Waffle Knit Baby Polo Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Waffle Knit Baby Polo Sweater in Plymouth Yarn Dandelion

What is Being Made

This is a classic baby polo sweater designed to fit infants from newborn through 24 months. The garment features a traditional polo-style construction with a button placket at the neckline, making it practical for dressing babies. Available in three sizes—0-3 months (20" chest), 6-12 months (23" chest), and 18-24 months (25" chest)—the sweater offers versatile sizing for growing infants. The finished lengths range from 10½" to 12½" depending on size, with sleeve lengths from 6" to 7½".

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental garment construction techniques. The sweater begins with a ribbed cuff worked in 2x2 ribbing, which provides elasticity and a polished finish at the lower edge and sleeve openings. Strategic decreases are worked evenly across the ribbing transition to shape the garment body. The pattern uses removable markers to denote sleeve placement points, a technique that helps knitters maintain accurate measurements and shaping throughout the project. The design incorporates a shaped neckline with bind-offs and decreases to create a professional polo collar opening, and button bands are integrated into the front placket construction. Shoulder shaping is achieved through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of rows, a standard technique for creating fitted armholes and proper garment drape.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is the Waffle Stitch, which creates a textured, three-dimensional fabric with visual interest. This stitch pattern works over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2 edge stitches and repeats over 4 rows. The pattern alternates between knit and purl rows in a specific sequence: Row 1 is worked entirely in knit on the right side, Row 2 is purled, Row 3 combines purled and knitted stitches in a p2, k1 repeat, and Row 4 reverses this with k2, p1 repeats. This creates the characteristic waffle texture that gives the sweater its name and visual appeal. The 2x2 ribbing used for cuffs and bands employs alternating knit and purl stitches in pairs, creating vertical columns that provide stretch and recovery. Additional stitches used include standard knit and purl stitches for shaping rows, bind-offs for finishing edges, and decreases for shaping the neckline and shoulders.

Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked with Plymouth Yarn Dandelion in color 2007-Yellow. The yardage requirements are 3 balls of 50g each for the smallest size (0-3 months), and 4 balls for the two larger sizes (6-12 and 18-24 months). The pattern is worked on US Size 7 knitting needles, with a primary needle size of 16" circular needles for certain sections and straight needles for flat construction. The gauge is critical for proper fit: 4.75 stitches and 7.5 rows equal 1 inch when working stockinette stitch on size 7 needles, while the 2x2 ribbing achieves 5 stitches per 1 inch when slightly stretched on the same needle size. Additional notions include 4 removable stitch markers for tracking shaping points and 2 buttons for the polo placket closure, completing this charming baby garment.