Is it possible to make a well-fitting child's sweater?

Little bodies need sweaters just like everyone else.  But little bodies have very different proportions from big bodies.  That was the next challenge from my daughter:  a simple, well-fitting pullover for her little boys.  She had mentioned that their raglan sleeve sweatshirts were the best-fitting things they had.  So I began the search for a basic raglan sleeve sweater pattern in toddler sizes.  Not as easy as you'd think.  I finally found a pattern that had nice styling and dimensions ... but it was a hooded cardigan.  Well, it was time to create my own pattern again.  The result was a simple, quick-knitting pull-over.  My daughter loves the sweaters and they fit so nicely.  Here's the pattern:

Toddler Neck Down Sweater

An easy pullover with raglan sleeves that knits fast and fits well. 

It is knit from the collar down to the hem in one piece.

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
24” Circular Knitting Needles US size 5½ and 8
Straight Knitting Needles US sizes 5½ and 8
Sizes: 12 mos (18 mos, 2T, 3T)





Neckband:
With smaller needles cast on 64 sts (68, 72, 76). Knit 5, *K1, P1 ribbing to last 5 sts, K5.
Repeat this row for 1 inch. Change to larger needles.
Shape Raglan:
Maintain K5 at beginning and end of each row for button placket, working a buttonhole every 1” on one side.
Row 1: K5, K8, inc 1, PM, K1, inc 1, K4 (5,6,7), inc 1, PM K1, inc1 K18 (20,22,24), inc 1, PM K1, inc 1, K4 (5, 6, 7), inc 1 PM, K1, inc 1, K8, K5
Row 2: K5, purl to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 3: K5, *Knit to within 1 st of marker, inc1, slip marker, K1, inc 1. Repeat from * to last 5 stitches on needles, K5..
Repeat rows 2 and 3 - 10 (11, 12, 13) times.
Next row: K5, Purl 150 (162, 174, 186) sts, K5.
Divide work: K5, K21 (22, 23, 24) – place these sts on a holder (left front); K32 (35, 38, 41) (left sleeve); Place next 44(48, 52, 56) sts on a holder (back); place next 32 )35, 38, 41) sts on a 3rd holder (right sleeve); place remaining 21 (22, 23, 24) sts + 5 Knit stitches on a 4th holder.
Left Sleeve:
Cast on 2 stitches, p across, cast on 2 sts (36, 39, 42, 45 sts total).
Decrease 1 stitch each side every 8th row 5 times to 26 (29, 32, 35) sts.
Work even until sleeve measures 6” (6½, 7, 7½) from underarm, or to 1½“less than desired length. Decrease 0 (1, 2, 3) sts on last row to 26 (28, 30, 32) sts.
Change to smaller needles and work K1,P1 ribbing for 1½“. Bind of loosely.
Right Sleeve: Work same as left sleeve.
Body:
Slip sts of left front onto larger needle, cast on 4 sts, knit across back sts, cast on 4 sts, knit across right front. You should have 94, (100, 106, 112) sts.
Next row: Overlap and knit the 5 placket stitches together to join the round.
Work even in stockinette stitch until piece measures 5¾ (6 ¼, 6½ , 6¾) from underarm, or to 1½“less than desired length.
Change to smaller needles and work in K1,P1 ribbing for 1½“.
Bind off loosely in ribbing. Sew underarm seams and attach buttons. Weave in ends.