Shanti Sweater for Big Kids: Free Crochet Pattern + Companion Video
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. See our disclosure policy for more information.
Have you tried the Shanti Sweater pattern yet? If not, the kids sizes are a great way to get your feet wet, then you can decide to make one for yourself as well! Use this free crochet pattern for big kids and/or the companion video to make one today.
SHANTI SWEATER FOR BIG KIDS
This gorgeous sweater is a top-down, easy-to-crochet pattern featuring the Herringbone Double Crochet. This stitch is easy to learn and also gives great texture. My favorite!
Sizes included in this post: 4/5T, 6/8, and 10/12. The little kids sizes can be found in this post, along with the companion video, and the adult sizes can be found here.
If you have never worked a top-down sweater pattern before, you’ll be surprised at just how quickly they work up. You’ll start with the neckline and build onto that, creating a yoke that will slip over the head to lay around the shoulders and upper arms. Then we’ll close off the armholes and continue adding length to the body. Once finished, slap some sleeves on and call it a sweater! I truly think you’ll love this new sweater and it’s minimal sewing.
When you get this sweater finished and you are familiar with the pattern and the construction, make one for yourself in adult size! The adult sizes of the Shanti Sweater start with XS (which doubles as the largest youth size) and ranges up to 5XL.
The free patterns in child sizes are broken into two posts: one for little kids (UP TO 2/3T) and then big kids (this one). The next size up after that is the adult XS.
Shanti Sweater Materials:
Size 3/DK/Lightweight Yarn
*good yarn options would be Bernat Softee Baby, Lion Brand Mandala, Lion Brand Coboo, etc.
-approx. 500 yards for 4/5T
-approx. 550 yards for 6/8
-approx. 600 yards for 10/12
Crochet hook in size G/4mm
Gauge: 14 hbdc sts x 10 rows = 4” square
Pattern Notes:
The ch-2 at the beginning of each row of the yoke does not count as a stitch.
Join at the end of each row (of the yoke only) but do not turn throughout.
Hbdc = Herringbone Double Crochet (video tutorial here)
The join in the yoke is the back, right shoulder.
Pattern written using US terms.
Shanti COMPANION VIDEO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4/5T Sweater Pattern:
Foundation: Ch-74, join to first ch without twisting. (74)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (80)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 11 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 11 sts. Join to first st. (86)
Round 3: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 4 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 11 sts. Join to first st. (92)
Round 4: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 14 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 4 sts. Join to first st. (98)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 4 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 13 sts. Join to first st. (104)
Round 6: Ch-2, Hbdc in first 2 sts. * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 16 sts * repeat between * * 5 more times. Join to first st. (110)
Round 7: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 17 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 13 sts. Join to first st. (116)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (122)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (128)
Round 10: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 19 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 19 sts. Join to first st. (134)
Round 11: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 21 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 11 sts. Join to first st. (140)
Round 12: Ch-2, Hbdc in each st around. Join to first st. (140)
Armholes:
Round 13: Do not chain or turn. Sk-30 sts, hbdc in next 40 sts, sk-30 sts, hbdc in remaining 40 sts. Do not join or turn. (80)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 14 – 42: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (80)
Ribbing:
Round 43: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first st.
Round 44: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 45: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 46: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Final round: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st around. Join with Invisible Join.
Finishing: Attach yarn at neck seam. Sc in each st around the neck opening. Fasten off using Invisible Join.
Sleeves:
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 29sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (30)
Rounds 2 – 3: Hbdc in each st around. (30)
Round 4: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (29)
Round 5: Hbdc in each st around. (29)
Round 6: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (28)
Round 7: Hbdc in each st around. (28)
Round 8: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (27)
Rounds 9 – 13: Hbdc in each st around. (27)
Round 14: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (26)
Rounds 15 – 19: Hbdc in each st around. (26)
OPTIONAL: If desired, add ribbing to the sleeve in the same manner as the body of the sweater.
