Ocean Blue Hooded Toddler Sweater Free Crochet Pattern

Let me guess. You have seen those adorable hooded baby sweaters with the little bear ears and thought, “That looks way too complicated for me.” Maybe you have scrolled past a dozen patterns, intimidated by words like “raglan construction” or “top-down shaping.” I get it. Those terms sound fancy and a little scary.

Here is the truth. This sweater is built on single crochet. That is it. If you can work a single crochet stitch, you can make this cardigan. The raglan shaping is just adding two stitches at the same spots every other row. The hood is a rectangle you fold and sew. The bear ears are tiny circles you pinch into shape. Nothing mysterious, nothing magical, just straightforward crochet worked one stitch at a time.

Whether you are an intermediate crocheter ready to try your first garment or a brave beginner willing to take it slow, this pattern breaks everything down into manageable pieces. I will walk you through every single step, explain the why behind each technique, and give you checkpoints along the way so you always know you are on track.

Why You Will Love This Pattern

This ocean-themed cardigan hits all the right notes for a handmade baby gift. The dense single crochet fabric creates a cozy, warm layer perfect for chilly days. The oversized hood with those sweet little bear ears makes every toddler look absolutely adorable. And those anchor-shaped buttons down the front? Pure nautical charm.

The construction is smarter than it looks. You work from the top down, which means you can try the sweater on as you go and adjust the length. No complicated seaming of separate pieces. The sleeves get picked up right from the body and worked in the round. The hood attaches directly to the neckline. Everything flows together logically.

The finished sweater includes ribbed cuffs and hem for a polished look, a crocheted starfish applique on the chest, and that beautiful ocean teal-blue color that works for any little one. This is the kind of handmade piece that becomes an heirloom.

Skill level: Intermediate. The stitches themselves are beginner-friendly, but the raglan math, picking up stitches, and finishing details add complexity.

Time: Plan for approximately 12 to 18 hours of crochet time for the 18 to 24 month size, spread across multiple sessions.

Finished Measurements

This pattern is written for size 12 to 18 months with size 18 to 24 months in parentheses.

Chest circumference: 22 inches or 56 cm (24 inches or 61 cm)
Total length from back neck to hem: 13 inches or 33 cm (14 inches or 35.5 cm)
Sleeve length from underarm to cuff: 7 inches or 18 cm (8 inches or 20 cm)
Hood height from neckline to top seam: 8 inches or 20 cm (8.5 inches or 21.5 cm)
Hood width at opening: 11 inches or 28 cm (12 inches or 30.5 cm)

Materials You Will Need

Worsted weight, Category 4: approximately 600 yards or 550 meters (700 yards or 640 meters for the larger size) in main color, ocean teal-blue. About 30 yards or 27 meters of cream or off-white for the starfish applique.
Recommended yarns: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Blue or Colonial Blue (100% acrylic, machine washable); Paintbox Yarns Simply DK held double in Sailor Blue; We Are Knitters The Wool in Petrol for a luxurious heirloom finish. Stick with smooth, non-splitty yarn.
US size J (6.0 mm) hook for the main fabric; US size I (5.5 mm) for the ribbing sections on the cuffs and hem
At least 6 stitch markers
Yarn needle
5 anchor-shaped wooden or resin buttons, approximately 0.75 inches (19 mm)
Sewing thread and needle for buttons
Small piece of faux leather for the optional label (about 1.5 x 0.75 inches)
Rust-proof pins for blocking

Gauge

With your J (6.0 mm) hook in single crochet worked flat: 14 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm); 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). Make a swatch at least 5 inches square, block it, then measure the center 4 inches.

Abbreviations

sc = single crochet
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
inc = increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
sc2tog = single crochet two together (decrease)
BLO = back loop only (creates ribbed texture)
RS = right side; WS = wrong side
sm = slip marker
MC = main color (ocean blue); CC = contrast color (cream)

Pattern Notes

The turning chain (ch 1) at the start of each row does not count as a stitch. Skip it and work your first sc into the first actual stitch.
Raglan increases happen on right side rows only. You will alternate between increase rows and plain rows.
Four raglan markers divide your yoke into five sections: left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve, right front. The two fronts are half the width of the back to allow for the button opening.
Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of each row.

Yoke

With MC and J hook, ch 33 (37). Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (32 sc) (36 sc)

Place your raglan markers. For 32 stitches: 4 left front, marker, 4 left sleeve, marker, 16 back, marker, 4 right sleeve, marker, 4 right front. For 36 stitches: 5 left front, marker, 4 left sleeve, marker, 18 back, marker, 4 right sleeve, marker, 5 right front.

Row 2 (RS, raglan increase row): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st to 1 st before marker, inc, slip marker, inc. Repeat at all 4 raglan points. Sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (40 sc) (44 sc)

Row 3 (WS, plain row): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across, slipping markers as you pass them. Ch 1, turn. (40 sc) (44 sc)

Continue alternating increase rows (RS) and plain rows (WS). Each RS row adds 8 stitches total:

Raglan increase row. (48 sc) (52 sc)
Plain row. (48 sc) (52 sc)
Raglan increase row. (56 sc) (60 sc)
Plain row. (56 sc) (60 sc)
Raglan increase row. (64 sc) (68 sc)
Plain row. (64 sc) (68 sc)
Raglan increase row. (72 sc) (76 sc)
Plain row. (72 sc) (76 sc)
Raglan increase row. (80 sc) (84 sc)
Plain row. (80 sc) (84 sc)
Raglan increase row. (88 sc) (92 sc)
Plain row. (88 sc) (92 sc)
Raglan increase row. (96 sc) (100 sc)
Plain row. (96 sc) (100 sc)

Size 12 to 18 months stops here. Size 18 to 24 months continues with one more raglan increase row. (108 sc)

Your piece measured flat from center back neck to the base of the yoke should be approximately 4.5 inches or 11.5 cm (5 inches or 12.7 cm).

