Knitting tutorial
Knitting a Baby Bjorn bodysuit
The Björn baby bodysuit is a soft, comfortable knitted garment for little ones – pleasant to wear and ideal for delicate baby skin. Made from lightweight cotton, it's perfect for the warmer months. A pattern by Lang Yarns
Table of contents
What you need:
- Langyarns baby cotton naturally colored
- addi circular knitting needles, 3 mm and 3.5 mm
- addi double-pointed needles, 3 mm and 3.5 mm
- addi crochet hook 2.5 mm (US 2 B/C)
- 4 buttons
Gauge:
- Pattern II: 25 sts = 4” (10 cm), 35 rows/rnds = 4” (10 cm). Stockinette st, US 4 (3.5 mm) needles:
- 24 sts = 4” (10 cm), 40 rows/rnds = 4” (10 cm).
Dimensions:
- Size: = 3 months / 6 months / 9 months / 12 months / 18 months (62 / 68 / 74 / 80 / 86)
- Chest 17¼“/18“/19¾“/20½“/22“ (44/46/50/52/56 cm)
- Length (back) 11¾“/12½“/14“/15¼“/17“ (30/32/35.5/39/43cm)
Yarn consumption:
- 100/100/150/150/150 g = 2/2/3/3/3 balls of pale green 1157.0006.
Pattern
Garter stitch: US 2.5 (3 mm) needles:
- Garter st in rows = knit on RS and WS. In the round = alternately knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd.
Stockinette stitch: US 4 (3.5 mm) needles:
- Stockinette st in rows = knit on RS, purl on WS. In the round = knit all sts.
Double moss stitch: needle US 4 (3,5 mm):
- Double moss st in the round. Rnd 1: * k2, p2, rep from * around. Rnds 2 & 4: work the sts as they face you. Rnd 3: * p2, k2, rep from * around. Rep rnds 1 – 4.
How it works
The Baby Body Björn is knitted from the bottom up, first in separate pieces and later as a single piece with raglan decreases.
To do this, all the pieces are placed together on a circular needle at the end and joined.
Step 1
Back
- Cast on 12/14/18/20/24 sts with 3 mm (US2) needle.
- Work 5 rows in garter st (= knit all sts on RS and WS).
- Now, with US 4 (3.5 mm) needles, begin working in stockinette st (= knit on RS, purl on WS).
- Rep inc every 2nd row 12/13/14/15/16 times = 36/40/46/50/56 sts.
- Tip 2: Accentuated cast-on (leg edges): Right edge = right slanted cast-on: 1 st, lift the cross thread between 2 sts from behind onto the left needle and knit the new st. Left edge = left slanted cast-on: Lift the cross thread between 2 sts from the front onto the left needle and knit the new st (through the back loop), 1 st.
- Now cast on additional sts each side: at the end of every row cast on 2 sts twice, 3 sts twice and 5 sts twice = 56/60/66/70/76 sts.
- When back measures 3½“/4“/4¼“/4¼“/4¾“ (9/10/11/11/12 cm) leave sts.
Tip 1: The neckline is formed by the shortened R on the back piece.
Step 1
Back
- Cast on 12/14/18/20/24 sts with 3 mm (US2) needle.
- Work 5 rows in garter st (= knit all sts on RS and WS).
- Now, with US 4 (3.5 mm) needles, begin working in stockinette st (= knit on RS, purl on WS).
- Rep inc every 2nd row 12/13/14/15/16 times = 36/40/46/50/56 sts.
- Tip 2: Accentuated cast-on (leg edges): Right edge = right slanted cast-on: 1 st, lift the cross thread between 2 sts from behind onto the left needle and knit the new st. Left edge = left slanted cast-on: Lift the cross thread between 2 sts from the front onto the left needle and knit the new st (through the back loop), 1 st.
- Now cast on additional sts each side: at the end of every row cast on 2 sts twice, 3 sts twice and 5 sts twice = 56/60/66/70/76 sts.
- When back measures 3½“/4“/4¼“/4¼“/4¾“ (9/10/11/11/12 cm) leave sts.
Tip 1: The neckline is formed by the shortened R on the back piece.
Step 2
Front
- Work as for back, but on the 3rd row make a buttonhole as follows: k1 (edge st), k3/4/6/7/9, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3/4/6/7/9, k1 (edge st).
