Pastel Cuffed Pocket Hoodie: Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This pastel cuffed pocket hoodie is a cozy, boxy knit designed for kids aged 4, 6, and 8 years. It's worked flat in pieces and seamed, which makes it a wonderful project for anyone who is comfortable with knit and purl stitches but hasn't tackled a sweater before. The wide candy-colored stripes in pale pink, mint, lavender, and baby blue give it a cheerful Nordic winter look, while the linen stitch creates a slightly textured, dense fabric that feels warm and squishy. Folded double-thick ribbed cuffs and hem plus two little square patch pockets finish it off with charm and practicality.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky weight wool, approx. 600 (700, 800) yd total, divided as: A (pale pink) 200 (230, 260) yd; B (mint) 150 (175, 200) yd; C (lavender) 150 (175, 200) yd; D (baby blue) 100 (120, 140) yd.
• Needles: 6.5 mm (US 10.5) circular needle, 80 cm long, and a set of 4 double-pointed needles (for cuffs and hem).
• Notions: Stitch holders or scrap yarn, stitch markers, tapestry needle for seaming and grafting.
• Finished size: To fit ages 4 (6, 8) years; chest circumference 26 (28, 30) inches; length 16 (18, 20) inches; sleeve length 12 (14, 16) inches.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• K: knit
• P: purl
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Sl1 wyif: slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front
• Inc: increase (knit into front and back of the same stitch)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• Rep: repeat

Gauge

12 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in linen stitch. Knit a small swatch in pattern, measure it, and adjust your needle size if needed to match this gauge.

Tips Before You Start

• Change color every 8 rows (4 ridges) in the sequence A, B, C, D, and carry the unused colors up the side edge rather than cutting them each time.
• Linen stitch is dense and slightly firm, so keep your tension relaxed to avoid a stiff fabric.
• Count your stitches after every increase row on the sleeves so the shaping stays even on both sides.
• Work all pieces flat and block them lightly before seaming for the neatest finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Linen Stitch (flat, multiple of 2 sts + 1)

Row 1 (RS): K1, *sl1 wyif, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *k1, sl1 wyif; rep from * to end.
Rows 3 and on: repeat Rows 1-2.

Back

Row 1: With A, CO 79 (85, 91) sts.
Next rows: Work in linen stitch, changing color every 8 rows in sequence A, B, C, D, A, B, C, D...
Continue: Work until piece measures 10 (11, 12) in, ending with a WS row.
Armhole shaping: BO 4 (5, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows (71 (75, 79) sts).
Next rows: Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 7) in, ending with a WS row.
Shoulder shaping: BO 6 (7, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 6 (7, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Place remaining 47 (47, 47) sts on holder for hood.

Front

Body: Work as for Back until armhole measures 2 (2.5, 3) in, ending with a WS row.
Divide for neck: Work 29 (31, 33) sts, place these on holder for right front; BO center 13 (13, 13) sts; work remaining 29 (31, 33) sts for left front.

Left front: Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 7) in, ending with a WS row.
Shoulder shaping: BO 6 (7, 8) sts at beg of next RS row, then BO 6 (7, 8) sts at beg of next RS row. BO remaining 17 (17, 17) sts.

Right front: With WS facing, join yarn at neck edge and work to end. Shape shoulder as for left front, reversing shaping.

Sleeves (make 2)

Row 1: With A, CO 31 (35, 39) sts.
Next rows: Work in linen stitch, changing color every 8 rows in same sequence as body.
Increase rows: Inc 1 st each end every 8th row 6 (7, 8) times (43 (49, 55) sts).
Next rows: Work even until sleeve measures 12 (14, 16) in, ending with a WS row.
Final row: BO all sts.

Pockets (make 2)

Row 1: With B, CO 15 (17, 19) sts.
Next rows: Work in linen stitch for 3 (3.5, 4) in, ending with a WS row.
Final row: BO all sts.

Hood

Setup: Sew shoulder seams. With RS facing and A, pick up and knit 13 sts along right front neck, knit 47 (47, 47) sts from back holder, pick up and knit 13 sts along left front neck (73 (73, 73) sts).
Next rows: Work in linen stitch, changing color every 8 rows in sequence A, B, C, D...
Continue: Work even until hood measures 8 (9, 10) in, ending with a WS row.
Top shaping: BO 24 (24, 24) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Place remaining 25 (25, 25) sts on holder.
Finishing: Fold hood in half with RS together and graft top opening using Kitchener stitch.

Cuffs (make 2)

Row 1: With D, CO 31 (35, 39) sts.
Next rows: Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 in.
Final row: BO all sts.
Finishing: Fold cuff in half and sew to sleeve edge, overlapping 1 in.

Hem

Row 1: With D, CO 79 (85, 91) sts.
Next rows: Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 in.
Final row: BO all sts.
Finishing: Fold hem in half and sew to bottom edge of body, overlapping 1 in.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew sleeve seams with mattress stitch. Set in sleeves, matching the center of each sleeve to the shoulder seam. Sew side seams. Sew pockets to the front, positioning them 2 inches above the hem and 2 inches from each side seam. Weave in all ends and block lightly to settle the linen stitch fabric and even out the stripes.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the pastel palette for two bold contrast colors to make the stripes pop, or work the whole hoodie in a single color for a minimalist look.
• Add a crochet chain loop at the hood edge if you'd like a simple hanging loop.
• Make the pockets in the same color as the body for a subtler finish, or work them in a contrasting stripe sequence.