Body

Separate the sleeves from the body: Ch 1, turn. Sc across 12 (14) left front sts. Ch 4 to bridge the underarm gap. Skip 20 (22) left sleeve sts (put these on a stitch holder or scrap yarn). Sc across 32 (36) back sts. Ch 4. Skip 20 (22) right sleeve sts. Sc across 12 (14) right front sts. Ch 1, turn. Body stitch count: 12 + 4 + 32 + 4 + 12 = 64 sc (72 sc for larger size).

Sc in each st and each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (64 sc) (72 sc). Rows 2 through 32 (34): Work even in sc. Ch 1, turn at end of each row. (64 sc) (72 sc)

Switch to your smaller hook (I or 5.5 mm). Ch 1, turn. Work BLO sc in each st across. (64 sc) (72 sc). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sleeves (Make 2)

Return your held sleeve stitches to the hook. With J hook and RS facing, join MC with sl st at center of underarm chain. Sc 2 sts across remaining half of underarm chain. Sc across all 20 (22) held sleeve sts. Sc 2 sts across remaining half of underarm chain. Join with sl st to first sc. Place marker. (24 sc) (26 sc)

Sleeves are now worked in the round. Do not turn.

Round 1: Sc in each st around. (24 sc) (26 sc)
Round 2: Sc2tog, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (22 sc) (24 sc)
Round 3: Sc in each st around. (22 sc) (24 sc)
Round 4: Sc2tog, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (20 sc) (22 sc)
Rounds 9 through 14 (9 through 16): Sc in each st around. (20 sc) (22 sc)
Round 15 (17): Sc2tog, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (18 sc) (20 sc)
Rounds 15 through 20 (17 through 24): Work even in sc. (18 sc) (20 sc)

Switch to smaller hook (I or 5.5 mm). Work BLO sc in each st around. (18 sc) (20 sc). Sl st to close. Fasten off. Repeat for second sleeve.

Front Bands

Right front buttonhole band: With RS facing and J hook, join MC at lower right front corner. Work sc evenly up the right front edge, placing approximately 2 sc per every 3 rows (approximately 36 sc) (38 sc). Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (36 sc) (38 sc)

Band Row 2 (WS, buttonhole row): Sc in first 2 (3) sts. [Ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in next 6 sts] repeat 4 times. Ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in last 2 (3) sts. Ch 1, turn. Sc across, working 2 sc into each ch-2 sp. Ch 1, turn. (36 sc) (38 sc). Sc in each st across. Fasten off. (36 sc) (38 sc)

Left front button band: With RS facing, join MC at upper left front corner. Work 4 rows of sc evenly down the left front edge. No buttonholes. Fasten off.

Hood

With RS facing and J hook, join MC at upper right front corner. Work sc evenly across the entire neckline edge. (32 sc) (36 sc)

Sc across all sts. Ch 1, turn. (32 sc) (36 sc)
Work even in sc. Ch 1, turn. (32 sc) (36 sc)
Sc 14 (16), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 14 (16). Ch 1, turn. (34 sc) (38 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.
Sc 15 (17), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 15 (17). Ch 1, turn. (36 sc) (40 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.
Sc 16 (18), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 16 (18). Ch 1, turn. (38 sc) (42 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.
Sc 17 (19), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 17 (19). Ch 1, turn. (40 sc) (44 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.
Sc 18 (20), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 18 (20). Ch 1, turn. (42 sc) (46 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.
Sc 19 (21), inc, sc 2, inc, sc 19 (21). Ch 1, turn. (44 sc) (48 sc)
Work even. Ch 1, turn.

Work even in sc for 12 more rows (14 more rows for larger size). (44 sc) (48 sc)

Fold the hood in half so the short side edges meet. Seam the top edge closed using whip stitch or slip stitch through both layers.

Bear Ears (Make 2)

With MC and J hook, make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into magic ring. Pull ring closed. Work in a continuous spiral. (6 sc). Inc in each st around. (12 sc). Sl st to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Pinch the bottom quarter together to form a cup shape. Stitch the pinched base closed. Sew both ears to the top corners of the hood, approximately 2 inches apart.

Starfish Applique

With CC and J hook, make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 10 sc into magic ring. Pull closed. Join with sl st. (10 sc)

For each arm (make 5): use 2 adjacent stitches from the center ring as the base. Join yarn in first base st. Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc in next st. Ch 1, turn. (2 sc). Inc in first st. Inc in second st. Ch 1, turn. (4 sc). Sc in each st. Ch 1, turn. (4 sc). Sc2tog, sc2tog. Ch 1, turn. (2 sc). Fasten off. Repeat for remaining 4 arms.

Sew the starfish to the upper left chest, about 2.5 inches below the neckline.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends. Sew the 5 anchor buttons opposite the buttonholes on the left front band. Attach your optional leather label to the lower right corner of the hem. Soak the finished sweater in cool water for 20 minutes. Roll in a towel to remove excess water. Pin to finished measurements and let dry completely.

Care: For acrylic yarn: machine wash gentle cycle in cold water, lay flat to dry, no high heat in the dryer. For wool: hand wash in cool water with wool wash, press out water gently, lay flat to dry, never wring.

Final Thoughts

This sweet hooded cardigan with its little bear ears and starfish detail is the kind of piece that gets passed down and loved hard. Take it slow through the raglan increases, check your measurements as you go, and enjoy watching it come together. Happy crocheting!