4 Baby Hooded Cardigan Knitting Patterns: Bear Ears & Pom-Poms
BABY & KIDS · PRINTABLE PDF COLLECTION
A bear-ear hood looks quite different in ridged garter stitch, smooth gray fabric and fluffy teddy yarn. Add a pom-pom option and there are four distinct projects to choose from. Here is how the HookHugCo baby hooded cardigan knitting patterns compare on sizes, yarn, needles and finished measurements.
The collection includes four English-language PDF patterns. This page is a guide to the designs; the knitting instructions are in the paid PDFs on Etsy. You are purchasing digital patterns, rather than finished baby clothing.
Four designs at a glance
Start with the size you need, then compare the details you would like to knit. The collection spans age labels from 3 to 24 months, but each individual pattern has its own size range.
| Design | Listed sizes | Distinctive detail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear-Ear Baby Cardigan | 6–12 months; one size | Garter texture and double button front | 4 pages |
| Baby Bear Knit Hoodie | 6, 12 and 18 months | Smooth fabric and bear-ear hood | 6 pages |
| Teddy Hooded Jacket | 3 and 6 months | Fluffy teddy texture | 4 pages |
| Pom-Pom Hooded Jacket | 6, 12, 18 and 24 months | Two pom-poms on the hood | 6 pages |
Each design has its own yarn, needle and gauge information. Choose the individual pattern before buying supplies; the four projects do not share one universal materials list.
1. Bear-Ear Baby Cardigan
The Bear-Ear Baby Cardigan combines a ridged garter-stitch texture with a double button front and small ears on the hood. It is shown in pink and sage: these are two color options for the same design.
This four-page pattern has one size labeled 6–12 months. If that is the age range you are considering, check the garment measurements in its PDF before deciding on the fit. Keep the body and sleeve measurements together in your project notes, rather than relying on the age label alone.
Yarn, needles and measurements
- Yarn: Crafter’s Square, 100% polyester, category 4 / worsted; 350 g (12.3 oz).
- Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm circular, 29 in (73.7 cm), or size needed for gauge.
- Gauge: 17 stitches over 4 in (10.16 cm), in stockinette.
- Finished lengths: Body from shoulder: 13.4 in (34 cm); sleeve from underarm: 7.9 in (20 cm); raglan line: 5.5 in (14 cm).
- Notions: 8 markers, yarn needle, waste yarn or holder, and 8–10 buttons, 25–30 mm in diameter.
The PDF gives the yarn amount by weight rather than yardage. When changing brands, compare the replacement’s length and gauge instead of treating 350 g as interchangeable across yarns.
2. Baby Bear Knit Hoodie
The Baby Bear Knit Hoodie has a smoother main fabric, a buttoned front and a bear-ear hood. The gray version gives a clear view of the contrast between the main fabric and the textured borders.
Its six-page PDF includes sizes 6, 12 and 18 months. Choose this design if you prefer the smooth-fabric look and need one of those sizes. Read the size order at the beginning of the pattern, then mark your chosen size consistently throughout the instructions.
Yarn, needles and measurements
- Yarn: Bunches of Hugs, one ball for each listed size; the PDF names shade Rain.
- Needles: US 8 / 5 mm circular, at least 24 in (60 cm), plus US 8 / 5 mm double-pointed needles.
- Gauge, as printed: 21 stitches over 5 in [12.5 cm]; 24 rows over 4 in [10 cm], in stockinette.
- Finished chest: 20 (22, 24) in / 51 (56, 61) cm.
- Length without hood: 11 (13½, 16) in / 28 (34.5, 40.5) cm.
- Buttons: 5 (6, 7), each ¾ in (19 mm).
Numbers follow the size order 6 (12, 18) months. The PDF lists ball-label lengths separately from the one-ball requirement; those figures are not measurements of yarn used in each size.
3. Teddy Hooded Jacket
The Teddy Hooded Jacket is the textured option in the collection, with a fluffy surface and bear-like hood. The rose and sage versions show color choices for this single design.
This four-page pattern includes sizes 3 and 6 months, making it the option to look at first when comparing the collection for a smaller baby. Follow this PDF’s yarn specification closely: changing the yarn changes both the appearance of the fabric and the gauge you need to check.
Yarn, needles and measurements
- Yarn: Go handmade Teddy, 100% polyester; each 50 g ball contains 65 m (approximately 71 yd).
- Amount: 3 months: 250 g / 5 balls, approximately 355 yd (325 m). 6 months: 300 g / 6 balls, approximately 427 yd (390 m).
- Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm.
- Gauge: 17 stitches over 10 cm (approximately 4 in).
- Finished circumference: 20.5 (22) in / 52 (56) cm.
- Body length: 9.4 (11) in / 24 (28) cm; sleeve length: 5.9 (7.1) in / 15 (18) cm.
Numbers follow the size order 3 (6) months. Keep a row counter or written row tally handy: a fluffy surface gives less visual contrast between individual stitches than a smooth yarn.
4. Pom-Pom Hooded Jacket
The Pom-Pom Hooded Jacket uses two pom-poms as the hood detail. The dark brown version, shown with light buttons, offers another way to style the collection without the rounded-ear shape.
