This free crochet infant’s surplice sweater pattern was originally published in 1947 in the Sultana Baby Book, Volume S17.
Follow the easy step-by-step instructions of this vintage crochet pattern to make this classic baby sweater. There is absolutely no charge for personal use of this crochet baby clothing pattern.
Free Crochet Sweater Pattern:
How to Crochet a Sweater
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Sultana Beautysheen, 7 Balls
Steel Crochet Hook, Size 3
NOTE(s)
This surplice sweater pattern is for an infant from newborn to 6 months.
Measurements — Chest 20 inches, length from lower edge to back of neck 9 1/2 inches, sleeves — width 7 inches.
Gauge: (shell pattern) 9 shells = 4 inches, 9 rows = 2 inches
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Surplice Sweater – Left Front
Ribbing
Ch 16, 1 hdc in 3rd st from hook and in each st on ch; 14 hdc.
Row 2 — Ch 2, turn, 1 hdc in first hdc, inserting hook through both loops, 1 hdc in back loop of each of next 12 hdc, 1 hdc through both loops of last st.
Repeat row 2 until there are 47 rows.
Surplice Sweater – Pattern
Row 1 — right side — Working on edge of ribbing, ch 2, 1 dc in end st of first row, * skip 1 row, 1 sc in end st of next row, ch 2, 3 dc in same st as sc; repeat from *, end skip 1 row, 1 sc in end st of last row; 22 shells.
Row 2 — Ch 2, turn, 1 dc in first sc, * skip 3 dc, 1 sc in sp under next 2 ch, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp (1 shell); repeat from *, end 1 sc in turning ch.
Repeat row 2 twice.
Row 5 (First Dec. Row) — Ch 2, turn, work to within 1 shell of end (front edge), 1 sc in sp under next 2 ch.
Row 6 — Ch 2, turn, skip 3 dc, 1 shell in sp under next 2 ch, finish row; 21 shells.
Repeat last 2 rows 7 times, decreasing 1 shell every 2 rows, end at underarm edge; 14 shells.
Surplice Sweater – Sleeve
Ch 54, turn, 1 hdc in 3rd and each of next 11 sts for cuff; 1 sc in next st, ch 2,1 dc in same st as sc, * skip 3 sts, 1 shell in next st; repeat from * 9 times, working last shell in first sc of row below; 10 shells for sleeve; finish row, decreasing at front edge as before.
Next row — Work pat. to cuff, end with 1 sc under last 2 ch, 1 hdc in back loop of each of next 11 hdc, 1 hdc through both loops of last st. Ch 2, turn, work hdc ribbing for 12 sts, 1 sc in next sc, ch 2, 1 dc in same st as sc, skip 3 dc, work shell in next space; finish row, decreasing as before at front edge.
Continue pat. and front edge decreases until 17 shells, plus cuff sts remain (15 shells decreased).
Work even until there are 17 rows on sleeve, end at neck edge, omitting last sc. Drop loop, do not break.
Sweater – Right Front
With new ball, work same as left front, until there are 4 oat. rows.
First Dec. Row — Ch 2, turn (front edge), skin sc and 3 dc, 1 shell under next 2 ch. finish row.
Next Row — Work to within 1 shell of end. skip 3 dc. 1 sc under next 2 ch: 21 shells.
Work to correspond to left front until there are 21 pat. rows, end at underarm edge, omitting last sc; drop thread.
Join separate strand in top of turning ch of row below, ch 52 for sleeve; fasten off.
Continue last row, working 1 shell in top of turning ch, * skip 3 sts, 1 shell in next st; repeat from * 8 times, skip 3 sts, 1 sc in next st, 1 hdc in each of last 12 sts for cuff.
Work to correspond to left front until there are 16 rows on sleeve, end at neck edge; ch 31 for back of neck, join (at neck edge) in top of turning ch in row below last row worked on left front. Fasten off, turn.
Continuing last row of left front from right side, work 1 shell in top of turning ch, 1 shell in every 4th st of ch, skip last 3 sts, 1 shell in first sc on left front, finish row; 43 shells.
Work even until there are 32 rows on sleeves, end on wrong side.
Fasten off.
Back of the Crocheted Sweater
Turn. Skip cuff and 10 shells of sleeve, 1 sc in sp under ch 2 of 10th shell, ch 2, 1 dc in same sp, * skip 3 dc, 1 shell in next sp; repeat from * 22 times, skip 3 dc, 1 sc in next sp. Ch 2, turn.
Work pat. even on 23 shells until 20 rows below sleeves. Fasten off.
Ribbing
Ch 16, work 47 rows as for front ribbing.
Fasten off, leaving end to sew ribbing evenly to lower edge of back. Sew sleeve and underarm seams, leaving 3 open spaces at right underarm for buttonholes, as illustrated.
Surplice Sweater – Edging
Beginning at lower edge of right front, working from right side, 1 sc in each of 2 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sts for buttonhole, work 6 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sts, work sc to within 1 row of first dec. row; ch 2, 1 sc in end st of next row for 3rd buttonhole, ch 2, 3 dc in same st as last sc, skip 1 row, 1 shell in end st of next row; continue shell pat. up front, around neck and down left front to straight edge, finish with sc to lower edge. Fasten off.
Finishing this Crochet Sweater
Steam lightly. Sew 3 buttons on left underarm seam and on straight edge of left front. Right front laps over left front.