I designed this set on a rainy afternoon when the first strawberries of the season arrived at the market. Their deep red skins and tiny white blossoms made me think of little hands and soft spring days. I wanted something that felt cheerful without being loud, structured enough to hold its shape through play, and soft enough for a toddler’s sensitive skin. The Berry Blossom Granny Square Toddler Set grew from that simple wish: a cardigan and matching beanie built from classic granny squares in a berry-and-cream palette.
The finished set is practical and pretty. The cardigan has a relaxed fit with just enough room for a long-sleeve shirt underneath, and the beanie sits snugly without feeling tight. Both pieces share the same granny-square motif so they look intentional together, whether worn as a set or mixed with everyday clothes.
About This Pattern
This is an intermediate pattern. You should already feel comfortable joining granny squares as you go or seaming them later, working in the round, and keeping consistent tension. The individual squares are straightforward, but the cardigan construction requires careful counting when joining the fronts, back, and sleeves.
The set is sized for approximately 2–3 years (chest 22–23 in / 56–58 cm). The cardigan measures about 24 in (61 cm) around the chest and 13 in (33 cm) from shoulder to hem. The beanie fits a 19–20 in (48–51 cm) head circumference.
The fabric has a soft drape once blocked and will relax further with wear. Expect a light, breathable feel rather than a stiff structure.
Materials You’ll Need
Yarn
I used a soft cotton-bamboo DK that washes well and feels cool against the skin.
- Color A (Berry Red): 320 yd / 290 m DK-weight cotton blend
- Color B (Soft Blossom Cream): 280 yd / 255 m DK-weight cotton blend
- Color C (Deep Leaf Green): 90 yd / 80 m DK-weight cotton blend
Allow 15 % extra for gauge variation and swatching.
Hooks
- 4.0 mm (G-6) for the granny squares and main fabric
- 3.5 mm (E-4) for the ribbed edges and button band (tighter fabric for a cleaner finish)
Notions
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- 5 small buttons (12–15 mm), preferably wooden or matte finish
- Blocking mats and pins
- Scissors
Abbreviations and Terminology (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- hdc – half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops)
- dc – double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- sk – skip
- rep – repeat
- beg – beginning
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Turning chains do not count as a stitch unless a step explicitly says they do.
Granny Cluster: 3 dc in the same stitch or space.
Corner Space: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space.
Gauge
With 4.0 mm hook, one finished granny square (after blocking) should measure 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm).
Make a practice square using the motif instructions below. Block it lightly. If your square is smaller than 4 in, go up a hook size. If larger, go down a half size. Consistent square size is more important than exact stitch gauge for this project.
Main Pattern Instructions
Granny Square Motif (Make 28 for cardigan + 5 for beanie)
Round 1 (Color C – Leaf Green):
Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, *3 dc in ring, ch 2; rep from * twice more. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (4 clusters, 4 ch-2 sps) Fasten off Color C.
Round 2 (Color A – Berry Red):
Join Color A in any ch-2 corner. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner, ch 1; rep from * twice more. Join. (8 clusters) Fasten off Color A.
Round 3 (Color B – Blossom Cream):
Join Color B in any ch-2 corner. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * twice more. Join. Fasten off Color B.
Round 4 (Color A):
Join Color A in any ch-2 corner. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] twice, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] twice; rep from * twice more. Join. Fasten off.
Weave in ends as you go. You will need 28 squares for the cardigan and 5 squares for the beanie.
Cardigan Assembly
Layout
- Back: 3 squares wide × 3 squares tall (9 squares)
- Each Front: 2 squares wide × 3 squares tall (6 squares each = 12 total)
- Each Sleeve: 2 squares wide × 2 squares tall, plus half-square shaping at the top (3.5 squares each = 7 total)
Join squares using the join-as-you-go method or whipstitch with Color B. Keep all seams on the wrong side and match corner spaces carefully so the fabric lies flat.
Shoulder Seams
Join the top row of each front to the corresponding top squares of the back, leaving the center back neck open (approximately 4 in / 10 cm).
Sleeves
Fold each sleeve panel and join the underarm seam. Set the sleeves into the armhole openings and sew in place, easing any slight fullness at the top.
Button Band and Neckline
With 3.5 mm hook and Color B, begin at the lower right front edge.
Work 1 row of sc evenly up the right front, around the neckline, and down the left front. Place stitch markers for five evenly spaced buttonholes on the right front (or left front if preferred for the child).
Next row: Sc in each sc, working (sc, ch 2, sk 2 sc) at each buttonhole marker.
Final row: Sc in each sc and 2 sc in each ch-2 buttonhole space. Fasten off.
Sew buttons opposite the buttonholes.
Beanie
Join 5 granny squares in a circle for the body of the hat, leaving one side open for the final seam if preferred, or join all five and work the crown decreases in the round.
Crown Shaping
With Color B and 4.0 mm hook, work 1 round of sc around the top opening, decreasing evenly to 40 sc.
Next round: *Sc 3, sc2tog; rep from * around. (32 sc)
Next round: *Sc 2, sc2tog; rep from * around. (24 sc)
Next round: *Sc 1, sc2tog; rep from * around. (16 sc)
Final round: Sc2tog around. (8 sc)
Fasten off, thread tail through remaining stitches, and pull tight. Weave in end.
Brim
With 3.5 mm hook and Color A, work 4 rounds of sc around the lower edge for a neat, slightly stretchy brim. Fasten off.
Special Techniques – Neat Color Changes
When changing colors at the end of a round, work the final yarn-over of the last stitch with the new color. This creates a cleaner join and reduces the bulk of tails to weave in later.
Assembly and Finishing
Weave in every remaining end securely on the wrong side. Check that all granny-square joins are firm, especially at the underarms and shoulders where the fabric receives the most stress.
Steam-block the cardigan lightly if needed to open the squares and even the seams. Pin the beanie over a balloon or bowl of the correct size and allow it to dry fully.
Blocking and Care
Wet-block the finished pieces if the squares look slightly uneven. Soak in cool water with a drop of mild soap, gently squeeze out excess moisture, and pin to shape on blocking mats. Allow to dry completely away from direct sunlight.
Care: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle inside a mesh bag, or hand wash. Reshape while damp and dry flat. Do not tumble dry. The cotton-bamboo blend softens beautifully with each wash.
Fit and Troubleshooting Tips
If the cardigan feels tight across the chest, add one extra square to the width of the back and one half-square to each front, adjusting the button band length accordingly.
If the granny squares cup or ruffle, your tension is uneven between rounds—try a larger hook for the outer rounds only.
If the beanie sits too high on the head, add one extra round of sc before beginning the crown decreases.
Buttons that feel loose can be reinforced with a tiny drop of clear fabric glue on the back after sewing.
Final Thoughts
There is something deeply satisfying about watching a little one run around in a handmade set that feels both special and completely practical. The Berry Blossom colors catch the light in a soft, cheerful way, and the classic granny-square construction means the pieces will stand up to real toddler life.
I hope this set brings you as much quiet joy in the making as it does in the wearing. If you share photos of your finished cardigan and beanie, I would love to see them—tag me or leave a comment so we can celebrate the little blossoms you create. Happy stitching.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.