Shanti Sweater for Little Kids: Free Crochet Pattern
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.
I am absolutely in LOVE with these little versions of the Shanti Sweater. In this post you will find the free crochet patterns of the Shanti Sweater for LITTLE kids – that is up to 2/3T.
Shanti Sweater for Little 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: 3/6M, 9/12M, 18/24M, and 2/3T.
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 the little 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 (this post, containing sizes UP TO 2/3T) and then big kids (all other child sizes up to and including 10/12). The next size up after that is the adult XS.
My little model here is wearing the 18/24M size and she is rockin’ it! Thanks so much for testing this pattern, Shannon! She’s such a cutie! ♥
Shanti Sweater Materials:
Size 3/DK/Lightweight Yarn
*good yarn options would be Bernat Softee Baby, Lion Brand Mandala, Lion Brand Coboo, etc.
-approx. 225 yards for 3/6M
-approx. 260 yards for 9/12M
-approx. 320 yards for 18/24M
-approx. 450 yards for 2/3T
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.
If you need help reading a crochet pattern, make sure you head over here and check out this detailed post.
Find the Companion VIDEO included in the big kids pattern here.
3 to 6 Month Sweater:
Foundation: Ch-60, join to first ch without twisting. (60)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 9 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (66)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 5 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 5 sts. Join to first st. (72)
Round 3: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 11 sts * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (78)
Round 4: 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 4 sts. Join to first st. (84)
Round 5: Ch-2, * Hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (90)
Round 6: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 9 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 14 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 5 sts. Join to first st. (96)
Round 7: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 15 sts * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (102)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 16 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (108)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 26 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (112)
Armholes:
Round 10: Do not chain or turn. Sk-24 sts, hbdc in next 32 sts, sk-24 sts, hbdc in remaining 32 sts. Do not join or turn. (64)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 11 – 26: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (64)
Ribbing:
Round 27: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first fpdc.
Round 28: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 29: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 30: 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 23sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (24)
Round 2: Hbdc in each st around. (24)
Round 3: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (23)
Round 4: Hbdc in each st around. (23)
Round 5: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (22)
Round 6: Hbdc in each st around. (22)
Round 7: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (21)
Round 8: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (20)
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. (20)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 to 12 Month Sweater:
Foundation: Ch-62, join to first ch without twisting. (62)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 9 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (68)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 5 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 7 sts. Join to first st. (74)
Round 3: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 11 sts * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (80)
Round 4: 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 6 sts. Join to first st. (86)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 9 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 6 sts. Join to first st. (92)
Round 6: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 14 sts * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (98)
Round 7: 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 11 sts. Join to first st. (104)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 16 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (110)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 17 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (116)
Round 10: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 57 sts * repeat between * * one more time. Join to first st. (118)
Armholes:
Round 11: Do not chain or turn. Sk-26 sts, hbdc in next 33 sts, sk-26 sts, hbdc in remaining 33 sts. Do not join or turn. (66)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 12 – 30: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (66)
Ribbing:
Round 31: Hdc2tog. * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first fpdc.
Round 32: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 33: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 34: 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:
Attach yarn in the first actual missed stitch from the armhole row. Leave a long tail to cinch up any holes when finished.
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 25sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (26)
Round 2: Hbdc in each st around. (26)
Round 3: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (25)
Wanna save this for later?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it when you're ready.
Round 4: Hbdc in each st around. (25)
Round 5: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (24)
Round 6: Hbdc in each st around. (24)
Round 7: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (23)
Round 8: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (22)
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. (22)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
18 to 24 Month Sweater:
Foundation: Ch-62, join to first ch without twisting. (62)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 7 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * six more times. Hbdc in remaining 6 sts. Join to first st. (69)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 3 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 9 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 5 sts. Join to first st. (76)
Round 3: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 11 sts * repeat between * * five more times. 2Hbdc in next, hbdc in remaining 3 sts. Join to first st. (83)
Round 4: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 11 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (90)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 4 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 1 st. Join to first st. (97)
Round 6: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 13 sts * repeat between * * 5 more times. 2Hbdc in next st, hbdc in remaining 12 sts. Join to first st. (104)
Round 7: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 1 st. Join to first st. (111)
Round 8: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 8 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 6 sts. Join to first st. (118)
Round 9: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 15 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 8 sts. Join to first st. (125)
Round 10: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 40 sts * repeat between * * two more times. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (128)
Armholes:
Round 11: Do not chain or turn. Sk-28 sts, hbdc in next 36 sts, sk-28 sts, hbdc in remaining 36 sts. Do not join or turn. (72)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 12 – 30: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (72)
Ribbing:
Round 31: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first fpdc.
Round 32: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 33: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 34: 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:
Attach yarn in the first actual missed stitch from the armhole row. Leave a long tail to cinch up any holes when finished.
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 27sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (28)
Round 2: Hbdc in each st around. (28)
Round 3: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (27)
Round 4: Hbdc in each st around. (27)
Round 5: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (26)
Round 6: Hbdc in each st around. (26)
Round 7: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (25)
Round 8: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (24)
Round 9: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (23)
Round 10: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (22)
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. (22)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2/3T Sweater Pattern:
Foundation: Ch-70, join to first ch without twisting. (70)
Round 1: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 10 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 5 more times. Hbdc in remaining 4 sts. Join to first st. (76)
Round 2: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 5 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 11 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 10 sts. Join to first st. (82)
Round 3: 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 8 sts. Join to first st. (88)
Round 4: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 12 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 13 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 5 sts. Join to first st. (94)
Round 5: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 4 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 14 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 14 sts. Join to first st. (100)
Round 6: Ch-2, * 2hbdc in next st, Hbdc in next 16 sts * repeat between * * 4 more times. 2hbdc in next, hbdc in 14 remaining st. Join to first st. (106)
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 9 sts. Join to first st. (112)
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 6 sts. Join to first st. (118)
Round 9: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 18 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * around. Hbdc in remaining 4 sts. Join to first st. (124)
Round 10: Ch-2, Hbdc in next 6 sts, 2hbdc in next. * hbdc in next 19 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * 4 more times. Hbdc in remaining 17 sts. Join to first st. (130)
Round 11: Ch-2, * hbdc in next 31 sts, 2hbdc in next * repeat between * * three more times. Hbdc in remaining 2 sts. Join to first st. (134)
Armholes:
Round 12: Do not chain or turn. Sk-28 sts, hbdc in next 39 sts, sk-28 sts, hbdc in remaining 39 sts. Do not join or turn. (78)
Body:
Work in a spiral for the remainder of the body, marking the first st of each row with a stitch marker.
Rounds 13 – 30: Hbdc in each st around. Do not join. (78)
Ribbing:
Round 31: Hdc2tog, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around next, join to top of first fpdc.
Round 32: Ch-2, turn, * bpdc around next, fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 33: Ch-2, turn, * fpdc around next, bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st, join to top of first st.
Round 34: 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:
Attach yarn in the first actual missed stitch from the armhole row. Leave a long tail to cinch up any holes when finished.
Round 1: Ch-1, hbdc in 27sts, dc4tog (spanning the spaces at the bottom of armhole). Join. (this is the only join on the entire sleeve). (28)
Round 2: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (26)
Round 3: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (25)
Round 4: Hbdc in each st around. (25)
Round 5: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (24)
Round 6: Hbdc in all but last 2 sts, hbdc2tog. (23)
Round 7: Hbdc2tog, hbdc in remaining sts. (22)
Rounds 8 – 11: Hbdc in each st around. (22)
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. (22)
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
