Knitters and crocheters who are interested in knitting / crocheting baby sweaters need to know that there is no one set standard that everyone in the industry uses. A uniform sizing standard for knitted / crocheted baby clothes that is followed by knitting / crochet magazines, knitting / crochet book publishers, designers, and publishers of knitting / crochet leaflets does not exist. Each magazine, book publisher, leaflet publisher, designer, has its own in-house set of sizing numbers and they don’t agree from one to another. Some say a 3 month old baby’s chest size is 16 inches (40.5) cm. Others say it is 17 inches (43) cm. Still others say it is 18 inches (46) cm. So where do designers and publishers get their numbers from? A variety of sources: the British Standards Institution, for one, and which was last updated in 1982, Yarn Standards and Guidelines is another, The National Bureau of Standards Body Measurements, and ASTM Standards. By the way, one of the latter two was last updated in 1930. Somehow I don’t think body measurements taken during a Depression when there was little affordable food available qualifies to be called a standard. None of the standards found in any of these places agree on measurements. This is why a 3 month old baby has a chest size somewhere between 16 and 18 inches.
Some designers and publishers tend to favor the larger numbers in a size range. That means they begin with the assumption that the baby is on the bigger side of things and will design their garments accordingly. Some tend to size their garments smaller, starting with the assumption that the baby is on the smaller end of the size range. What this does to the knitter / crocheter is drive him / her nuts. In order to prevent this, I suggest you look at the schematics of the project before you begin. If they aren’t readily available look at the numbers the designer provides regarding Finished Chest Circumference. Decide whether these figures agree with what you think will fit the baby you are knitting / crocheting for. The important point here is that you, as the knitter / crocheter, need to have some idea of what an acceptable size range is for you. For that, you need to do some homework and research baby sizes. Don’t panic. I know everybody has enough to do.
I made up 5 schematics for babies from 3 months to 24 months old. Each schematic shows the variations in measurements that a knitter / crochet might find for that age. Click on the schematic to make it bigger. Print it out if you like. Use them to get an idea of the measurements you feel best fit the babies you knit / crochet for. Don’t expect that you won’t find sweater designs that are outside the range I’ve given. You probably will. But if you know what measurements you feel most comfortable with, you can then chose projects that don’t give you anxiety attacks.
I hope you find the schematics helpful. They are for the basic boxy sweater and I will explain more of why boxy sweaters are the dominate shape for baby sweaters in Wednesday’s post along with other things knitters and crocheters need to know before you pick up that pattern and are disappointed.
Now, this is the most helpful size problem solution I’ve ever seen. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! I want to make a fleece jacket for a 1 year old for tomorrow and I was having trouble finding what measurements to use! I haven’t braved it enough to try to crochet or knit a sweater yet!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me, I’ll be happy to share what I know.
Please help me in giving measurements of sweater for 12year old child. I want to know where exactly in the beginning we have to take 3dc in 1 chain.
Are you working from a pattern that’s on Ravelry so I can see a picture? If not write out the part of the pattern that is giving you trouble and I will try to help.
[…] pattern isn’t that hard. I found this really great tutorial on SlippedStitches blog: Baby Sweater Sizing Standards What You Need To Know Before You Buy A Pattern The author gives standard baby sweater pattern sizes with schematics so you can make up your […]
I have been making baby sweaters for years and crochet and knit very loosely. So I was always having to check my gauge and compinsate for the looseness of my stitches. Now with your help here I can use the yarn I want and the needle I want. Thank you so much.
Glad you find the information helpful.
This is an awesome reference! Thank you!
You’re welcome.
You are missing measurements for 12 months.
thanks for tell me I will get them right up.
Thank you so much for the information, I keep coming back here every time I make a new sweater! I have a question though: how exactly should I measure the sleeve length? Specifically, I’m working on a crocheted raglan cardigan. Thanks again!
Hi Daniela, Raglan sleeves are usually measured from the wrist to the upper arm width for length. The raglan decrease rows on sleeve and body must be the same. I hope this helps.
It does, thank you so much! 🙂
Thanks so much for this. It helps with a sweater I started to knit.
When knitting in the summer, how can you anticipate the size a child will be in the Fall and Winter?
Plan for the month when the sweater will be finished. How old will the child be at that time? That’s the size to make.
What about for newborn to 3 months? Thank you for this information, very helpful.
Impossible to find a schema for a 3 yr old jumper so can you make one? I have used your schemas with great success, I don’t buy patterns I just knit!
The 3 month old size usually covers the newborn to three months. Remember, when sizing baby items the first way they outgrow a garment is lengthwise. For example, the sleeves become too short, the sweater length isn’t long enough. The widths in the sizing change less quickly from age to age. This is why many baby items have sleeves that initially need to be rolled up and lengths that are a little too long.
