Kids’ sweater: sizes by age and a pattern
A kids’ sweater knits up fast, but measuring a child is hard — so here are standard measurements by age to start from, and a top-down raglan that is easy to lengthen as the child grows.
Measurements by age
| Age | Chest | Neck | Upper arm | Sleeve length | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 y | 53 cm | 27 cm | 16.5 cm | 22 cm | 32 cm |
| 4 y | 58 cm | 28 cm | 17.5 cm | 26 cm | 36 cm |
| 6 y | 64 cm | 29 cm | 18.5 cm | 30 cm | 40 cm |
| 8 y | 69 cm | 30 cm | 20 cm | 34 cm | 44 cm |
| 10 y | 73 cm | 31 cm | 21.5 cm | 37 cm | 48 cm |
| 12 y | 77 cm | 32 cm | 23 cm | 40 cm | 51 cm |
Sleeve length is underarm to wrist. If you can measure the child or a favourite sweater, use those numbers — they are more accurate.
Worked example: kids’ top-down raglan
This is real output from the builder for a child aged 6 (chest 64 cm).
Key numbers
- Cast-on
- 76
- Yoke rounds/rows
- 47
- Set-up: sleeve / front
- 12 / 26
- Increases A / B
- 16 / 8
- Yoke sts at end
- 236
- Cast on at underarm
- 8
- Body sts
- 164
- Sleeve sts
- 52
- Cuff sts
- 36
- Body rounds
- 45
Finished garment
- Bust circumference
- 74.5 cm
- Ease
- +10.5 cm
- Neckline
- 34.5 cm
- Collar
- 2.5 cm ribbing, 2.7 cm
- Yoke depth
- 15.5 cm
- Sleeve circumference
- 23.6 cm
- Cuff
- 16.4 cm
- Yarn (estimate)
- 540–690 m
Why a top-down raglan
A raglan is knit from the neck down in the round, without seams: you can try it on as you go and lengthen the sleeves or body a year later by undoing the rib. The neckline is calculated with room for the head to pass through — for children that matters most.
Numbers for age 6
- Neck cast-on: 76 sts
- Body stitches after the yoke: 164
- Yarn: 540–690 m
Yarn for other sizes is in the “How much yarn for a sweater” chart.
Yarn for children
Choose soft, machine-washable yarn: superwash merino, merino blends with acrylic or cotton. Scratchy wool is the number-one reason a child refuses to wear a sweater.
FAQ
How many stitches to cast on for a kids’ sweater?
It depends on the yarn and age. For age 6 at 22 sts per 10 cm, a top-down raglan starts with about 76 sts at the neck. The builder calculates it for your gauge.
What size should I knit to grow into?
Add 4–6 cm to the chest and knit the sleeves 3–4 cm longer — they can be folded back.
How much yarn for a 2-year-old’s sweater?
About 200 g of DK-weight yarn.