by Keep your little one cozy and charming with this delightful crochet baby romper! Inspired by the sweet pink design in the picture, this pattern features a comfortable ribbed yoke and cuffs, soft long sleeves, and a textured body for warmth and style. Perfect for everyday wear, playtime, or snuggling up.
Skill Level: Intermediate (Familiarity with basic stitches, working top-down, joining in the round, and understanding ribbed stitches is helpful).
Materials:
- Yarn: DK (Light Worsted) weight yarn. A soft baby acrylic, cotton, or blend is highly recommended for baby comfort and drape.
- Main Color (MC): Pink (or your chosen primary color) – approx. 300-500 yards, depending on size.
- Crochet Hook: Size G/6 (4.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends.
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers: Very helpful for marking increase points, armholes, and the beginning of rounds.
- Small Buttons: 2-3, for the bottom closure.
Gauge (Crucial!):
Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the romper to fit properly.
- Yoke Gauge: 4 rows of hdc should measure approximately 1 inch.
- Body Stitch Gauge: 4 rows of the textured body stitch should measure approximately 1 inch.
- Adjust your hook size if necessary to meet these gauges.
Finished Size (Approximate, 6-12 Months):
- Chest Circumference: 19-20 inches
- Length (Shoulder to Crotch): 16-17 inches
- Adjustments for other sizes: Guidance will be provided.
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sk: skip
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- beg: beginning
- rep: repeat
- inc: increase (work 2 sts in the same st)
- dec: decrease (work 2 sts together)
- FPhdc: Front Post Half Double Crochet
- BPhdc: Back Post Half Double Crochet
- MC: Main Color
- ( ): repeat instructions in parentheses a specified number of times
- [ ]: total stitches at the end of the round
Special Stitches:
- Ribbed Texture (for Yoke & Cuffs): Achieved by alternating FPhdc and BPhdc, or by working hdc in the Back Loop Only (BLO) for a simpler rib. We will use FPhdc/BPhdc for the look in the picture.
- Textured Body Stitch: The body appears to be a simple repeat of (dc 1, ch 1, sk 1) or a similar open stitch. We will use a (dc, ch 1) pattern.
Pattern for Sweet Snuggles Crochet Baby Romper
Part 1: The Yoke (Top Down, Worked in Rows)
Using Main Color (MC – Pink):
Initial Chain: Ch 76 (for 6-12 months). Adjust this number to fit around the widest part of the baby’s head comfortably, ensuring it’s a multiple of 4 plus 4 for symmetry of the yoke divisions.
Row 1 (Neckline/Foundation): Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. [74 hdc] Do NOT join. You’ll work in rows for the back opening.
Row 2 (First Yoke Row – Increases): Ch 2 (counts as hdc). Hdc in first st. Hdc in next 10 sts (Right Back Panel). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 1). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 15 sts (Right Sleeve). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 2). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 20 sts (Front Panel). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 3). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 15 sts (Left Sleeve). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 4). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 10 sts. Hdc 2 in last st (Left Back Panel). [86 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps] Ch 2, turn.
Row 3 (Yoke Increases): Hdc in first st. Hdc in each hdc until you reach the first ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 1). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 2). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 3). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 4). Hdc in each hdc until last st. Hdc 2 in last st. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 3 for approximately 2-4 more rows, or until the yoke (measured across the widest part of the baby’s chest) reaches the desired width. Typically, 5-7 total yoke rows are sufficient for this age group. The romper in the picture has a relatively deep yoke.
Ribbed Yoke Rounds (as seen in picture): After your final increase row, work 2-3 rows alternating FPhdc and BPhdc to create the ribbed texture on the yoke. Work in rows, turning at the end of each.
Joining for Armholes & Body:
Next Row (after final yoke increase row): Ch 2. Hdc in each hdc until you reach the first corner ch-1 sp. Hdc 1 in corner ch-1 sp. Ch 2 (this creates the armhole space). Sk ALL sts between this corner and the next corner. Hdc 1 in the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc in each hdc across the Front Panel until you reach the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc 1 in corner ch-1 sp. Ch 2 (this creates the second armhole space). Sk ALL sts between this corner and the next corner. Hdc 1 in the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc in each hdc until the end of the row. [Number of sts will depend on yoke size, approx. 60-70 hdc plus 4 chs for armholes]. Sl st to the first hdc of the row to join. You will now work in rounds for the body.