- On the next row (WS) knit into the front and back of the yarn over. Inc as for back.
- When front measures 3½“/4“/4¼“/4¼“/4¾“ (9/10/11/11/12 cm) take the sts for the front and back on one needle and close to work in the round = 112/120/132/140/152 sts.
- Work stockinette st in the round, place a marker for beginning of rnd and another after 56/60/66/70/76 sts.
- When your work measures 6”/6”/6¼“/6¾“/6¾“ (15/15/16/17/17 cm) from the cast on dec either side of markers as follows:
- Tip 3: Accentuated decreases (side slant): After the label: knit 2 sts together. Before the label: knit 2 sts together through the back loop.
- For size 9 months / 12 months / 18 months (74/80/86) dec again in this way after ¾“/1¼“/1¼“ (2/3/3 cm), 1/1/2 more times. Continue with 108/116/124/132/140 sts.
- At 7½“/8¼“/9½“/10¼“/11½“ (19/21/24/26/29 cm) from the cast-on, place a marker at center back and work short rows as follows:
- Tipp 4: Work shortened rows as follows: Work the specified number of stitches, turn and work back, slipping the first stitch purlwise and pulling up the yarn (= double stitch) to prevent a hole from forming. Work the double stitch of the previous row as 1 stitch.
- Work rows 1 & 2 again 2/3/3/4/4 more times, turning 5 sts before the last turn each time.
- Knit 1 rnd over all sts (remember to work the double sts as 1 st).
- Now work 1 rnd as follows: bind off 4 sts, work 45/49/53/57/61 sts, bind off 9 sts, work 45/49/53/57/61 sts, bind off 5 sts. Leave sts.
Step 2
Front
- Work as for back, but on the 3rd row make a buttonhole as follows: k1 (edge st), k3/4/6/7/9, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3/4/6/7/9, k1 (edge st).
- On the next row (WS) knit into the front and back of the yarn over. Inc as for back.
- When front measures 3½“/4“/4¼“/4¼“/4¾“ (9/10/11/11/12 cm) take the sts for the front and back on one needle and close to work in the round = 112/120/132/140/152 sts.
- Work stockinette st in the round, place a marker for beginning of rnd and another after 56/60/66/70/76 sts.
- When your work measures 6”/6”/6¼“/6¾“/6¾“ (15/15/16/17/17 cm) from the cast on dec either side of markers as follows:
- Tip 3: Accentuated decreases (side slant): After the label: knit 2 sts together. Before the label: knit 2 sts together through the back loop.
- For size 9 months / 12 months / 18 months (74/80/86) dec again in this way after ¾“/1¼“/1¼“ (2/3/3 cm), 1/1/2 more times. Continue with 108/116/124/132/140 sts.
- At 7½“/8¼“/9½“/10¼“/11½“ (19/21/24/26/29 cm) from the cast-on, place a marker at center back and work short rows as follows:
- Tipp 4: Work shortened rows as follows: Work the specified number of stitches, turn and work back, slipping the first stitch purlwise and pulling up the yarn (= double stitch) to prevent a hole from forming. Work the double stitch of the previous row as 1 stitch.
- Work rows 1 & 2 again 2/3/3/4/4 more times, turning 5 sts before the last turn each time.
- Knit 1 rnd over all sts (remember to work the double sts as 1 st).
- Now work 1 rnd as follows: bind off 4 sts, work 45/49/53/57/61 sts, bind off 9 sts, work 45/49/53/57/61 sts, bind off 5 sts. Leave sts.
Step 3
Sleeve (2x)
- Cast on 37/39/41/43/45 sts with US 2.5 (3 mm) needles. Clos to work in the round, mark the first st and always work this st in stockinette.
- Work in garter st, beginning with a purl round.
- After 5 rnds, change to US 4 (3.5 mm) needles and work double moss st in the round:
- From the 2nd rnd, inc either side of the marked st: M1L or M1P, in keeping with the pattern.
Rep inc every10th rnd 6/5/6/5/6 times. Incorporate the new sts into the pattern.
When all increases have been completed you will have 49/49/53/53/57 sts.
- Tipp 5: Accentuated increases (sleeves): Before and after each marked stitch: increase 1 stitch knit or purl as per pattern.
- When sleeve measures 6¾“/7“/7½“/8“/8¾“ (17/18/19/20/22 cm) from the cast-on, work 1 rnd as follows: bind off 5 sts, work 40/40/44/44/48 sts, bind off 4 sts.