The six-page PDF covers 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. It has the broadest listed size selection in this bundle and is the design to check when you need the 24-month option. Use the measurements for your selected size and follow the pattern’s finishing directions for the hood details.
Yarn, needles and measurements
- Yarn: Bernat Forever Fleece Finest, category 4 / medium. One 280 g ball contains 888 yd (812 m).
- Required length: 385 (480, 560, 625) yd / 350 (440, 510, 570) m.
- Needles: US 6 / 4 mm and US 7 / 4.5 mm circulars, 24 in (60 cm), plus double-pointed needles in both sizes.
- Gauge: 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 in (10 cm), in stockinette with the larger needles.
- Finished chest: 20 (22, 23, 25) in / 51 (56, 58.5, 63.5) cm.
- Buttons: 5, each ⅝ in (15 mm).
- Pattern level: Easy, as labeled in this PDF.
Numbers follow the size order 6 (12, 18, 24) months. The PDF names Aqua Heather as its recommended shade; the brown image shows a color option rather than an exact commercial shade reference.
How to choose your project and size
A useful distinction: finished chest circumference belongs to the cardigan, while a to-fit chest measurement belongs to the wearer. The Pom-Pom Jacket lists both. Avoid treating those two measurements as if they were the same thing.
Age labels narrow the choice, but measurements help you make the final decision. Before casting on:
- Choose the design. Compare the hood detail, fabric and available sizes. All four patterns are included in the bundle, so you can plan another project later.
- Check the measurements. Distinguish a measurement intended to fit the child from the finished garment measurement. Compare like with like and note where the pattern measures the body and sleeves.
- Check the gauge. Use the stitch pattern and measuring method specified in your chosen PDF. The named needle size is a starting point; a different gauge changes the finished size.
- Mark your size. Keep its numbers easy to follow through the pattern, particularly where several sizes appear in the same instruction.
If you are making a gift, ask for the child’s current measurements and intended wearing season before choosing a size. There is no need to guess from a photograph.
A project note you can copy
Keep these details together before you shop or cast on:
- Chosen design and size: __________
- Child’s current chest measurement: __________
- Pattern’s finished chest, where supplied: __________
- Yarn name, length per ball and number of balls: __________
- Needle size and swatch gauge: __________
- Body and sleeve lengths, with measurement starting points: __________
This is a planning record, not a universal baby size chart. Transfer the measurements for your chosen design rather than mixing figures from different patterns.
Prepare your yarn and tools
Open the PDF for the design you have chosen and make a short checklist: yarn name or specification, required amount, needle diameters, needle type, gauge and finishing supplies. Check the units as well as the numbers.
When considering a substitute yarn, compare its fiber, yarn weight, length per ball and care instructions with the specified yarn. A ball of the same weight in grams may contain a different length. Swatch before committing to the full garment, especially when changing the yarn or needle size.
Gather the markers, holders, yarn needle and buttons listed for that particular design. Use suitable tools you already own where possible. Our yarn and tools checklist explains the details to check, and the project notes guide can help you read the instructions before you begin.
Finishing tools
Optional suppliesThis section contains an affiliate link. If you buy through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
WEAVING IN ENDS & FINISHING
Blunt yarn needles
Choose a needle with an eye large enough for your yarn, and follow your selected pattern’s instructions for weaving in ends and finishing seams.
Browse yarn needles on Amazon ↗The link opens Amazon search results. Check the size, tip and eye of the item you select. Use a suitable yarn needle you already own if you have one.
PRINTABLE PATTERN COLLECTION
Get the four-pattern PDF bundle
The HookHugCo Etsy listing includes four separate English-language PDFs, with 20 pages in total. Each design has its own written instructions, materials and gauge information, abbreviations and project measurements. Metric and imperial measurements are provided, with rounded conversions where indicated.
Download the files through Etsy after payment is confirmed. Yarn, needles, buttons and finished garments are not included. No video tutorials are included in the bundle.
Get the 4-pattern PDF bundle on Etsy ↗
For help with an order or a step in a PDF, message HookHugCo through Etsy with the design name, page number, chosen size and your question.
Questions about the collection
Are these knitting or crochet patterns?
They are knitting patterns. Depending on the design, the instructions use techniques such as knit and purl stitches, increases and decreases, picking up stitches, buttonholes, working sleeves in the round and finishing. Familiarity with reading knitting patterns is recommended.
Does every design cover 3–24 months?
No. That age range describes the collection as a whole. Use the comparison table above to find which design includes the size you need, then check its measurements in the PDF.
Are the pink and sage cardigans separate patterns?
No. A pair of color versions shows one design in two colors. The bundle contains the four named designs listed in the table.
Can I follow the full instructions on this page?
This page helps you compare and prepare for the projects. The written knitting instructions are in the paid Etsy PDFs. For a project with complete instructions on the blog, explore our free knitting patterns.
Save this cardigan idea
Keep the pink and sage Bear-Ear Cardigan color ideas handy for your next project. Both colors show the same design from the four-pattern collection.
