Easy Crochet Baby Sweater

I'll be the first to admit that I get obsessive about things ... once I set my mind on something I chew on it for days until I feel that I've done the best I can with it. One of my overriding, ever-present obsessions is crochet. The moment I first realized that I could come up with my own patterns, I was more deeply hooked than ever before.

Along those lines, my latest obsession is to complete a crochet layette set that is 100% mine. It's the first time I've attempted creating a number of items all themed together, so it's a challenge that I'm enjoying to its fullest.

The latest piece in my crochet layette set is a baby sweater. As I began it, I only knew that I wanted it to be easy enough to create that charity crocheters can whip it up for their favorite charities and that it had to be comfortable and easy to put on and take off.

This pattern is for a newborn size 0-3 months, but you can easily make it larger by using worsted weight yarn (examples use Caron Simply Soft fingering weight yarn) and a larger hook. For a preemie size sweater, use a smaller hook and baby weight yarn.

The crochet sweater is worked in 3 parts: Chest, sleeves, and trim. I've used a contrasting color for the trim to make it match the rest of the layette set as it is so far (the blanket and hat patterns are also on AC), but you could just as nicely create a solid colored sweater. It is fastened by ribbon, which you could replace with a chain of the same yarn used to crochet the baby sweater.

Crochet Baby Sweater

Materials: Main Color (MC) Fingering or Baby Weight yarn (example uses Caron Simply Soft No Dye Lot yarn) - apx. 4 oz. and less than 2 oz. Contrast Color (CC). H/8-5.00 mm hook. 1/8 inch ribbon (optional).

Chest

Starting at neckline, chain 46 with MC.

Row 1: Half-double crochet in second stitch from hook and in each stitch across. Turn.