This is
really the only crochet preemie top pattern you will ever need, these little tops are basic
quick and very easy to crochet, made in one piece you can easily adapt them for smaller and larger sizes and add your own touches.
There is now a picture Tutorial available for the small size, just substitute the numbers for the larger sizes..
Sizes..
Small Preemie 10 inch chest
Medium Preemie 12 inch chest
Large Preemie 14 inch chest
For the body
warmer variations just follow the size you require and omit the
sleeves, work a row of dc around armholes to finish off.
Materials
4 mm crochet
hook.
3.50 mm crochet hook.
DK yarn in the following approximate quantities..
Small preemie = 20 grams.
Medium preemie = 30 grams.
Large preemie = 40 grams.
Medium body warmer = 20 grams.
THIS PATTERN
IS WRITTEN IN UK CROCHET TERMS.
- Made in half treble crochet (htr) and double crochet (dc) for edging.
- US = half double crochet (hdc) and single crochet (sc) for edging.
- Made in one piece bottom up.
- Long sleeved version in brackets.
SMALL
PREEMIE
Chain 46
Htr in 3rd
chain and in each chain to end = 44 htr
Work 6 rows
htr.
Right front
and sleeve
Right side
facing working on first 11 sts only
Row 7 –
chain 2, dec one st work to end (10 sts) now make a 4 chain for short sleeve or
12 chain for long sleeve.
Row 8 – htr
in 3rd chain of sleeve and htr in each st to end decreasing 1st in
last 2 sts, = 13(19)sts 2ch turn
Row 9 – dec
1 st at beg of row htr to end.
Continue
like this decreasing one stitch at neck edge till you have 9(15) sts remaining.
Work one row
without decreasing and fasten off.
BACK
With right
side facing..
Chain 4(10)
for right sleeve then htr in next 22 sts, chain 6(12) for left sleeve.
Row 7 – htr
in 3rd ch and each ch for left sleeve, 22 sts for back and 10 ch for
right sleeve. = 30(42)sts. 2ch turn..
Row 8 – htr
in each htr to end, 2ch turn..
Continue
until back measures the same as right front and then fasten off.
LEFT FRONT
Right side
facing
Row 7 -
Chain 4(10) htr in last 11 sts decreasing one st at neck edge, 2ch turn.
Row 8 – dec
1st then htr in each htr for left front and each 4 (10) ch for left
sleeve..
Continue as right
front reversing shaping until left front matches right front and back.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
See below
MEDIUM
PREEMIE
Chain 50
Htr in 3rd
chain and in each chain to end =
Work 8 rows
htr.
Right front
and sleeve
Right side
facing working on first 12 sts only
Row 9 –
chain 2, dec one st work to end (11 sts) now make an 8 chain for short sleeve or
14 chain for long sleeve.
Row 10 – htr
in 3rd chain of sleeve and htr in each st to end decreasing 1st in
last 2 sts, = 16(22)sts, 2ch turn.
Row 11– dec 1 st at beg of row htr to end.
Continue
like this decreasing one stitch at neck edge till you have 11(17) sts
remaining.
Work one row
without decreasing then fasten off.
BACK
With right
side facing
Chain 6(12)
for right sleeve then htr in next 24sts for back and then chain 8(14) for left sleeve.
Row 9 – htr
in 3rd ch and each ch for left sleeve, 24 sts for back and each ch
for right sleeve. = 36(48)sts. 2ch turn..
Row 10 – htr
in each htr to end, 2ch turn..
Continue
until back measures the same as right front and then fasten off.
LEFT FRONT
Right side
facing
Row 9 -
Chain 6(12) for left sleeve and then htr in remaining 12 sts decreasing one st
at neck edge, 2ch turn.
Row 10 – dec
1st then htr in each htr for left front and each ch for left
sleeve..
Continue as
right front reversing shaping until left front matches right front and back.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
See below.
Large Preemie
Chain 58
Htr in 3rd
chain and in each chain to end =
Work 10 rows
htr.
Right front
and sleeve
Right side
facing working on first 14 sts only...
Row 11 –
chain 2, dec one st work to end (13 sts) now make a 8 chain for short sleeve or
16 chain for long sleeve.
Row 12 – htr
in 3rd chain of sleeve and htr in each st to end decreasing 1st in
last 2 sts, = 18(26)sts, 2ch turn
Row 13 – dec
1 st at beg of row htr to end.
Continue
like this decreasing one stitch at neck edge till you have 11(19) sts
remaining.
Work one row
without decreasing and fasten off.
BACK
With right
side facing
Chain 6(14)
for right sleeve then htr in next 28 sts, chain 8(16) for left sleeve.
Row 11 – htr
in 3rd ch and each ch for left sleeve, 28 sts for back and each ch
for right sleeve. = 40(56)sts. 2ch turn..
Row 12 – htr
in each htr to end, 2ch turn..