Hi Claudine, there are no standard numbers for a 3 yr old. However, a significant change in size occurs between a two and four year old. This is because at year three the child is experiencing a growth spurt. The change is kind of sudden and can seem to happen overnight. If I were you and really wanted a 3 size I would add a good 1/2 inch (1.5) cm to the numbers of a size two and I’m not sure that it would fit the child for very long. A size four might be better for longer wearing. I am happy to hear that the schematics are working out for you.
So could you make a schematic for a 4 yr old, or tell me how to do it, I am knitting for great grandchildren and unfortunately they live far away, so cannot just measure an existing jumper and make it bigger.
I will create schematics for sizes 2 through 6 this weekend and post them by Monday if that is alright with you.
That is great! you already have size 2, its 24 months, I have used it.
Thank you for these schematics. They are incredibly helpful. I’m wondering, however, why there is nothing for 12 months since that is a very typical size in knitting patterns?
Thanks for calling this to my attention. I originally had size 12 there. I don’t know what happened to it, but I will replace it.
Thank you so much for this info! I too am looking for 12 months sizing. 🙂
Done and posted.
Thank you for such wonderful information!!!! Feel so empowered to make any baby sweater now!:D
Glad I could help.
omg thanks, i thought i was going to go crazy having to search but i found your blog so easily and its so clear.
Thank you. Glad it can be of help!
She’d do a great job. Though I look nothing like her, it’s a movie, a make believe. I can pretend I do look like her.
Finally! someone who gives measurements instead of weight! thank you so much!
You’re welcome.
Perfect measurement. Can you give me measurements of 4/6/8 years old?
Yes, I can get those together and publish them this week.
This is so incredibly helpful! I’m trying to put together a pattern for babies/kids right now, and I’m trying to use CYC standards, but some of them seem really odd. Do you have any info on hood sizes?
Not right at hand. But I can do some research on it and write what I find.
[…] Source: Baby Sweater Sizing Standards What You Need To Know Before You Buy A Pattern […]
I am confused. The 24 month old has a longer sweater than the 4 year old.
Yes, the lengthwise range is almost similar. That’s because they are figuring in diapers for the 24 month old. If the sizing said 2 year old or 2T then the measurement assumes the child is out of diapers and that is a different measurement.
Thank you!!!!
HELLO, IF I COULD BOTHER YOU WITH A LITTLE PROBLEM 😅😅😅😆😔😔I have a pullover desing it says: 12 mth (2T, 3T). Ch 49, join with a SL to form a ring, ch 3, skip 1 ch, 1 dc in each of the next 8 chs ( half of back), V-st in next ch, 1 dc in each of the next 6 ch ( Right sleeve ), V-st in next ch, 1dc in each of the next 16 ch ( front ) V-st in next ch, 1dc in each of the next 6 ch (Left sleeve), V-st in next ch, 1 dc in each of the next 8 ch ( other half of back) …… There is no mention of the bigger sizes, how do you make it for a 4T, was this instruction for the 12 mnths old ?????? HELP !!!!!!!!!
Usually the numbers for the larger sizes would be in parentheses. If there are no numbers in parentheses then I would assume it is written only for the size 12 month.
Thank you very much for this helpful information! Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the one for 12 months sizing, even though you wrote here in the comment section that you have added it… Where do I need to look? Thanks!
I have found it now! Thanks!
I really appreciate you sharing this information. I’m new to making baby sweaters but most of the patterns I’ve come across don’t provide the measurements.
Thank you so much, This is extremely helpful. Appreciate all your work.
Thank you. I hope it helps.
Where can I find the charts with baby sweater measurements for 12 month old.
Thx.
Go to baby sweater designs on the side bar and scroll down and you will see the schematic for the 12 month old. If you have any problems finding it feel free to contact me again.
I’m still having a problem to get the sizing for 12 months baby sweater measurements.
Thx
Go to the side bar called categories. Click on the one that says Baby Schematics. The 12 month old size come right up.
I found yOU!!! Hooray.!!!
The question I have is, that I have found a pattern that states “There are 5 sizes to choose from 14 inch – 22 inches 36 – 56cm” How do I know in months what sizes this pattern fits? Thanks for any help.
Hi. I would say according to the numbers in my schematics that the sizing covers newborn to about 12 months. I am assuming the numbers are the finished chest measurements. So the sizing would run Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months. The unstated rule with baby clothes is that if you knit it a size bigger the child will be able to wear it longer and grow into it.
Thanks, this is very helpful. I’m trying to crochet a 3-6 month cardigan.
I’m glad you found it helpful. Happy crocheting