Looking for free chunky knitting patterns for babies? We don't think you'll find anything cuter than this sweet baby duckling bathrobe by Val Pierce. Worked in soft and fluffy chunky fur yarn, this is the only knitting pattern for babies you need to make a special gift that works well for babies of all different sizes, and is so cute and snuggly, bath time will be more enjoyable for everyone.
This free chunky knitting pattern for babies is worked using Sirdar Snowflake yarn in Lemon and Tiger colours. This is an older yarn now, so may be hard to find. We suggest using Sirdar Touch yarn in shade Ducky as an alternative for a more bright yellow robe, but feel free to swap in any chunky fur yarn you have in your supplies if you prefer. To see how this compares to American yarn weights if you are an American knitter, see our yarn weight conversion charts. You may want to use a plain DK yarn in a matching colour to make up as fluffy yarn is difficult to sew with.
Buy Sirdar Touch yarn from Amazon
If you need any advice or tips on the basics of getting started in knitting, take a look at our knitting for beginners article, or browse the other childrens knitting patterns we have for you on Gathered!
Free chunky knitting pattern for baby
Tension
14 sts and 19 rows to 10cm (4in) over st-st using 5.5mm (UK size 5) knitting needle. To learn more about tension and why it is important, see our article on knitting tension squares
Sizes
To fit: age 12-18 months
Chest: 56-61cm (22-24in)
Actual chest: 71cm (28in)
Length: 58cm (23in)
Abreviations
For a full list see our knitting abbreviations article
Duckling dressing gown
Back
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 46 sts fairly loosely. Knit four rows in garter stitch. Change to st-st and work 84 rows.
Shape armholes
Cast off 3 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. Work two rows in st-st. Next row K2tog at each end of the row. Next row Purl. Repeat last two rows until 16 sts remain. Cast off.
Left front
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 27 sts. Knit four rows in garter stitch. Change to st-st with garter stitch border. Next row Knit. Next row K5, purl to the end of the row. Repeat last two rows 41 times more or until front measures the same as back, ending on a wrong side row.
Shape armhole
Cast off 3 sts, knit to the end. Next row K5, purl. Next row Knit. Next row K5, purl to the end. Next row K2tog, knit to the end. Next row K5, purl to the end. Continue shaping as on the last two rows until you have 15 sts, ending on a right side row.
Shape neck
Next row Cast off 8 sts, purl to the end. Now decrease 1st at each end of next and following alternate rows. Next row K3tog, fasten off.
Right front
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 27 sts. Knit four rows in garter stitch. Change to st-st with garter stitch border. Next row Knit. Next row Purl to last 5 sts, k5. Repeat last two rows 40 times more. Next row Knit to the end of the row.
Shape armhole
Cast off 3 sts, purl to the last 5 sts, k5. Next row Knit. Next row Purl to last 5 sts, k5. Next row Knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. Next row Purl to last 5 sts, k5. Continue shaping as on the last two rows until you have 15 sts, ending on a wrong side row.
Shape neck
Next row Cast off 8 sts, knit to the end. Now decrease 1st at each end of the next and following alternate rows. Next row K3tog, fasten off.
Sleeves (make two)
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 30 sts. Knit 10 rows in garter stitch. Change to st-st and increase 1st at each end of the third row and on following eighth rows until you have 36 sts. Continue on these sts until the sleeve measures 24cm (91⁄2in),ending on a purl row.
Shape armholes
Cast off 3 sts at beg on next two rows. Now decrease 1st at each of row on every fourth row until 22 sts, then every other row until you have 12 sts. Cast off.
Hood
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 58 sts. Next row Knit. Next row K4, purl to the last 4 sts, k4. Repeat last two rows until work measures 19cm (31⁄2in), ending on a purl row. Next row K20, cast off 18, k20. Next row Rejoin yarn to centre 18 sts, proceed in st-st until the work measures 10cm (4in). Work eight rows in garter stitch and cast off.
Belt
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Lemon, cast on 7 sts. Work in garter stitch until belt measures 95cm (371⁄2in). Cast off.
Belt loops (make two)
Leave a 10cm (4in) tail and then cast on 8 sts. Knit one row and then cast off. Leave a 10cm (4in) tail of yarn.
Beak
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and Tigger, cast on 18 sts. Work in st-st for 10 rows. Now decrease 1st at each of next and following alternate rows until you have 8 sts. Cast off.
Eyes
Inner eyes (make two)
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and black yarn, cast on 3 sts. Next row Knit. Next row Increase in first and last stitch. 5 sts Next row Knit. Next row Increase in first and last stitch. 7 sts
Work three rows garter stitch. Now decrease 1st at each end of the next and following alt rows until you have 3 sts. Cast off.
Outer eyes (make two)
Using 5.5mm (UK 5, US 9) needles and white yarn, cast on 3 sts. Next row Knit. Next row Increase in first and last stitch. 5 sts Next row Knit. Next row Increase in first and last stitch. 7 sts Work five rows garter stitch. Now decrease 1st at each end of the next and following alt rows until you have 3 sts. Cast off.
To make up
Using a large-eyed, blunt needle, join raglan seams on sleeves to back and fronts. Sew side and sleeve seams. Take the hood and sew the top section in place to either sides.
Flatten hood and pin beak in place onto front section of hood, overlapping slightly at the front. Sew beak in place. Place a black eye onto a white eye, shape to get a neat finish and sew in place. Repeat for other eye. Sew the eyes onto the top of the hood. Now pin hood in place all around the neck edge and front borders. Sew neatly in place. Take the belt loops and using the ends of yarn, sew in place on either side of the dressing gown. Thread the belt through the loops and tie in front. Fold sleeve cuffs onto right sides.
Download the free chunky knitting pattern for babies
If you would prefer a PDF version of the free chunky knitting pattern for babies that you can save to your computer or print out to knit from, click to download the free chunky knitting pattern for babies. The download is an A4 PDF with 3 pages. Because this free chunky knitting pattern for babies was originally published in a cover booklet in the Love Crafts series, the pattern layout is square, which gives you some white spaces when the download is made to be printed out on A4 at home.
More like the free chunky knitting pattern for babies
We have ,any more free knitting patterns for you to enjoy right here on Gathered. Check out our basic baby hat knitting pattern and our baby cardigan knitting pattern for other great gifts to knit. Take a look at our pick of the best knitting kits as gifts, too.
