Chunky Hooded Toddler Jacket

A cozy beginner-friendly hooded cardigan jacket worked flat from the bottom up in pieces. Simple stockinette body and sleeves with ribbed hems, cuffs, and button bands. Set-in sleeves and a roomy hood make it perfect for everyday wear in chunky wool.

MATERIALS

• Bulky weight wool yarn (approx 12 sts = 4" / 10 cm); 450 (550, 650, 750, 850) yd / 410 (500, 595, 685, 775) m
• US 9 (5.5 mm) straight or circular needles for ribbing
• US 11 (8 mm) straight or circular needles for body
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• 5 (5, 6, 6, 6) buttons, ¾–1" / 20–25 mm diameter
• Sewing needle and matching thread for buttons

GAUGE

12 sts and 16 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 11 (8 mm) needles. Take time to check gauge. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

SIZES

12 months (2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years) Shown in size 2 years.

Finished Measurements

• Chest (buttoned): 22 (24, 26, 28, 30)" / 56 (61, 66, 71, 76) cm
• Back length: 12 (13.5, 15, 16.5, 18)" / 30.5 (34.5, 38, 42, 45.5) cm
• Sleeve length to underarm: 8 (9.5, 11, 12.5, 13.5)" / 20.5 (24, 28, 32, 34.5) cm

Choose size by finished chest measurement for desired ease (approx 2–4" / 5–10 cm positive ease).

ABBREVIATIONS

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• dec: decrease
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning dec)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• RS: right side
• ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows)
• WS: wrong side
• wyib: with yarn in back
• wyif: with yarn in front

NOTES

• Jacket is worked flat in pieces and seamed.
• Ribbing is worked on smaller needles; body and sleeves on larger needles.
• Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise wyif for a neat edge (optional but recommended for seaming).
• When shaping, work decreases as ssk at beginning of RS rows and k2tog at end of RS rows unless otherwise stated.
• Buttonholes are worked on the right front band (for girls; reverse for boys if desired).
• Hood is picked up after shoulder seams and worked flat, then seamed at the top.
• Keep a loose hand when binding off so edges remain stretchy.

BACK

With smaller needles, CO 34 (36, 40, 42, 46) sts. Ribbing row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Ribbing row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Repeat Ribbing rows 1–2 until piece measures 1½" / 4 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 7 (8, 9, 10, 11)" / 18 (20.5, 23, 25.5, 28) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape armholes BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts remain. (34 – 3 – 3 = 28 ✓; 36 – 3 – 3 = 30 ✓; 40 – 4 – 4 = 32 ✓; 42 – 4 – 4 = 34 ✓; 46 – 5 – 5 = 36 ✓)

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) more times. 22 (22, 24, 24, 26) sts remain.
(28 – 2×3 = 22 ✓; 30 – 2×4 = 22 ✓; 32 – 2×4 = 24 ✓; 34 – 2×5 = 24 ✓; 36 – 2×5 = 26 ✓)

Work even in St st until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.5, 6, 6.5)" / 11.5 (12.5, 14, 15, 16.5) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders and neck Next row (RS): K6 (6, 7, 7, 7), BO center 10 (10, 10, 10, 12) sts, knit to end.
(22 – 10 = 12 → 6 each side ✓; 22 – 10 = 12 → 6 each side ✓; 24 – 10 = 14 → 7 each side ✓; 24 – 10 = 14 → 7 each side ✓; 26 – 12 = 14 → 7 each side ✓)

Working both sides at once with separate balls (or complete one side then the other): Next row (WS): Purl to neck edge; on opposite side, purl to end. Next row (RS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts for right shoulder; on opposite side BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts for left shoulder. Fasten off. 0 sts remain each side.

FRONTS

Note: Make two fronts mirror-image. Instructions are for Right Front; Left Front is worked with shaping reversed (neck decreases at opposite edge). Buttonholes are placed only on the Right Front band later.

Right Front

With smaller needles, CO 18 (19, 21, 22, 24) sts. Ribbing row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to last 0 (1, 1, 0, 0) st, k0 (1, 1, 0, 0). Ribbing row 2 (WS): P0 (1, 1, 0, 0), *k1, p1; rep from * to end. Repeat Ribbing rows 1–2 until piece measures 1½" / 4 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 7 (8, 9, 10, 11)" / 18 (20.5, 23, 25.5, 28) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row (same as Back to underarm).

Shape armhole Next row (RS): BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts, knit to end. 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) sts. (18 – 3 = 15 ✓; 19 – 3 = 16 ✓; 21 – 4 = 17 ✓; 22 – 4 = 18 ✓; 24 – 5 = 19 ✓) Next row (WS): Purl.

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) more times. 12 (12, 13, 13, 14) sts remain.
(15 – 3 = 12 ✓; 16 – 4 = 12 ✓; 17 – 4 = 13 ✓; 18 – 5 = 13 ✓; 19 – 5 = 14 ✓)

Work even in St st until armhole measures 2.5 (3, 3.5, 4, 4.5)" / 6.5 (7.5, 9, 10, 11.5) cm, ending after a WS row.
(Neck shaping begins approx 2" / 5 cm before shoulder.)

