Alpine Stitch Alien Pullover: Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This cozy little pullover is made for the 6–12 month crowd—and for the grown-ups who like their baby clothes with a little personality. Worked bottom-up as a simple straight tube with no shaping, it's striped in wide blocks of cherry red and pink and textured with alpine stitch, which gives a raised, crossed-double-crochet surface on a single crochet ground. The plush polyester chenille makes it soft, squishy, and warm without being heavy, and the grunge-inspired color blocking looks great on any baby. A round pink alien face patch, embroidered with red eyes and a little mouth, is sewn onto the center front for a playful finishing touch.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky (weight 5) polyester chenille. Color A (cherry red): 200 yds. Color B (pink): 150 yds.
• Hook: 6.0 mm (US J-10)
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors
• Finished size: Chest circumference 20 inches, length 12 inches, sleeve length 8 inches, neck circumference 12 inches. Fits 6–12 months.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sk – skip
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – slip stitch
• sp(s) – space(s)
• inc – increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec – decrease (work 2 sc together)
• MR – magic ring
• RS – right side

Gauge

12 sts x 8 rows = 4 inches in alpine stitch. Work a small swatch in the round and measure a 4-inch section in the middle—if you have more stitches than 12, go up a hook size; if fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Chenille yarn sheds and is hard to unravel, so count your stitches every round—ripping back is no fun with this fiber.
• Use a stitch marker at the start of each round so you always know where to join.
• The crossed dc is worked into the skipped stitch: skip one, dc in the next, then dc back into the skipped stitch. Keep the second dc loose enough to sit comfortably.
• When you join the starting chain into a ring, double-check it isn't twisted before working Round 1.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (Color A)

Ch 62. Join with sl st to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

R1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc (62 sts).

R2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st (crossed dc), repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc (62 sts).

R3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (62 sts).

R4: Ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next st, dc in skipped st (crossed dc), repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc (62 sts).

R5–8: Repeat R3–R4 twice more (8 rows total). Change to B.

R9–16: Repeat R3–R4 four times (16 rows total). Change to A.

R17–24: Repeat R3–R4 four times (24 rows total). Change to B.

R25–32: Repeat R3–R4 four times (32 rows total). Change to A.

R33–40: Repeat R3–R4 four times (40 rows total). Do not fasten off. Body measures approx 12 inches from start.

Divide for Armholes

Next row (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 14 sts, ch 6, sk next 14 sts, sc in next 16 sts, ch 6, sk next 14 sts, sc in next 14 sts, join with sl st to first sc (44 sc, 2 ch-6 sps).

Yoke (Color A)

R1: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch around, join with sl st to first sc (56 sts).

R2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next st, dc in skipped st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc (56 sts).

R3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (56 sts).

R4–7: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (7 rows total). Change to B.

R8–11: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (11 rows total). Change to A.

R12–15: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (15 rows total). