Inspired by the Breton stripe, this set makes an adorable outfit but is just as sweet as separate beanie and sweater. This pattern is simple and easy to work, with minimal shaping and basic colour work, it’s a great introduction to full garment knitting.
How to Knit the Kids Breton Stripe Sweater and Beanie
Knit a coordinated children’s sweater and beanie set inspired by the classic Breton stripe. The sweater combines twisted rib, stocking stitch, simple colour changes and minimal shaping, while the matching beanie uses the same stripe palette with crown shaping and a pom pom finish.
This easy-knit pattern is designed as an introduction to full garment knitting and basic colour work, with sweater sizes from 5-6 years to 11-13 years and beanie sizes from 5-6 years to 11-13 years.
Project: Kids Breton Stripe Sweater and Beanie
Pattern: P085
Craft type: Knitting
Difficulty: Easy Knit
Measurements
Sweater Sizing
| Sweater Sizing | 5-6 years | 7-8 years | 9-10 years | 11-13 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits Chest cm | 65 | 70 | 75 | 80 |
| Garment Measures cm | 75 | 79 | 84 | 89 |
| Length (approx) cm | 48 | 52 | 53 | 54 |
| Sleeve Length cm | 33 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
Beanie Sizing
| Beanie Sizing | 5-6 years | 7-10 years | 11-13 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| To fit head cm | 53 | 54 | 56 |
Yarn Required
| Yarn | 5-6 years | 7-8 years | 9-10 years | 11-13 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makr Esther (M) 200g balls | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Makr Esther (C1) 200g balls | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Makr Esther (C2) 200g balls | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Inspired by the Breton stripe, this set makes an adorable outfit but is just as sweet as separate beanie and sweater. This pattern is simple and easy to work, with minimal shaping and basic colour work, it’s a great introduction to full garment knitting.
Needles
- A pair of 4.00mm knitting needles.
- Wool needle for sewing in ends.
- 2 x Stitch holders.
Tension
22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 4.00mm needles.
Knitting Abbreviations
- K: Knit
- K2tog: Knit 2 Together
- Kfb: K1 into the fr of the next stitch on the needle but do not slide the stitch off, K1 into the bk of the same stitch on the needle and slide the stitch off the needle
- P: Purl
- P2tog: Purl 2 Together
- Pfb: Purl 1, Purl tbl to increase by 1
- Sl1: Slip One Stitch purlwise
- ssk: Slip, Slip Knit (Left Slanting Decrease)
SWEATER
BACK
Hem:
Using 4.00mm needles and M, cast on 81 (89 - 93 - 99) sts.
Row 1: Ktbl, * P1, Ktbl, rep from * to end
Row 2: *Ptbl, K1, rep from * to last st, Ptbl.
Last 2 rows form twisted rib.
Work a further 10 (10 - 12 - 12) rows rib.
Striping:
Work 4 rows in stocking st, before beginning to work the stripe pattern below,
Rows 1-4: Change to C1, work in stocking st.
Rows 5-10: Change to M, work in stocking st.
Repeat these 10 rows until piece measures, 25 (27 - 29 - 31) cm from beg, IF only part of the stripe repeat can be worked to get to the measurement required stop at last fully completed repeat and do not work it.
Highlight Stripe:
Rows 1-4: Change to C2, work in stocking st.
Change to M for rem of work. Work until piece measures, 32 (34 - 35 - 36) cm from beg, or length desired (from hem to underarm).
Shape Armholes:
Cast off 3 (2 - 3 - 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows ... 75 (85 - 87 - 91) sts.
Dec one st at each end of next row, then every alt row until 61 (65 - 67 - 71) sts rem. **
Continue without shaping until armhole measures 15 (17 - 19 - 20) cm, ending with a purl row.
Shape Shoulders:
Cast off 6 (6 - 7 - 7) sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 6 (7 - 5 - 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Leave rem 25 (27 - 29 - 31) sts on a stitch holder.
FRONT SWEATER
Work as for Back to **.
Cont without shaping until there are 22 (24 - 24 - 26) rows less than Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with a purl row.
Shape Neck:
Next row: K24 (26 - 26 - 27), turn. Cont on these 24 (26 - 26 - 27) sts.
Dec one st at neck edge in every alt row until 20 (22 - 22 - 24) sts rem, then every 4th row until 17 (19 - 19 - 20) sts rem. Purl 1 row.
Shape Shoulder:
Cast off 6 (6 - 6 - 7) sts at beg of next and alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 5 (7 - 7 - 6) sts.
Slip next 13 (13 - 15 - 15) sts onto a stitch holder.
With right side facing, join C1 to rem sts and knit to end. Dec one st at neck edge in every alt row until 20 (22 - 22 - 24) sts rem, then every 4th row until 17 (19 - 19 - 20) sts rem.
Work 2 rows.
Shape Shoulder:
Work as for other shoulder shaping.
SLEEVES
Using 4.00mm needles and M, cast on 37 (39 - 41 - 43) sts.
Work 12 (12 - 12 - 14) rows rib.