Part 2: The Body (Worked in Rounds)
Using Main Color (MC – Pink):
Round 1 (Foundation for Body): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in each st around, including the 2 chs under each armhole. Sl st to join. Ensure your stitch count is an even number for the textured stitch.
Round 2 (Textured Body Stitch): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Sk 1 st. Dc in next st. Ch 1. *Sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3 to join. This creates the open, textured look.
Round 3 (Textured Body Stitch): Sl st into the first ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in same ch-1 sp. Ch 1. *Dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3 to join.
Repeat Round 3 of the Body Textured Stitch until the body reaches your desired length to the crotch, or about 2-3 inches before the desired total length of the romper (to allow for the leg band).
Part 3: Crotch & Leg Openings
Using MC (Pink):
Next Round (Divide for legs): Ch 1. Sc in each st around for 1-2 rounds. [This creates a solid base before the leg openings.] Mark the center front and center back of your romper.
Next Round (Leg opening 1): Sc in the first half of the stitches (this will be one leg opening). Ch 2-3 (for the crotch seam). Sl st to the first sc to join, creating a loop for the first leg.
Part 4: The Legs (Make 2)
Leg 1:
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work the Textured Body Stitch (dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1) around the leg opening, ensuring your stitch count is suitable for the pattern. Sl st to join. You might need to adjust your stitch count slightly on this first round to make the pattern work evenly.
Repeat Round 1 (Textured Body Stitch) until the leg reaches your desired length, ending about 1 inch before the ankle (where the cuff will begin).
Cuff (Ribbed): Next Round: Ch 2. Hdc in each dc and ch-1 sp around. Sl st to join. Next Round: Ch 2 (counts as hdc). Work alternating FPhdc and BPhdc around for 2-3 rounds to create the ribbed cuff. Sl st to join. Fasten off MC and weave in ends.
Leg 2: Join MC (Pink) to the other side of the crotch ch-2. Repeat the instructions for Leg 1. Fasten off MC and weave in ends.
Part 5: Finishing Touches
Neckline Edging (using MC – Pink): Join MC yarn to the top right corner of the back opening. Row 1: Ch 1. Sc evenly around the entire neckline opening. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off MC and weave in ends.
Back Closure:
- Button Loops: On one side of the back opening (e.g., the right side when looking at the back of the romper), join MC yarn at the top. Ch 3 (to form a loop), sl st into a nearby stitch to create a small button loop. Make 2-3 loops evenly spaced down the back opening.
- Buttons: Sew 2-3 small buttons onto the opposite side of the back opening, aligning them with the button loops.
Bottom Closure: The picture shows buttons at the bottom of the romper.
- Button Holes: On one side of the leg opening (or along the bottom edge where the two legs meet), work 2-3 small buttonholes by chaining 2-3, skipping stitches, and then continuing to sc.
- Buttons: Sew 2-3 small buttons on the corresponding side of the other leg opening/bottom edge to match the buttonholes.
Final Touches:
- Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely.
- Block the romper gently to open up the lace pattern and ensure evenness.
Video tutorial
Adjusting for Different Sizes:
- Initial Chain: Adjust the initial chain to fit the head circumference, always ensuring it works with your yoke increase formula (e.g., a multiple of 4 + 4 for the hdc rows).
- Yoke Rows: Add or subtract yoke increase rows (Row 3 repeats) to achieve the desired chest circumference and armhole depth. Measure regularly!
- Armhole Chain: For larger sizes, you might need to chain 3-4 stitches for the armhole bridge instead of 2.
- Body Length: Add or subtract repeats of the Textured Body Stitch rounds to achieve the desired length to the crotch.
- Leg Length: Add or subtract repeats of the Textured Body Stitch rounds on the legs to achieve the desired leg length before the cuff.
- Gauge Swatch: ALWAYS make a gauge swatch for garments to ensure the correct fit!
Enjoy crocheting this beautiful and cozy Sweet Snuggles Baby Romper! It’s a wonderful project that results in a cherished handmade item.
