Newborn Nestling Set - Free Pattern

Newborn Nestling Set - Free Pattern

Newborn nestling set, including sweater, hat, mittens, and booties

The Newborn Nestling Set is a soft, snuggly crochet collection designed to wrap little ones in warmth from head to toe. Featuring a matching sweater, hat, mittens, and slippers, this set is made with KnitPal GentleBliss yarn in the sweet, pastel-speckled Rainbow Cream colorway—perfect for creating a cozy, cloud-like feel against a newborn’s delicate skin. With simple stitches and beginner-friendly construction, it’s an ideal project for welcoming a new baby with handmade love.

Download a printable pattern PDF

What You’ll Need

  • Yarn: KnitPal GentleBliss (weight #3 - 100% acrylic, 110 yds per 50 g)
    Sweater requires 253 yds, mittens require 17 (33, 44) yds
    Slippers require 17 (33, 44) yds
    Hat requires 66 (82, 88) yds (approximately 3-4skeins to make the whole set) Shown in colorway Rainbow Cream
  • Hook:
    US D / 3.25mm
    US E / 3.5 mm
    US F / 3.72mm
    Or size needed to obtain gauge
  • Notions: 

    Tapestry needle
    Measuring tape
    Scissors
    Optional button for sweater

Details

  • Skill Level: Easy
  • Gauge: 4x4" / 10x10 cm = 20 sts x 20 rows in stitch pattern with US E /3.5 mm hook 
  • Measurements: 
    Sweater [0-3 month size]: Width: 10" / 25 cmLength: 10" / 25 cm Sleeve length: 6" / 15 cm 
    Mittens [newborn (3, 6) month size]: Length: 3.75 (4.25, 4.75)” / 9.5 (11,12) cm
    Slippers [newborn (3, 6) month size]: Length: 3.25 (3.5, 4)” / 8 (9, 10)cm
    Hat [newborn (3, 6) month size]: Length: 5 (6, 6.25)” / 13 (15, 16) cm Circumference: 11.5 (12, 12.5)” / 29 (30.5, 32) cm

Abreviations

  • BLO: back loop only
  • ch: chain
  • dc: double crochet
  • hcd: half double crochet
  • RS: right side
  • sc: single crochet
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sp: space
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • WS: wrong side

Notes

  • Turning ch does not count as a stitch unless otherwise indicated

Pattern

Download a printable pattern PDF

Sweater from newborn nestling set

SWEATER 

Size E Hook Pattern: 
*Ch 1, skip 1, sc in next ch; repeat from * across. 
Size F Hook Pattern:
*Ch 1, skip 1, hdc in next ch; repeat from * across.

Sweater Yoke 
Starting at base of yoke at back, with E hook, ch 52. Ch 2, turn. (52)
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 1, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, ending with sc. Ch 2, turn. (27 sts, 25 spaces). Use marker to indicate RS.
Row 2 (WS): *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 3” / 7.5 cm (approximately 15 rows total), ending after a WS row. Do not break yarn.

Shape Neck
All increases are made in neck edges. 
Front Right Side
Row 1 (RS): *Sc 1 in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across for 16 sts. In last space, 2 sc. Leave remaining stitches unworked. Ch 2, turn. (18 sts)
Row 2 (WS): Sc 2 in same sp, ch 1, *sc 1 in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2, turn. (19 sts)
Row 3: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from *across, sc 2 in last st. Ch 2, turn. (20 sts)
Row 4: Sc 2 between sc’s, ch1, *sc in ch 1 sp,ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with scin turning ch. Ch 2, turn. (21 sts)
Row 5: Repeat Row 3. (22 sts)
Row 6: Repeat Row 4. (23 sts)
Row 7: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1*; repeat from *across, ending with sc in last st. Placemarker in last st. Ch 2, turn.
Row 8: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1*; repeat from *across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2,turn.
Repeat Row 8 until piece measures 6” / 15cm. Ch 2, turn.
Change to F hook.
Row 9: Hdc, *ch 1, skip 1, hdc in next ch;repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 9 until front piece (shoulder to hem) measures 10” / 25 cm.

Front Left Side
With Size E hook, return to unworked side of Row 1
Row 1 (WS): Join yarn working towards neck edge. Sc 1 in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across for 16 sts. In last space, 2 sc. Leave remaining stitches unworked. Ch 2, turn (18 sts)
Row 2 (RS): Sc 2 in same sp, ch 1, sc 1 in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeats from  across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2, turn. (19 sts)
Row 3: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across, sc 2 in last st. Ch 2, turn. (20 sts)
Row 4: Sc 2 between sc’s, ch1, *sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2, turn. (21 sts)
Row 5: Repeat Row 3. (22 sts)
Row 6: Repeat Row 4. (23 sts)
Row 7: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1*; repeat from * across, ending with sc in last st. Place marker in last st. Ch 2, turn.
Row 8: *Sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1*; repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 8 until piece measures 6” / 15 cm. Ch 2, turn. 
Change to F hook
Row 9: Hdc, *ch 1, skip 1, hdc in next ch; repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 9 until front piece (shoulder to hem) measures 10” / 25 cm.

