How to Knit a Baby Jumper

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

Baby clothing is a great way for beginning knitters to practice their skills. To make this baby jumper, you only need to knit a single piece of fabric. Knit every row to make a garter stitch for the body, sleeves, and back of the jumper. Then fold the piece over and sew the sides and sleeve seams. This jumper will fit most young babies under 6 months old.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Knitting the Body

1
Gather size 8 US (5 mm) needles and wool yarn. You'll need 3 skeins of soft wool yarn in your choice of color. Each skein should be 50 g (1.75 oz) or 98 yards (90 m). If you'd like, you can use a few different colors or select a multicolored yarn.^{[1]
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- You'll also need scissors and a large-eyed needle for seaming the jumper.
- To make a stretchy neckline, consider using size 9 US (5.5 mm) knitting needles for casting off.
2
Make a slip knot and cast on 40 stitches. To begin the bottom of the front of the jumper, cast on 40 stitches. Keep the stitches loose so it's easy to stitch the next row.^{[2]
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3
Work a garter stitch until the body is 5.5 in (14 cm) long. To make a garter stitch, knit every row. Keep making garter stitches for the main part of the body. It should be 5.5 in (14 cm) long before you begin the sleeves.^{[3]
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- The number of rows you make will depend on your own knitting style and tension.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Working the Sleeves and Neck

1
Cast on 22 stitches and knit across the row. To begin the sleeves, you'll need to increase the body of the jumper. Cast 22 stitches onto your left needle. You should now have 22 unworked stitches plus the existing body on your left needle. Knit all 62 stitches on your left needle and then turn the work.^{[4]
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2
Cast on another 22 stitches and knit across the row. Add 22 more stitches which will make the other sleeve. You should now have 84 stitches on your left needle. Knit each of them to work across the row.^{[5]
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3
Garter stitch the jumper until the sleeves are 4 in (10 cm) wide. Knit every row so the sleeves begin to widen. They should measure 4 in (10 cm) from the beginning of the sleeve cast-on row.^{[6]
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- You can now begin to shape the neck.
4
Knit 31 stitches and cast off using size 9 US (5.5 mm) needles. Knit 31 stitches at the start of a row and then cast off 22 stitches in the center of the jumper. Switch to size 9 US (5.5 mm) needles for casting off so the stitches are loose.^{[7]
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- Making a loose cast off will make the neck stretchier which will make it easier to pull over the baby's head.
5
Switch back to size 8 US (5 mm) needles and knit the rest of the row. Since you'll need to return to the gauge of the jumper body, go back to using the smaller needles once you've cast off the neck. Knit the remaining 31 stitches of the row and then turn the work.^{[8]
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6
Knit 31 stitches and cast on 22 stitches for the neck. Knit the first 31 stitches of the row and switch to the size 9 US (5.5 mm) needles to work the neck. Cast on 22 stitches to make the back of the neck.^{[9]
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7
Switch back to size 8 US (5 mm) needles and knit the remaining stitches. Once you've finished the neck, knit the remaining 31 stitches on the row using the smaller needles.^{[10]
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- This will give you tension that matches the rest of the jumper.
8
Garter stitch the remaining 4 in (10 cm) of the sleeves. Once you've finished the neck, keep stitching every row until you've worked 4 in (10 cm) above the neck.^{[11]
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- Garter stitching this length will make the sleeves.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Sleeves and Jumper

1
Bind off the sleeves. Bind off 22 stitches at the start of a row and then knit the remaining stitches across the row. Turn the work and bind off another 22 stitches before knitting the rest of the stitches on the row.^{[12]
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- You should have 40 stitches on your left needle once you've finished binding off the sleeves.
2
Garter stitch for 5.5 in (14 cm). To finish the back body of the jumper, continue to knit every row until the body is 5.5 in (14 cm) from the end of the sleeve.^{[13]
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3
Bind off the last row. Loosely bind off the 40 stitches on your left needle. Cut a 2 in (5 cm) tail and tie it through your last stitch. Pull tightly to knot the yarn.^{[14]
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- You should now have a large flat piece of knit fabric that you can shape into the jumper.
4
Fold the jumper in half. Lay the jumper on a flat surface. Fold it in half so the neck hole is at the top, the sleeves are even and the body is closest to you.^{[15]
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- The jumper should now be in a jumper shape instead of a long flat piece of fabric.
5
Sew the sides and sleeve seams. Thread a large-eyed needle with some of the same wool yarn that you used to knit the jumper. Use the thread to sew the side pieces of the jumper together. Continue sewing along the bottom of the sleeve to create a seam.^{[16]
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- Repeat this for the other side of the jumper.
6
Weave in the ends. Cut the yarn to leave a 2 in (5 cm) tail and pull it through the last stitch you made. Remove the needle and pull on the yarn to knot it. Thread the yarn on the large-eyed needle and weave the ends through the jumper.^{[17]
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