Knitting for a baby is just so special! I waited almost 10 years into motherhood before I had a daughter to knit for, so I relished it when the time came. Babies are just so sweet and knit-worthy! You’re going to want to grab your needles and some pretty yarn when you see these 10 best knitting patterns to make for a baby girl.
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Knitting is so relaxing and satisfying. I love to create beautiful things with my hands, even if it happens slowly because of limited time as a busy homeschooling mother. I keep a knitting project or two always in the works, and carry it with me for those random snippets of time: while the kids play at the park, while waiting for an appointment, or even while nursing the baby (this took a bit of practice).
Here I have a roundup of some favorite patterns to make for a baby girl. Some are quite fast, and some take a little more time. I’ve tested and loved all of these. I hope they inspire you!
Knitting for a boy instead? Check out 6 of the Best Knitting Patterns to Make for Baby Boys
1. Lacey Romper
The Lacey Romper by Pippy Eve was quick to knit and so dreamy for this quick but special newborn photo of my girlie. I will cherish this photo of her. For this romper, I used a thrifted skein of ArtYarns Regal Silk. A little 50g skein was exactly enough for this romper (yarn chicken anyone?), and I was so pleased with the result. I highly recommend this pattern. This yarn is pricey new, but could still be worth spending that much for a really special piece for your baby’s newborn photos. The sheen of the silk is just beautiful.
2. Misha and Puff Popcorn Bonnet
Next, we have the Misha and Puff Popcorn Bonnet. I’m a huge fan of this pattern. I’ve made quite a few now and always get so many compliments when my baby wears it. The design is nicely done by knitwear designer Misha and Puff. Mostly they offer their beautiful $$$ knitwear, but I love that they offer a few of their patterns too! My DIY heart was so thrilled to learn that.
These bonnets are knitted up in Malabrigo Rios yarn.
For this variation of the same Misha & Puff pattern, I omitted the popcorn stitch design and simply knit garter stich in that section. I love it too! (And it’s a super great knitting pattern for a beginner!)
3. Clover Tights
The Clover Tights pattern is by Knitting for Olive, an incredible designer (If you’re like me, you will want to make so many of her patterns!). At first, these felt like the most impractical thing I had ever knitted. My daughter wore them for such a short time, but they were actually SO fun to knit, SO cute on her, and she even wore them with her first Christmas dress, which was really special. Worth it!!
I made these tights from Drops Baby Merino yarn, which washes up nicely.
I mean how cute are these for her 1st Christmas outfit?! So precious.
4. Silverfox Bonnet
The Silverfox Bonnet by Lisa of Frogginette Knitting Patterns is a beautiful little bonnet with a pretty cable design. I knitted this one up in another thrifted skein of Artyarns Regal Silk, and I’m in love with the color and sheen of the yarn. I was able to squeeze two different sizes out of the same 50g skein, one newborn size, and then this one, which was more like a 3-6m. This bonnet was one of my favorites on my daughter! Lisa has a matching sweater pattern as well!
5. Hanami Dress
The Hanami Dress is another by Lisa at Frogginette Knitting. Can you tell she’s one of my favorite designers?! I love this pattern enough that I’ve made it more than once. I love the scalloped edge, the stitch on the bodice, and the little tuck at the waist; it has so many features that make it an incredible design! Lisa’s patterns are very well done, and I’ve enjoyed making several of them over the years. This dress was knit in Drops Baby Merino, a fairly inexpensive yarn that has washed up nicely. I have also made this in Drops Cotton Merino, and I love that too.
6. Puerperium Cardigan
This little newborn cardigan is a great FREE knitting pattern by Kelly van Niekerk. It is beginner-friendly and so sweet for a boy or girl. I did a sort of gradient-look here with leftover yarn from another project, but a solid color would be simpler.
For this little cardigan I used a Knitpicks yarn that had been in my stash for a while.
7. Grace Baby Shoe
The Grace Baby Shoe by Julia Adams Patterns was so quick to knit and used such a tiny remnant of yarn. I was an instant fan! I can’t wait to make more of these. She has other shoe patterns that are equally cute – I want them all! For this pair, I used leftover Malabrigo Rios. I believe this was the colorway Whole Grain.
This pattern is very well done, I was impressed. It has great images of each technique, and I learned some new skills. This pattern has you enclose elastic into the ankle. Don’t be intimidated! This is a super cool technique and always so satisfying! I first did that in a romper for my son and fell in love. (check it out here, the Sea Breeze Romper)
8. Olive’s Wrap by Knitting for Olive
Another by Knitting for Olive, Olive’s Wrap is a sweet little wrap cardigan with buttons or i-cord ties. This little wrap knitted up a lot faster than I anticipated, and I love it so much! The scalloped edge is so beautiful and quite easy to do. I made the 3-6 month size and used Knitting for Olive merino yarn.
9. The Savannah Bonnet
The Savannah Bonnet by Julie Taylor caught my eye, and I just adore the stitch and texture of it. I used up a little skein of yarn leftover from another project. I made this for my 2nd daughter and can’t wait for her to wear it! This bonnet knits up quickly, and I will definitely be making more!
10. The Cherry Jacket
The Cherry Jacket is by a Norwegian designer at Little and Loop, and she has SO many cute patterns. She is my new favorite designer, and I can’t wait to make more of her patterns. She offers some of her patterns in English, including this cute little cardigan.
Of all the patterns I’ve shown here, this one is the least beginner-friendly, so consider that if you are still a newbie. Some patterns lay out every single detail of every row, and some require you to do a little memory work on your own. This one requires you to remember to keep doing the button tab as you work the rest, and to do a bit of mental math as the eyelet design unfolds. But once I got going, I was able to see it and not even need to refer to the pattern much.
For this little cardigan, I used 2 skeins of Sandnes Garn Duo to make the 3-6m size. I just love how it turned out and can’t wait to make another larger size! I might start one for my toddler as well.
I hope these ideas and pictures have inspired you as you consider what to make for a new baby on the way! Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.
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