, Silver, Serrano, Silver, Satsuma, Silver, Satsuma, etc
Youth Noah Sweater Pattern
YOKE
Cast on using U.S. 7 circular needle: 76, 80 (88, 88) 92, 88 (92, 96) 96, 100 (100, 108) sts with Silver. Join in the round.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 2.5cms
Set up row (wrong side) –k32, 34 (36, 36) 38, 38 (40, 42) 42, 44 (44, 48) pm, k6, 6 (8, 8) 8, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) pm, k32, 34 (36, 36) 38, 38 (40, 42) 42, 44 (44, 48), pm, k6, 6 (8, 8) 8, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6)
Begin Stripe Pattern
RAGLAN SHAPING ROWS/ROUNDS
Work raglan increases as described above every other round (17, 17 (15, 16) 17, 18 (19, 18) 20, 19 (22, 23) times, then every 4th round 0, 0 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 3) 3, 4 (3, 4) times
Then work 1, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) rounds without increases
STITCH COUNT CHECK
Once all the raglan and neck increases have been completed you will have 212, 216 (224, 232) 244, 248 (260, 264) 280, 284 (300, 324) sts on your needles divided as follows: 66, 68 (70, 72) 76, 78 (82, 84) 88, 90 (94, 102) sts (front),
40, 40 (42, 44) 46, 46 (48, 48) 52, 52 (56, 60) sts (sleeve),
66, 68 (70, 72) 76, 78 (82, 84) 88, 90 (94, 102) sts (back),
40, 40 (42, 44) 46, 46 (48, 48) 52, 52 (56, 60) sts (sleeve)
DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES
Remove markers as you get to them.
Knit across the front sts, place the next 40, 40 (42, 44) 46, 46 (48, 48) 52, 52 (56, 60) sts on a holder or waste yarn (left sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 8) 6, 8 (8, 8) sts (left underarm), knit 66, 68 (70, 72) 76, 78 (82, 84) 88, 90 (94, 102) sts (back), place the next 40, 40 (42, 44) 46, 46 (48, 48) 52, 52 (56, 60) sts on a holder or waste yarn (right sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 8) 6, 8 (8, 8) sts (right underarm), knit to beginning of round marker. 144, 148 (152, 156) 164, 168 (176, 184) 188, 196 (204, 220) sts
SWEATER BODY
Work in stripe pattern until piece measures 19, 20 (21.5, 23) 24, 25.5 (26.5, 28) 29, 30 (31.5, 34.5) cm measuring from underarm.
Switch to smaller circular needle.
Using silver only, work in 1×1 rib for 4 cm. Bind off all sts in pattern.
SLEEVES
Keeping in stripe pattern, work each sleeve one at a time as follows: Pick up 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 4) 3, 4 (4, 4) sts from underarm, knit 40, 40 (42, 44) 46, 46 (48, 48) 52, 52 (56, 60) sts of the sleeve on the holder, pick up 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 4) 3, 4 (4, 4) sts from underarm on to U.S. 7 double pointed needles, place marker at center underarm to keep track of the beginning of round. 46, 46 (48, 50) 52, 52 (54,56) 58, 60 (64, 68) sts
Work 7, 9 (9, 11) 11, 11 (11, 13) 13, 15 (15, 15) rounds.
DECREASES
Decrease 1 st at each side of marker every 10th round 5, 5 (5, 3) 5, 4 (5, 5) 6, 7 (8, 9) times, then every 8th round 0, 0, (1, 4) 0, 0 (0, 0) 0, 0 (0, 0) [36, 36 (36, 36) 42, 44 (44, 46) 46 , 46 (48, 50) sts].
Continue without increasing in stripe pattern until sleeve measures 18, 20 (21.5, 23.5) 24.5, 25.5 (27, 29) 30.5, 32 (32.5, 35) (or desired length) measuring from underarm.
CUFF
Switch to smaller dpn needles
Using silver only, work in 1×1 rib for 4 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
Download Noah Sweater PDF
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