A624 Kids Crew Neck Jumper

How to Knit a Kids Crew Neck Jumper

Knit a classic colourblocked crew neck jumper for children aged 5 to 13 years. The jumper features ribbed cuffs, hem and neckline, with a contrast upper section and matching sleeve detail.

The front, back and sleeves are knitted separately in stocking stitch, shaped at the armholes and shoulders, then sewn together before the neckband is added.

Project Details

• Project number: A624
• Difficulty: Easy knit
• Sizes: 5–6, 7–8, 9–10 and 11–13 years
• Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces

Finished Measurements

• Fits chest: 65 (70–75–80) cm
• Garment chest: 74 (79–84–89) cm
• Finished length: approximately 48 (52–53–54) cm
• Sleeve length: 33 (38–40–42) cm

What You Will Need

Yarn

• Lincraft Baby Soft 8 ply, first colour: 2 (2–3–3) × 100 g balls
• Lincraft Baby Soft 8 ply, second colour: 2 (2–3–3) × 100 g balls

Needles and Equipment

• Pair of 4.00 mm knitting needles
• 2 stitch holders
• Wool needle for sewing up and weaving in ends

Alternative Yarns

Choose a smooth DK or 8 ply yarn that can achieve the stated tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm in stocking stitch using 4.00 mm needles. Match the replacement yarn by total metreage rather than by ball count.

• Machine-washable 8 ply wool: A warm and practical choice for children’s clothing, with good elasticity and stitch definition.
• Merino or merino-blend 8 ply: Produces a soft, warm jumper with comfortable stretch.
• Acrylic 8 ply: An economical, easy-care option suited to frequent washing.
• Wool and acrylic blend: Combines warmth and resilience with easier care and reduced shrinkage.
• Cotton or cotton-blend 8 ply: Creates a lighter jumper suitable for milder weather, although it may have less stretch than wool.

Avoid very fluffy or heavily textured yarns, as they may obscure the neat colourblocking and make the seams bulky. Knit a tension square before beginning and adjust the needle size where required.

Tension

22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch using 4.00 mm needles.

Knitting Abbreviations

• K: knit
• P: purl
• St or sts: stitch or stitches
• Rep: repeat
• Rem: remaining
• Beg: beginning
• Cont: continue
• Dec: decrease
• Inc: increase
• Alt: alternate
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• Stocking stitch: knit one row, purl one row

Understanding the Rib Pattern

Ribbing is created by alternating knit and purl stitches. It forms a stretchy fabric that is commonly used around hems, cuffs and necklines.

In this pattern, the rib is worked as follows:

• Row 1: K2, *P1, K1; repeat from * to the final stitch, K1.
• Row 2: K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to the end.

Repeat these two rows to maintain the rib pattern.

Size Instructions

The first stitch count applies to size 5–6 years. Figures in brackets apply to sizes 7–8, 9–10 and 11–13 years in that order.

Knit the Back

Work the Lower Ribbing

1. Using 4.00 mm needles and the first colour, cast on 81 (89–93–99) stitches.
2. Row 1: K2, *P1, K1; repeat from * to the final stitch, K1.
3. Row 2: K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to the end.
4. Repeat these two rows for a further 10 (10–10–12) rows.

Work the Body

1. Change to the second colour.
2. Work in stocking stitch until the piece measures 28 (30–32–34) cm from the beginning, finishing with a purl row.
3. Change back to the first colour.
4. Work 12 (12–8–6) rows in stocking stitch.

Shape the Armholes

1. Cast off 3 (2–3–4) stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
2. 75 (85–87–91) stitches remain.
3. Decrease one stitch at each end of the next row.
4. Continue decreasing at each end on alternate rows until 61 (65–67–71) stitches remain.
5. Continue without shaping until the armhole measures 15 (17–19–20) cm, finishing with a purl row.

Shape the Shoulders

1. Cast off 6 (6–7–7) stitches at the beginning of the next four rows.
2. Cast off 6 (7–5–6) stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
3. Place the remaining 25 (27–29–31) stitches on a stitch holder for the back neck.

Knit the Front

1. Work as for the back through the armhole decreases.
2. Continue without shaping until the front has 22 (24–24–26) fewer rows than the back before shoulder shaping.
3. Finish with a purl row.

Shape the Left Side of the Neck

1. Knit 24 (26–26–27) stitches, then turn.
2. Continue working on these stitches only.
3. Decrease one stitch at the neck edge on alternate rows until 20 (22–22–24) stitches remain.
4. Continue decreasing at the neck edge on every fourth row until 17 (19–19–20) stitches remain.
5. Purl one row.

Shape the Left Shoulder

1. Cast off 6 (6–6–7) stitches at the beginning of the next row and following alternate row.
2. Work one row.
3. Cast off the remaining 5 (7–7–6) stitches.

Shape the Right Side of the Neck

1. Place the centre 13 (13–15–15) stitches on a stitch holder.
2. With the right side facing, rejoin the first colour to the remaining stitches and knit to the end.
3. Decrease one stitch at the neck edge on alternate rows until 20 (22–22–24) stitches remain.
4. Continue decreasing on every fourth row until 17 (19–19–20) stitches remain.
5. Work two rows.
6. Shape the shoulder to match the opposite side.

Knit the Sleeves

Make two matching sleeves.

Work the Cuff

1. Using 4.00 mm needles and the first colour, cast on 37 (39–41–43) stitches.
2. Work 12 (12–12–14) rows in the established rib pattern.

Shape the Sleeve

1. Change to the second colour and work in stocking stitch.
2. Increase one stitch at each end of the fifth row.
3. Continue increasing at the intervals specified for the chosen size until 57 (59–61–65) stitches are reached.
4. Continue without shaping until the sleeve measures 28 (32–37–40) cm, or 4 (4–3–2) cm less than the desired finished length.
5. Finish with a purl row.
6. Change to the first colour.
7. Work 12 (12–8–6) rows.

Shape the Sleeve Top

1. Cast off 3 (3–3–4) stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
2. 51 (53–55–57) stitches remain.
3. Decrease one stitch at each end of the next row.
4. Continue decreasing at each end on alternate rows until 27 (21–21–19) stitches remain.
5. Decrease at each end on every row until 9 (11–11–13) stitches remain.
6. Cast off.

Knit the Neckband

1. Join the right shoulder seam.
2. With the right side facing, use 4.00 mm needles and the first colour to pick up and knit 17 (17–17–18) stitches along the left front neck.
3. Knit across the stitches held for the front neck.
4. Pick up and knit 17 (17–17–18) stitches along the right front neck.
5. Knit across the stitches held for the back neck, increasing one stitch at the centre.
6. You should have 73 (75–79–83) stitches.
7. Work 5 (7–9–9) rows in rib, beginning with Row 2 of the rib pattern.
8. Cast off in rib.

Assemble the Jumper

1. Join the left shoulder and neckband seam.
2. Sew the sleeve tops into the armholes, matching the centre of each sleeve to the shoulder seam.
3. Join the side and sleeve seams.
4. Weave in all loose yarn ends securely.
5. Gently block the jumper to the finished measurements.