This is a top-down baby hoodie cardigan with a sweet scalloped edge. It uses half double crochet for the body and a shell stitch border. You will work the yoke flat, separate the sleeves, add a hood, and finish with that pretty edging all around.
The construction is straightforward once you understand the raglan shaping. Four markers divide your work into sections. You increase at each marker on right side rows. That is it. The rest is just working even until you reach the right length.
If you have made a basic raglan sweater before, you can absolutely make this hoodie. If you have not, this is a wonderful first garment project. I will walk you through every step.
Why This Baby Hoodie Works So Well
The design hits that perfect balance between practical and adorable. The hood keeps little heads warm. The button front makes dressing a wiggly baby so much easier than a pullover. And that scalloped edging? It transforms a simple cardigan into something truly special.
I love that this pattern works from the top down in one piece through the yoke and body. No seaming the main sections together later. You separate the sleeves onto scrap yarn, work the body, then come back and finish each sleeve in the round. The hood gets picked up along the neckline and seamed at the peak for that classic pointed look.
The half double crochet (hdc) fabric has just enough texture to be interesting while working up quickly. It is warmer and denser than single crochet but not as stiff. Perfect for baby layers.
Skill Level
This pattern is rated intermediate. You should be comfortable with:
No colorwork. No complex stitch patterns. Just solid technique applied thoughtfully.
How Long Will This Take?
Plan for approximately 10 to 16 hours for a size 6 to 12 months. Your actual time depends on your experience level and how fast you crochet. The yoke and body work up quickly. The sleeves, hood, and edging add time but nothing feels tedious.
Finished Measurements
Size 3 to 6 months: chest 17 in / 43 cm, length 10 in / 25.5 cm, sleeve 6 in / 15 cm
Size 6 to 12 months: chest 19 in / 48 cm, length 11 in / 28 cm, sleeve 7 in / 18 cm
Size 12 to 18 months: chest 21 in / 53 cm, length 12 in / 30.5 cm, sleeve 7.5 in / 19 cm
Size 18 to 24 months: chest 23 in / 58.5 cm, length 13 in / 33 cm, sleeve 8 in / 20 cm
All measurements are taken after blocking with garment lying flat.
Materials You Will Need
Yarn: approximately 300 (350, 425, 500) yards / 275 (320, 390, 457) meters of DK weight yarn (CYCA 3)
Hook: US size G-6 / 4.0 mm crochet hook, or size needed to meet gauge
Notions: yarn needle, stitch markers (4), scissors, 4 (4, 5, 5) buttons approximately 13 mm / half inch diameter in coordinating color, sewing needle and thread to attach buttons
Yarn Suggestions
Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (100% acrylic, 137 yards / 125 meters per 50 g ball) is an affordable, machine washable option with a smooth finish that shows stitch definition clearly. The Pale Rose colorway closely matches the pictured garment.
Rowan Baby Cashsoft DK (57% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber, 10% cashmere, 142 yards / 130 meters per 50 g ball) is luxuriously soft and gentle against newborn and infant skin. The slight drape gives the scallop edging an elegant finish.
Lion Brand Pound of Love (100% premium acrylic, 1020 yards / 932 meters per 16 oz skein) is extremely practical and economical for gift making. Machine washable and dryable. Widely available in pale pink.
Choose any DK weight yarn that gives the stated gauge. For infant garments, prioritize yarns that are machine washable and labeled skin friendly or hypoallergenic. Avoid novelty or highly textured yarns as they will obscure the scallop edging.
Gauge
18 hdc x 12 rows = 4 in / 10 cm worked flat in half double crochet with a US G-6 / 4.0 mm hook, after blocking.
Gauge swatch: chain 22, work hdc in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across (20 hdc), turn. Work 14 rows of hdc. Block swatch before measuring.
Gauge is mandatory for this garment. Even a small variation will significantly alter the finished chest measurement. If your swatch is too large, go down a hook size. If your swatch is too small, go up a hook size.
Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
dc: double crochet
st(s): stitch(es)
sp: space
sk: skip
inc: increase (work 2 hdc in same stitch)
hdc2tog: half double crochet two together (decrease). Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Insert hook into following stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook. Counts as 1 stitch.
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
rep: repeat
pm: place marker
yo: yarn over
t-ch: turning chain
sc-blo: single crochet through back loop only
shell: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in same stitch
Special Stitches Explained
Scallop Shell Edging
This pretty border is worked along a finished edge. Here is the formula: sc in first st, (skip 1 st, shell in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next st) repeat across.
The shell is (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in one stitch. At corners, work the shell pattern twice with a sc between to keep everything flat.
Ribbed Cuff
Worked in rows of sc through the back loop only. Each row: ch 1, turn, sc-blo across. This creates those nice vertical ridges you see on the sleeves.
Pattern Notes Before You Begin
The garment is worked flat from the top down in a single piece through the yoke and body. Sleeves are worked in the round after being separated.
The turning chain at the beginning of each hdc row counts as the first hdc of that row. The final stitch of each row is worked into the top of the turning chain from the previous row.
Raglan increase rows happen on right side rows only. Wrong side rows are worked plain across without increases.
Your four markers separate the sections: left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve, right front. Move markers up as you work.
Pattern is written for size 3 to 6 months first, with larger sizes in parentheses: (6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months). When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.
Right and left refer to the wearer’s right and left as the garment is worn.
Step by Step Instructions
Yoke
The yoke begins at the neckline and is worked flat from the top down.
Foundation Chain: Chain 43 (47, 51, 55).
Row 1 (RS): Hdc in 3rd chain from hook (ch 2 counts as first hdc) and in each chain across. Turn.
Stitch count: 42 (46, 50, 54) hdc.
Your foundation row should measure approximately 9.5 (10.5, 11.5, 12.5) in / 24 (26.5, 29, 31.5) cm wide.
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in next 5 (6, 7, 8) sts (right front panel done), pm in last st worked, hdc in next 6 (6, 6, 6) sts (right sleeve), pm in last st worked, hdc in next 18 (20, 22, 24) sts (back), pm in last st worked, hdc in next 6 (6, 6, 6) sts (left sleeve), pm in last st worked, hdc in next 6 (7, 8, 9) sts to end (left front panel). Turn.
Stitch count: 42 (46, 50, 54) hdc.
Sections: Right Front 6 (7, 8, 9) sts, Right Sleeve 6 sts, Back 18 (20, 22, 24) sts, Left Sleeve 6 sts, Left Front 6 (7, 8, 9) sts.
Raglan Increase Rows
On each RS increase row, work 2 hdc in the stitch immediately before each marker and 2 hdc in the stitch immediately after each marker. This adds 8 stitches per increase row. WS rows are worked plain.
Row 3 (RS, Increase Row 1): Ch 2, hdc to 1 st before first marker, 2 hdc in next st, move marker, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to 1 st before second marker, 2 hdc in next st, move marker, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to 1 st before third marker, 2 hdc in next st, move marker, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to 1 st before fourth marker, 2 hdc in next st, move marker, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to end. Turn.
Stitch count: 50 (54, 58, 62) hdc.
Row 4 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 50 (54, 58, 62) hdc.
Row 5 (RS, Increase Row 2): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: 58 (62, 66, 70) hdc.
Row 6 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 58 (62, 66, 70) hdc.
Row 7 (RS, Increase Row 3): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: 66 (70, 74, 78) hdc.
Row 8 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 66 (70, 74, 78) hdc.
Row 9 (RS, Increase Row 4): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: 74 (78, 82, 86) hdc.
Row 10 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 74 (78, 82, 86) hdc.
Row 11 (RS, Increase Row 5): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: 82 (86, 90, 94) hdc.
Row 12 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 82 (86, 90, 94) hdc.
