A little hand-knit outfit makes a first Christmas photo, or any family Christmas, extra special. Every pattern below is free, from quick hats to a full sweater and a baby onesie.
Hats come first because they are small and quick. Then there is a striped sweater in sizes 2 to 10 years, and two finer pieces for babies in light yarn. Babies grow fast, so check the size range before you start. Any small parts, like pompoms or noses, should be sewn on very securely.
Free Christmas knitting patterns for babies and kids
1. Christmas Elf Stocking Cap
Designer Fox & Pine Stitches. Red and white stripes, four rounds of each, run up to a long tail with a pompom on the end. The hat is knit in the round in worsted yarn, with a ribbed brim on 4 mm (US 6) and the body on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles, switching to double-pointed needles for the crown. Six sizes cover 0 to 3 months right through to men, so you can knit matching hats for the whole family. Gauge is 16 stitches and 23 rows to 4 inches. A paid ad-free PDF is optional.
2. Tiny Reindeer Hat
Designer Cassie May at Little Red Window. A baby hat with knitted antlers, ears and a red nose. It uses worsted yarn on 4.5 mm (US 7) circular and double-pointed needles, at 19 stitches to 4 inches. The free version on the blog is written in one size, 6 months. A paid PDF adds sizes from newborn to adult large. Cassie reminds you to attach the nose very firmly, since this is made for a baby.
3. Kids Elf Christmas Sweater
Designer Louise Bollanos at Handy Little Me. This striped raglan sweater has green ribbing, red and white stripes and a folded neck, made to match an elf hat. It comes in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years and uses about 700 to 1,075 yards of worsted/aran yarn in three colors. The back, front and sleeves are knit flat on 6 mm (US 10) needles and seamed, then a neckband is picked up on a 16-inch circular. Gauge is 15 stitches and 22 rows to 4 inches. Louise rates it confident beginner to easy-intermediate.
4. Rodolph
Designer Filipa Carneiro, free download on Ravelry (a free Ravelry account is needed). A baby onesie with a Rudolph face made from knit and purl texture, finished with a red pompom nose and button closures. It is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in the round, in light fingering yarn on 3.5 mm (US 4) needles, at 23 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm. Sizes run from 1 to 3 months up to 9 to 12 months, using 273 to 547 yards. It is a bigger project than a hat, so start early if you want it ready for Christmas.
5. Sweet Christmas
Designer Erna de Groot, free download on Ravelry (a free Ravelry account is needed). This baby jumper is knit top down in the round with raglan sleeves and a stranded colorwork Christmas design. Erna made theirs from fingering acrylic leftovers on 2.5 mm and 3 mm needles, at 24 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm in colorwork. It is written in one size, about 6 months, and uses 437 to 547 yards. The pattern is in Dutch and English, and the designer has updated it to correct the chart and row counts.
New to knitting in the round or picking up stitches? My Knitting Stitches Guide explains the basic stitches these patterns use.