Continue
until back and sleeves measure the same as right front.
LEFT FRONT
Right side
facing
Row 11 -
Chain 6(14) htr in remaining 14 sts decreasing one st at neck edge, 2ch turn.
Row 12 – dec
1st then htr in each htr for left front and each ch for left
sleeve..
Continue as
right front reversing shaping until left front matches right front and back.
Fasten off.
FINISHING for all sizes..
Sew arm seams and weave in loose ends.
Using 3.50 hook.
With right side facing work a row of dc around work making a 3 chain for a buttonhole one row down from the beginning of front shaping.
Optional Heart
Magic ring
3ch, 2tr, 1htr, 1dc, 1ch, 1tr, 1ch, 1dc, 1htr, 2tr, 3ch, ss to centre, pull up tight.
To make the heart bigger just go up a stitch size or use a larger hook.
Have fun :)
They're very cute - thanks for sharing your pattern. :)
ReplyDeleteso practical and so dinky...I just love these sort of makes!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Linda
keep well
Amanda xx
They are so cute !!!! And easy to do !!! With the pattern that you shared !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a shinny week !
Anna
Great patterns....wish my crocheting skills were better.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this pattern. They really are beautiful cardigans.
ReplyDeleteSuper pattern, thank you Linda! i will be making a few of these x
ReplyDeleteThey are very cute, Linda!!:) Thanks for sharing the pattern!!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful, thanks for sharing the pattern on Handmade Monday
ReplyDeleteThey are very cute xx
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful, Linda. Thank you for sharing the pattern. I'm sure they will be very useful. My babies were both borderline-preemies and I didn't have enough small clothing for them. If I'd been a better crocheter back then, these would have been perfect. I hope you're having a good week so far!
ReplyDeleteSo cute Linda
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can decorate them so nice and easy.
Very cute.
ReplyDeleteHow adorable! And such a versatile pattern, for boys or girls, long-sleeve, short-sleeve... Really nice!
ReplyDeleteSweet & pretty!! ♥ Many thanks for sharing, Linda :-).
ReplyDeleteHugs, Nata
simply adorable and thanks for sharing the pattern!
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon Linda, I adore these little cardigans, they are so cute. I was looking at the pattern and do you know, I think I might be able to make one. The only problem is, there are no little ones in the family at the moment. You never know, I might just need your pattern in the future.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Daphne
Hello Linda, I love these cardigans you made! Thanks for sharing the pattern to make one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy the weekend.
Julie
eeeeee thanks for the mesuremeants .... eeeeee I cannot wait to try for meself
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Great pattern Linda. x
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! I'm from South Africa and live in a small rural town called Vryheid (which means freedom) in the provide of KwaZulu Natal. I'm a granny of five that only recently learned to crochet! �� we have quite a few prem babies in our local hospital! So we started a group of ladies, knitting and crocheting baby hats, booties, jerseys and blankets! But we do all sizes, since there are quite a lot of babies that gets wrapped in brown paper or news paper when they go home!!! So if you have any advice for me/us I would really appreciate it!?���� since we,the ladies that does this are either pensioners or unemployed and struggle ourselves!? We try and do as much with the little we have! Just wanted to say, thank you so much for sharing your patterns with us, because we will definitely make use of them!!! God bless and keep up the good work!!!!��������
ReplyDeleteCould we send send you some finished baby items I would love to help
DeleteI am trying to follow and am struggling. Could you please clarify how to do the back. Where do you start the chain four?
ReplyDeleteThe chain four forms the start of second part of your left sleeve. You have already worked the left front and sleeve so after making a four chain you htr into the next 22 sts which will be the back. I hope this helps. :)
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ReplyDeleteRow 7. And 8. Please explain
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do after the chain 4 or 12?
Send me your email address Paula and I will forward you a sketch
DeleteHello Linda
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pattern, however I am completely stuck after making the right front and sleeve, I'm not sure where to place the 10 stitches for the back and so on.
Thanks again
Please send me your email address and I will forward you a sketch.
DeleteHello Linda
ReplyDeleteDo you count the 2 chain at the beginning and end of rows as htr stitch.
Thank you
The two chain turn is counted as the first htr of the next row.
ReplyDeleteHi there. I'm stuck. The "now chain 12 for a long sleeve" I can do.... but now I have a random chain hanging off of my work and I have zero idea where I'm supposed to go for row 8. I feel like photos would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I have time to do a picture tutorial for you in the next couple days.
DeleteSorry Linda, I've crocheted the right front and sleeve but am stuck at this point too?
ReplyDeletePlease bear with me Shirley I'm working on it.
DeletePicture tutorial now available just click the link at the top of the page.
DeleteThank you so much. 😊
ReplyDeleteWhen you start the back, how do you get from chain the right sleeve to the back? Do I crochet back down the sleeve?
ReplyDeletePlease see the photo tutorial, link at the bottom of the post.
Delete