Shape neck Next row (RS): Knit to last 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) sts, BO remaining 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) sts. 8 (8, 9, 9, 9) sts remain for shoulder side.
Place the BO neck sts on a holder if desired for hood pickup reference; they are already bound off.

Rejoin yarn at neck edge on WS. Next row (WS): Purl. Dec row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) more time. 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts remain.
(8 – 2 = 6 ✓; 8 – 2 = 6 ✓; 9 – 2 = 7 ✓; 9 – 2 = 7 ✓; 9 – 2 = 7 ✓)

Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending after a WS row. Next row (RS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts. Fasten off.

Left Front

Work as for Right Front, reversing all shaping:

• Armhole BO is worked at the beginning of a WS row (or BO at end of RS then purl back, then begin decs with k to last 3, k2tog, k1).
• Neck BO is worked at the beginning of a RS row (front edge).
• Neck decreases are worked as: K1, ssk, knit to end on RS rows. Final shoulder st count remains 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts.

SLEEVES (make 2)

With smaller needles, CO 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts. Work k1, p1 ribbing as for Back for 1½" / 4 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work 2 rows in St st.

Inc row (RS): K1, m1 (lift bar between sts and knit it through back loop), knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts inc. Work 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) rows even in St st. Rep Inc row every 6th row 4 (5, 6, 6, 7) more times. 30 (34, 38, 40, 44) sts.
(20 + 2×5 = 30 ✓; 22 + 2×6 = 34 ✓; 24 + 2×7 = 38 ✓; 26 + 2×7 = 40 ✓; 28 + 2×8 = 44 ✓)

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 8 (9.5, 11, 12.5, 13.5)" / 20.5 (24, 28, 32, 34.5) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape sleeve cap BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 24 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts.
(30 – 6 = 24 ✓; 34 – 6 = 28 ✓; 38 – 8 = 30 ✓; 40 – 8 = 32 ✓; 44 – 10 = 34 ✓)

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) more times. 12 (14, 14, 16, 16) sts.
(24 – 2×6 = 12 ✓; 28 – 2×7 = 14 ✓; 30 – 2×8 = 14 ✓; 32 – 2×8 = 16 ✓; 34 – 2×9 = 16 ✓)

BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts. BO remaining sts.

HOOD

Sew shoulder seams.

With larger needles and RS facing, beginning at Right Front neck edge, pick up and knit 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) sts along right front neck BO, 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts along right front neck shaping edge, 4 sts down right back neck, 10 (10, 10, 10, 12) sts across back neck BO, 4 sts up left back neck, 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts along left front neck shaping edge, and 4 (4, 4, 4, 5) sts along left front neck BO.
Total: 38 (38, 40, 40, 44) sts.
(4+6+4+10+4+6+4 = 38 ✓; 4+6+4+10+4+6+4 = 38 ✓; 4+7+4+10+4+7+4 = 40 ✓; 4+7+4+10+4+7+4 = 40 ✓; 5+7+4+12+4+7+5 = 44 ✓)

Next row (WS): Purl. Work in St st until hood measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm from pickup row, ending after a WS row.

Shape top of hood Next row (RS): K19 (19, 20, 20, 22), pm, k19 (19, 20, 20, 22). Dec row (RS): Knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk, knit to end. 2 sts dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 4 more times. 28 (28, 30, 30, 34) sts.
(38 – 2×5 = 28 ✓; 38 – 10 = 28 ✓; 40 – 10 = 30 ✓; 40 – 10 = 30 ✓; 44 – 10 = 34 ✓)

Divide sts evenly onto 2 needles (14 (14, 15, 15, 17) sts each). Holding RS together, use 3-needle bind-off (or graft) to join top of hood. Fasten off.

BUTTON_BANDS

Left Front Band (button band) With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at top of left front neck edge (base of hood), pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows along front edge to CO edge. Aim for approx 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) sts (exact count may vary slightly; adjust to look even).

Row 1 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end (adjust by k1 or p1 at end if odd count). Row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rep Rows 1–2 until band measures 1¼" / 3 cm. BO loosely in rib.

Right Front Band (buttonhole band) With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at CO edge of right front, pick up and knit the same number of sts as Left Front Band up to base of hood.

Work 3 rows in k1, p1 rib as for Left Front Band.

Buttonhole row (RS): Work 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts in rib, *yo, k2tog, work 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts in rib; rep from * 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) more times, yo, k2tog, work remaining sts in rib.
(5 buttonholes for first two sizes; 6 for larger three sizes.)

Continue in rib until band measures 1¼" / 3 cm, matching Left Front Band. BO loosely in rib.

FINISHING

• Sew sleeve caps into armholes, matching center of cap to shoulder seam and easing to fit.
• Sew side seams and sleeve seams.
• Weave in all ends.
• Block gently to measurements if desired (do not overstretch ribbing).
• Sew buttons to Left Front Band opposite buttonholes.
• Optional: With smaller needle, pick up sts evenly around hood face opening and work 4 rows k1, p1 rib for a finished edge; BO loosely. (Approx 50–60 sts depending on size.)

Wear and enjoy!