Heart Hook Home

crochet, yarn, heart (CHD) & food

Simple Newborn Sleeper: 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.

33 Comments

If you’re a beginner in crochet and looking for an easy crocheted baby project, this pattern is for you! This Simple Newborn Sleeper uses only one stitch, and works up super fast!

Simple Sleeper

My primary care physician just welcomed her third baby, a beautiful baby boy. To welcome him to the world, I created this beginner-friendly baby sleeper pattern. I wanted him to have something all his own, and for his parents to have easy access to diaper changes at any given time. 😛

Materials:

Caboo yarn (size 3/DK, cotton/bamboo blend)
-approx. 380 yards

Crochet hook in size G/4mm

⅛” elastic

Needle and thread

Gauge:

18 sts x 9 rows = 4” square

Pattern Notes:

Do not turn throughout the entire pattern.

Pattern written using US terms.

The chain at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.

Pattern:

Round 1: Fdc-48 (or ch-50, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each to end) Join to top of first dc with sl st. (48)

Round 2: Ch-2, * dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (60)

Round 3: Ch-2, * dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (72)

Round 4: Ch-2, * dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (84)

Round 5: Ch-2, * dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (96)

Round 6: Ch-2, * dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (108)

Round 7: Ch-2, * dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (120)

Round 8: Ch-2, * dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first dc with sl st. (132)

Armholes:

Round 9: Ch-2, dc in next 3 sts, sk-27 sts, dc in next 39 sts. Sk-27 sts, dc in remaining 36 sts. Join to first dc with sl st. (78)

Body:

Round 10: Ch-1, dc in each st around. Do not join, work in a spiral for remainder of pattern marking first st of the row with stitch marker. (78)

Round 11 – 39: Dc in each st around. (78)

Because we are working in a spiral and not turning, our stitches will migrate to the right. You should end in the middle of the “front”.

Round 40: Dc in next 15 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next st sl in next.

Finishing: Ch-1, lay elastic so that you are crocheting around it, sc in each st around.

When you get around, pull elastic so that the bottom of the body tapers. When pulled tight, the elastic should be about the same diameter of the sleep sack itself.

Overlap the elastic by about an inch and, using needle and thread, secure the two ends of elastic. Sew thoroughly. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Sleeves:

Attach yarn at first skipped stitch of armhole opening…

Row 1: Ch-2, Dc in each st around (27 sts so far), dc2tog 3X over remaining spaces. Join to top of first dc. (30)

Rows 2 – 10: Ch-2, do not turn, dc in each st around, join to top of first dc. (30)

Row 11: Ch-1, do not turn, sc in each st around, join using Invisible Join. (30)

That is it! I hope you love this super simple sleeper pattern!

Simple Sleeper Crochet Pattern for Newborns

More crochet patterns for babies:

Newborn On Point Poncho + Companion Video

Drawstring Sleep Sack Crochet Pattern for Newborns

Newborn Sleep Sack Free Crochet Pattern

Infant Hoodie Crochet Pattern (size 6 months)

Rockin’ Romper Free Crochet Pattern

Comments

  1. Kathy Kleen says

    I Love this pattern! I made it with Caron Simply Soft and it came out great! Then I tried to make a bigger one using1mm bigger hook and it came out HUGE. Can you advise how to make this in 3-6 month, 6-9 month sizes and how number 4 yarn will affect sizing, please? I really Love the pattern and want to make more for my nephew's first baby. Thank you!
    Reply

  2. Alexis says

    Hi! Super new to crocheting so this might be a silly question. When you say slip stitch into first DC.... Do I slip stitch and then chain 2 and DC into that same stitch? My seam is turning out really weird. Thanks!
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Alexis! Yes, you will DC into the same stitch that you joined (slip stitched) into the previous round. Hope this helps!
      Reply