IF NOT ADDING RIBBING: sc in each st around. Fasten off using Invisible Join. (26)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6/8 Sweater Pattern:
Foundation: Ch-78, join to first ch without twisting. (78)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 11 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 6 sts. Join to first st. (84)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (90)
Round 3: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 13 sts. Join to first st. (96)
Round 4: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 14 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (102)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 15 sts. Join to first st. (108)
Round 6: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 17 sts * repeat between * * 5 more times. Join to first st. (114)
Round 7: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (120)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 19 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 4 st. Join to first st. (126)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 20 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (132)
Round 10: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 21 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 13 sts. Join to first st. (138)
Round 11: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 22 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (144)
Round 12: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 23 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 17 sts. Join to first st. (150)
Round 13: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 36 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * three more times. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (154)
Round 14: Ch-2, Hbdc in each st around. Join to first st. (154)
Armholes:
Round 15: Do not chain or turn. Sk-32 sts, hbdc in next 45 sts, sk-32 sts, hbdc in remaining 45 sts. Do not join or turn. (90)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 16 – 40: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (90)
Ribbing:
Round 41: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first st.
Round 42: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 43: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 44: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Final round: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st around. Join with Invisible Join.
Finishing: Attach yarn at neck seam. Sc in each st around the neck opening. Fasten off using Invisible Join.
Sleeves:
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 31 sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (32)
Round 2: Hbdc in each st around. (32)
Round 3: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (31)
Round 4: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (30)
Rounds 5 – 10: Hbdc in each st around. (30)
Round 11: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (29)
Round 12: Hbdc in each st around. (29)
Round 13: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (28)
Rounds 14 – 19: Hbdc in each st around. (28)
OPTIONAL: If desired, add ribbing to the sleeve in the same manner as the body of the sweater.
IF NOT ADDING RIBBING: sc in each st around. Fasten off using Invisible Join. (28)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10/12 Sweater Pattern:
Foundation: Ch-78, join to first ch without twisting. (78)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 6 more times. Hbdc in remaining 1 st. Join to first st. (85)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 5 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 11 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 7 sts. Join to first st. (92)
Round 3: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 3 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (99)
Round 4: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (106)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 14 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 9 sts. Join to first st. (113)
Round 6: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 16 sts * repeat between * * 5 more times. 2hbdc in next, Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (120)
Round 7: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 17 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 1 st. Join to first st. (127)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Join to first st. (134)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in 1 remaining st. Join to first st. (141)
Round 10: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 19 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 12 sts. Join to first st. (148)
Round 11: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 20 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 9 sts. Join to first st. (155)
Round 12: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 21 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 16 sts. Join to first st. (162)
Round 13: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 22 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 13 sts. Join to first st. (169)
Round 14: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 55 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * two more times. Hbdc in remaining 1 st. Join to first st. (172)
Armholes:
Round 15: Do not chain or turn. Sk-34 sts, hbdc in next 52 sts, sk-34 sts, hbdc in remaining 52 sts. Do not join or turn. (104)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 17 – 40: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (104)
Ribbing:
Round 41: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first st.
Round 42: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 43: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 44: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Final round: Ch-1, turn, sc in each st around. Join with Invisible Join.
Finishing: Attach yarn at neck seam. Sc in each st around the neck opening. Fasten off using Invisible Join.
Sleeves:
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 33 sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (34)
Rounds 2 – 3: Hbdc in each st around. (34)
Round 4: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (33)
Round 5: Hbdc in each st around. (33)
Round 6: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (32)
Rounds 7 – 9: Hbdc in each st around. (32)
Round 10: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (31)
Rounds 11 12: Hbdc in each st around. (31)
Round 13: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (30)
Rounds 14 – 16: Hbdc in each st around. (30)
Round 17: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (29)
Round 18: Hbdc in each st around. (29)
Round 19: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (28)
Rounds 20 – 22: Hbdc in each st around. (28)
OPTIONAL: If desired, add ribbing to the sleeve in the same manner as the body of the sweater.
IF NOT ADDING RIBBING: sc in each st around. Fasten off using Invisible Join. (28)
When you’re finished I’d love to see a photo of yours! Please tag me by using @HeartHookHome on Instagram and Twitter, or share in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook.
More free patterns for kids:
Velvet Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern for Little Kids
It’s Shawl Good Crochet Pattern CHILD Size (12 – 18 Month)
Hibernation Hoodie CHILD Sizes