- Leave sts.
Step 3
Sleeve (2x)
- Cast on 37/39/41/43/45 sts with US 2.5 (3 mm) needles. Clos to work in the round, mark the first st and always work this st in stockinette.
- Work in garter st, beginning with a purl round.
- After 5 rnds, change to US 4 (3.5 mm) needles and work double moss st in the round:
- From the 2nd rnd, inc either side of the marked st: M1L or M1P, in keeping with the pattern.
Rep inc every10th rnd 6/5/6/5/6 times. Incorporate the new sts into the pattern.
When all increases have been completed you will have 49/49/53/53/57 sts.
- Tipp 5: Accentuated increases (sleeves): Before and after each marked stitch: increase 1 stitch knit or purl as per pattern.
- When sleeve measures 6¾“/7“/7½“/8“/8¾“ (17/18/19/20/22 cm) from the cast-on, work 1 rnd as follows: bind off 5 sts, work 40/40/44/44/48 sts, bind off 4 sts.
- Leave sts.
Step 4
Yoke
- Take all sts on one needle as follows, as you do so knit adjacent edge sts together (the last st of one piece with the first st of the next) and mark the st:
- At the same time, decrease the first and last sleeve sts together with the first and last sts of the front or back piece, and mark these sts with a marker:
- 2 M re zus-str (letzte M vom re Ärmel und die 1. M vom Vorderteil = 1. Bezeichnung = Rd-Beginn),
- work 43/47/51/55/59 sts in stockinette (= front), k2tog (2nd marker),
- work 38/38/42/42/46 sts in double moss st (= left sleeve), k2tog (3rd marker),
- work 43/47/51/55/59 sts in stockinette (= back), k2tog (4th marker)
- work 38/38/42/42/46 sts in double moss st (= right sleeve) = 166/174/190/198/214 sts.
- Die Maschen zwischen den Markierern immer glatt rechts stricken.
- Rep dec every 2nd rnd 14/14/15/16/17 times.
- Tipp 6: Accentuated decreases (raglan): In pattern II = Before the marked stitch: knit 2 stitches together through the back loop. After the marked stitch: knit 2 stitches together. Pattern III = Before the marked stitch: knit 2 stitches together or purl 2 stitches together according to the pattern. After the marked stitch: knit 2 stitches together through the back loop or purl 2 stitches together according to the pattern.
- Back opening: At the same time,** as you work the 6th /6th /7th /8th /9th raglan dec divide your work at center back and finish knitting the yoke working in rows.
- When raglan measures about 3¼”/3¼”/3¼”/3½”/4” (8/8/8.5/9/10 cm) = 54/62/70/70/78 sts, work 5 rows garter st over all sts,
- then loosely bind off all sts.
Part 5
Finishing
- Leg borders: With US 2.5 (3 mm) needles, pick up 72/76/80/82/84 sts around the leg opening. Work in garter st.
- Work in garter stitch.
- On the 2nd row make 1 buttonhole at each end as follows:
- k1 (edge st), k1, yo, k2tog, work to the last 4 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, k1 (edge st).
- On the next row (WS) knit the yarn over.
- Loosely bind off all sts after 5 rnds.
- Close the underarm seams.
- Button loop: With the crochet hook, make a loop on the left side of the back opening, crochet a chain: ch 5-6. Sew on buttons. Weave in ends.
- Block as desired.
Part 5
Finishing
- Leg borders: With US 2.5 (3 mm) needles, pick up 72/76/80/82/84 sts around the leg opening. Work in garter st.
- Work in garter stitch.
- On the 2nd row make 1 buttonhole at each end as follows:
- k1 (edge st), k1, yo, k2tog, work to the last 4 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, k1 (edge st).
- On the next row (WS) knit the yarn over.
- Loosely bind off all sts after 5 rnds.
- Close the underarm seams.
- Button loop: With the crochet hook, make a loop on the left side of the back opening, crochet a chain: ch 5-6. Sew on buttons. Weave in ends.
- Block as desired.
Tutorial also available for download and in the addi2go app
You can find the written instructions to print out in GER, FR, NL, ENG and DK from our partner LANG YARNS.
You can also find the instructions digitally in our addi2go app. There you can save the instructions in a project with row counters and notes.