Continuing to work in M, begin working in stocking st and increase one st at each end of 5th row, AT THE SAME TIME begin working in the stripe pattern below. Then, begin increase on every 6th (8th - 8th - 8th) row until there are 49 (55 - 47 - 59) sts.
Rows 5-8: Change to C1, work in stocking st.
Rows 9-15: Change to M, work in stocking st.
Continuing to work in the stripe pattern above, repeating the ten rows, increase by one st at each end on every 8th (10th - 10th - 10th) row until there are 57 (59 - 61 - 65) sts.
Continue without shaping until work measures 25 (29 - 34 - 37) cm (or 7 (7 - 6 - 5) cm less than length desired) from beg, remembering to only work the stripe repeat to where it can be worked in full.
Highlight Stripe:
Rows 1-4: Change to C2, work in stocking st.
Change to M for rem of work. Work until piece measures, 32 (36 - 40 - 42) cm from beg, or length desired (from hem to underarm).
Shape Top:
Cast off 3 (3 - 3 - 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows ... 51 (53 - 55 - 57) sts.
Dec one st at each end of next row, then every alt row until 27 (21 - 21 - 19) sts rem, then every row until 9 (11 - 11 - 13) sts rem. Cast off.
SWEATER NECKBAND
Join right shoulder seam. With right side facing, using 4.00mm needles and C1, knit up 17 (17 - 17 - 18) sts along left front neck, knit across sts from Front stitch holder, knit up 17 (17 - 17 - 18) sts along right front neck, then knit across sts from Back stitch holder and dec one st in centre ... 71 (73 - 77 - 81) sts.
Work 5 (7 - 9 - 9) rows rib, beg with a 2nd row.
Cast off in rib.
SWEATER FINISHING
Join left shoulder and Neckband seam. Sew in Sleeves. Join side and Sleeve seams. Sew in all ends.
BEANIE
Using 4.00mm needles and M, cast on 94 (98 - 102) sts.
Row 1: *Ktbl, P1, rep from * to end.
Row 2: *K1, Ptbl, rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows form twisted rib.
Work a further 6 (8 - 8) rows in row.
Striping:
Begin working in stocking st and following the stripe pattern below,
Rows 1-4: Continue to work stocking st in M
Rows 5-8: Change to C1, work in stocking st.
Rows 9-14: Change to M, work in stocking st.
Rows 15-18: Change to C1, work in stocking st.
Rows 19-24: Change to M, work in stocking st.
Rows 25-28: Change to C1, work in stocking st.
Rows 29-34: Change to M, work in stocking st.
Rows 35-38: Change to C2, work in stocking st.
Change to M and work in stocking st until piece measures 15 (16 - 17) cm from beg, working last row on wrong side.
Shape Crown:
Row 1: K2tog, * K2, K2tog, rep from * to end ... 70 (73 - 76) sts.
Row 2-4: Stocking st.
Row 5: K1, * K2tog, K1, rep from * to end ... 47 (49 - 51) sts.
Row 6-8: Stocking st.
Row 9: K1, * K2tog, rep from * to end ... 24 (25 - 26) sts.
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: K0 (1 - 0), *K2tog, rep from * to end ... 12 (13 - 13) sts.
Row 12: P0 (1 - 1), *P2tog, rep from * to end ... 6 (7 - 7) sts.
Break off yarn, run end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.
BEANIE FINISHING
Join back seam. Make a pom pom using C2 and attach to crown. Sew in all ends.
Alternative Yarns
The original pattern specifies Makr Esther yarn. When choosing a substitute, select a yarn that can achieve the original tension of 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking st using 4.00mm needles.
Suitable Yarn Types
- DK acrylic yarn – an easy-care choice for children’s garments with a wide range of colours.
- DK wool blend – provides warmth, softness and good stitch definition.
- Machine-washable DK wool – suitable for a warmer sweater and beanie set with easier care.
- DK cotton blend – can create a cooler garment with crisp stripe definition.
- DK recycled fibre blend – may be suitable provided the original tension and finished fabric can be matched.
Customisation Ideas
- Use classic navy and white for a traditional Breton-inspired look.
- Choose bright contrast colours for C1 and C2 to create a playful children’s set.
- Omit C2 as permitted in the original pattern for a simpler two-colour design.
- Use a tonal palette with three related shades for softer stripe transitions.
- Make the sweater and beanie separately using coordinating rather than identical colour combinations.
- Change the pom pom colour to coordinate with either the highlight stripe or main contrast colour.
To retain the original sizing and proportions, keep all stitch counts, row counts, size brackets and shaping instructions unchanged when making colour customisations.
Care Instructions
Follow the washing and care instructions provided on the ball band of the yarn used.
- Weave in all ends securely before washing.
- Wash using the method and temperature recommended for the selected yarn.
- Use a gentle cycle or hand wash where appropriate for the fibre.
- Reshape the sweater and beanie after washing.
- Lay flat to dry where appropriate to help maintain the garment measurements.
- Avoid hanging a wet sweater, as this may stretch the shoulders and body.
- Check that the pom pom remains securely attached after washing.