Back
Row 1 (RS): With Size F hook, join yarn in Row 2 of yoke on the RS and ch 2. Hdc in same stitch, ch 1, *Hdc in next sp, ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with hdc in turning ch, ch 2, turn.
Row 2: Hdc in sp, *ch 1, hdc in next sp, repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 2 until back measures 10” / 25 cm (shoulder to hem).

Sleeves (make 2)
With F hook, ch 31.
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 1, skip 1, hdc; repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.(29)
Row 2: Hdc in sp, *ch 1, skip 1, hdc in next; repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.
Repeat Row 2 for 6” / 15 cm. Fasten off and weave ends.
Use stitch markers and pin together sleeves and sweater. Mark sleeves at base of yoke at back to Row 10 of front and sew. Turn sweater to WS. Use the last row to sew sleeve to sweater (right sides of sweater piece). There is no right or wrong side to the sleeves, just be sure that the cuff will be the starting row of the sleeves for a clean edge.

Sides and Sleeve Seams
On WS of sweater, join sides of sweater and bottom of sleeves with markers, and sew. Sew side seams and finish sewing insleeves.

Border
Turn sweater to RS.
Row 1: With F hook, sc around front of the sweater starting at the right front bottom corner.
Row 2: Sc around to bottom left corner. Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: Sc around. Break yarn, weave in ends. Sew on button if desired.

 

MITTENS 

Mittens from newborn nestling set

Size newborn (3, 6) month
Using D hook, ch 9 (9, 11). 

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across. Ch 1, turn (8 (8, 10) sts).
Row 2: sc BLO in first st, sc BLO across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat Row 2 for a total of 20 (22, 24) rows. Fold the two short ends together and sl st across to form the cuff.

Hand
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same sp, sc around ends of cuff rows, increasing 4 (2, 0) sts evenly, sl st to join. (24 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, dc in same st, dc around, sl st to join. Repeat Round 2 until work measures 2.75 (3.25, 3.75)” / 7 (8, 9.5) cm including cuff.
Round 3: Ch 2, *dc 2, dec; repeat from * around, sl st to join. (18 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *dc 1, dec; repeat from * around, sl st to join. (12 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, dec around, sl st to join. (6 sts) Fasten off with a tail.
Finishing Thread tail through remaining 6 sts and gather to close top of mitt. Weave in ends.

Hat from newborn nestling set

HAT

Size newborn (3, 6) month
Using E hook, ch 58 (60, 62) +2 for turning. 

Row 1: Dc 2nd ch and each ch across. Ch 2, turn. (58 (60, 62) sts)
Row 2: Dc in first st and each st across. Ch 2, turn. Repeat Row 2 until hat measures 5 (6, 6.25)” / 12.5 (15, 16) cm. Fasten off leaving a long tail for closing the top of the hat.
Finishing Fold short ends to form a tube, seam together. Turn to right side. Weave yarn tail through top of hat to gather and close.
Optional: make an attach a pom pom to the top of the hat.

SLIPPERS

Size newborn (3, 6) month
Using Size E hook, ch 15 (16, 20) +2 for turning.

Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch1, sk1, hdc; repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn.
Row 2: Hdc in first sp, *ch1, sk1, hdc; rep from * across, ending with hdc in the turning ch of previous row. Ch 2, turn. Repeat Row 2 for 2 (3, 3.5)” / 5 (7.5, 9) cm (approximately 6 (8, 10) rows). Fasten off, weave in ends.
Finishing Fold slippers in half lengthwise and right sides together. Sew one short end together for heel. At opposite end, sew along top together for 1 (1.5, 1.75)” / 2.5 (4, 4.5) cm. With a length of yarn, gather “toe end” opening. Turn right side out and weave in ends. Make 2 poms and sew one to each foot opening.

Download a printable pattern PDF

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With permission of the designer, this pattern and photos are property of KnitPal and may not be altered, shared, or sold. Do not rewrite any part of this design and sell as your own design. You’re welcome to sell finished products made with this pattern, but please credit the design to KnitPal https://knitpal.com/

Anna Rainous
Posted on December 01, 2025
Anna Rainous
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