Row 13 (RS, Increase Row 6): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: 90 (94, 98, 102) hdc.
Row 14 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 90 (94, 98, 102) hdc.
For sizes 3 to 6 months, proceed to Body Separation.
Row 15 (RS, Increase Row 7, sizes 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months only): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: (102, 106, 110) hdc.
Row 16 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: (102, 106, 110) hdc.
For size 6 to 12 months, proceed to Body Separation.
Row 17 (RS, Increase Row 8, sizes 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months only): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: (114, 118) hdc.
Row 18 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: (114, 118) hdc.
For size 12 to 18 months, proceed to Body Separation.
Row 19 (RS, Increase Row 9, size 18 to 24 months only): Work as Row 3.
Stitch count: (126) hdc.
Row 20 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: (126) hdc.
Yoke Section Totals at Body Separation
Size 3 to 6 months (90 total): Right Front 14, Right Sleeve 18, Back 26, Left Sleeve 18, Left Front 14.
Size 6 to 12 months (102 total): Right Front 16, Right Sleeve 20, Back 30, Left Sleeve 20, Left Front 16.
Size 12 to 18 months (114 total): Right Front 18, Right Sleeve 22, Back 34, Left Sleeve 22, Left Front 18.
Size 18 to 24 months (126 total): Right Front 20, Right Sleeve 24, Back 38, Left Sleeve 24, Left Front 20.
Before separating, lay the yoke flat. It should measure approximately 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5) in / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14) cm from the foundation chain to the working row edge.
Body
Sleeve Separation Row (RS): Ch 2, hdc across Right Front sts to first marker (14, 16, 18, 20 sts), remove marker, chain 3 (all sizes) to bridge underarm, skip all Right Sleeve sts (18, 20, 22, 24 sts) placing them on scrap yarn, remove second marker, hdc across Back sts (26, 30, 34, 38 sts), remove third marker, chain 3 to bridge underarm, skip all Left Sleeve sts (18, 20, 22, 24 sts) placing them on scrap yarn, remove fourth marker, hdc across Left Front sts to end (14, 16, 18, 20 sts).
Body stitch count:
WS Row following separation: Ch 2, hdc across all sts including bridge chains. Turn.
Stitch count: 60 (68, 76, 84) hdc.
Continue working flat in hdc (ch 2, hdc across, turn) without shaping until body measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5) in / 12.5 (14, 15, 16.5) cm from the underarm chain row, ending with a WS row.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Set body aside.
Sleeves
Return held sleeve stitches to hook. With RS facing, join yarn at the center of the underarm chain bridge.
Setup Round: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), work 1 hdc in each remaining chain of underarm bridge (1 more hdc in bridge for 2 bridge sts total on this side), work 1 hdc in each held sleeve st across (18, 20, 22, 24 sts), work 1 hdc in remaining underarm bridge chain (1 st), sl st to top of beginning ch-2 to join. Turn.
Stitch count: 21 (23, 25, 27) hdc.
Work even in hdc rounds (ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st to top of ch-2 to join, turn) until sleeve measures 4 (5, 5.5, 6) in / 10 (12.5, 14, 15) cm from underarm.
Decrease Round 1: Ch 2, hdc2tog (over next 2 sts), hdc to last 2 sts before sl st join, hdc2tog, sl st to top of ch-2 to join. Turn.
Stitch count: 19 (21, 23, 25) hdc.
Plain Rounds: Work 4 rounds even.
Stitch count remains: 19 (21, 23, 25) hdc.
Decrease Round 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, sl st to join. Turn.
Stitch count: 17 (19, 21, 23) hdc.
Work even in hdc until sleeve measures 5.5 (6.5, 7, 7.5) in / 14 (16.5, 18, 19) cm from underarm.