  5. Kay says

    I can not get past row 2. Stitches are not counting up. After joining I always end up with 57. not 60. What am I doing wrong? I really want to make this item. I have tried 4 times . This is what I am doing. I chained 50, dc in 3rd ch from hook, continued dc to end. joined (48) Chained 2, *Dc in next 3, 2dc next*, continued around, joined ( now have 57 not 60) So when I try row 3 I dont have enough stitches.
    Reply

  6. Nicole says

    This pattern is my go-to every time someone I know has a baby. It works up quickly and easily, looks fantastic as-is, looks even better embellished (I like to add appliqués and ruffles sometimes), fits like a dream, and looks like I spent a bundle on it. Definitely a personal fave! Thanks for sharing it!
    Reply

  7. Katie says

    I found the sizing to be way off - I used a smaller hook and decreased the number of rounds I increased, ripped it out twice, and still ended up with something that would fit a 3-6 month old vs newborn.
    Reply

  8. Amber says

    Hi, all of my rounds came out great and matched the numbers, however by row 39 I did not migrate as the to the middle front? I guess my stitch markers were pretty uniform throughout. Should I just ignore the mark and back up to the middle to proceed with row 40? Also, do you have a recommended brand of corded elastic? Thanks
    Reply

    • Kim Montagner says

      Hi Amber mine also did not migrate to the middle front. What did you end up doing? I just don't understand row 40: Dc in next 15 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next st sl in next. SO DOES THAT MEAN we only work into the next 19 sts. Can you perhaps help me understand that? Thank you.
      Reply

  9. Sherry says

    I want to make this for a friend but she has big babies. 10 to 12 pound babies. Do you think this will fit this size? Can I do something special for the bigger babies? Thank you for your help.
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Sherry! I would try going up a hook size...that should make it a bit larger. Hope this helps!
      Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi! I had no trouble slipping over a newborns head...the neck hole should be approximately 11". Hope this helps!
      Reply

      • Sam says

        Ok, maybe I’m using the wrong yarn or hook then. I’m new to crocheting so I’m still figuring this all out! Thank you!
        Reply

  11. johnnar says

    Im not understanding the body and i get 78 stitches. Do I skip the 27 stitches and continue my DC in the next dc stitch?
    Reply

  12. Ane says

    I matched the gauge but it looks really small. Can you tell me the measurements? How long and the width. Thank you for the pattern!
    Reply

    • Heart Hook Home says

      Hi Ane! When laid flat, the body of the piece should measure approximately 9-10" wide and the total length around 18". Hope this helps!
      Reply

      • Ane says

        It did! Thank you so much! I made mine a little longer but it looks great and it’s so easy to make. Thank you again! Your site is beautiful!
        Reply

  13. Yashashri says

    I am working on the pattern.. but I have a doubt.. isn't the neck small to pass on the baby head?
    Reply

    • Sam says

      I am having the same doubt! It looks so small, like a baby head won’t fit through! And I’m scared to move on now and have it be too small
      Reply

  14. Christianna Scott says

    I’m having trouble with the second round. I either come out with 68 stitches or 48! Any suggestions? I might be having trouble with the 2dc. How exactly do you do it? Could you send me a YouTube video which explains how you do it? The ones I looked at gave me the wrong results. I’m missing something!
    Reply

    • Jillian Gulledge says

      I’m having trouble with the second row as well! I end up with like 5 extra stitches on the row. Is there a video tutorial on this I can watch to help me?
      Reply

  16. Lori Staggs says

    My FAVORITE newborn essential! So excited to have a crochet pattern for it. I wonder how many I can whip up before my due date in August!!!???
    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I love to share my knowledge and ideas, and I love that YOU love them enough to share them as well! You are free to sell products made from my patterns, all I ask is that you do not use my images to represent your work and that you link back to my pattern in your listings.

Want to share my content on your blog/social media? Thank you! Please see my Terms of Use before doing so.

Here are my privacy policy and disclosure policies.

Instagram