Ribbed Cuff
Chain 7. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6 sc). Row 2 onward: Ch 1, sc-blo across. Turn. (6 sc). Repeat Row 2 until cuff strip is long enough to go around the sleeve opening (approximately 17, 19, 21, 23 rows). Seam the short ends together. Sew the cuff to the sleeve opening edge using a whipstitch.
Each sleeve should measure approximately 6 (7, 7.5, 8) in / 15 (18, 19, 20) cm from underarm to cuff bottom edge.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Repeat for second sleeve.
Hood
The hood is picked up along the neckline foundation chain. With RS facing, join yarn at the top right front corner of the neckline. Work 1 hdc for each chain stitch across.
Pickup count: 42 (46, 50, 54) hdc.
Row 1 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 42 (46, 50, 54) hdc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 2, hdc to 1 st before center, 2 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in following st, hdc to end. Turn.
Stitch count: 44 (48, 52, 56) hdc.
Row 3 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 44 (48, 52, 56) hdc.
Row 4 (RS): Ch 2, hdc to 1 st before center pair, 2 hdc in next st, hdc across center pair, 2 hdc in following st, hdc to end. Turn.
Stitch count: 46 (50, 54, 58) hdc.
Row 5 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 46 (50, 54, 58) hdc.
Row 6 (RS): Ch 2, hdc to 1 st before center, 2 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in following st, hdc to end. Turn.
Stitch count: 48 (52, 56, 60) hdc.
Row 7 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 48 (52, 56, 60) hdc.
Row 8 (RS): Ch 2, hdc to 1 st before center pair, 2 hdc in next st, hdc across, 2 hdc in st before end section, hdc to end. Turn.
Stitch count: 50 (54, 58, 62) hdc.
Row 9 (WS): Ch 2, hdc across. Turn.
Stitch count: 50 (54, 58, 62) hdc.
Continue working even without increases until hood measures 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5) in / 15 (16.5, 18, 19) cm from pickup row, ending after a WS row.
Hood Peak Seam: Fold the hood in half so the two short side edges align. Seam the top edge together using a whipstitch or mattress stitch.
Edging
Work an edging foundation row of sc around the entire outer edge first. With RS facing, join yarn at the lower right corner. Sc across the hem (60, 68, 76, 84 sts), work 3 sc in corners, sc up the left front edge, around the hood, and down the right front edge. Adjust stitch count to a multiple of 4 plus 1 along each straight edge.
Scallop Edging Round: Ch 1, sc in first sc, (skip 1 sc, shell in next sc, skip 1 sc, sc in next sc) repeat around. Work 3 sc in each corner. Sl st to first sc.
Work the scallop edging around the hood brim opening separately in the same manner.
For buttonholes on the left front: replace the ch-1 inside the shell with ch-2 at each marked position.
Work a scallop edging round around each sleeve cuff.
Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Finishing
Sew buttons to the right front band, aligned with buttonhole positions. Space 4 (4, 5, 5) buttons evenly with the top button 0.5 in from the neckline and the bottom button 0.5 in from the hem.
Blocking Your Baby Hoodie
Wet blocking is recommended for natural fibers. Submerge in cool water, gently press out excess water between towels, and lay flat to dry. Pin the scallop edging open to show each shell clearly.
For acrylic yarns, use steam blocking. Hold a steam iron about 1 inch above the fabric without touching. Allow to dry flat.
Care Instructions
Machine wash on gentle cycle in cold water if using acrylic or superwash wool. Lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry. Store folded rather than hung.
Making It Your Own
To lengthen the body, work additional plain hdc rows before the hem. Every 2 rows adds approximately 0.75 in.
To adjust hood height, work additional plain rows before seaming. Each 2 rows adds approximately 0.75 in.
Thank you so much for choosing this pattern for your next baby project. I hope the little one in your life stays cozy and adorable in their new hoodie. If you make one, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me on Instagram or share a photo on Facebook.
Save this pink scallop edge baby hoodie crochet pattern to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you are ready to start. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I love hearing how your projects turn out!
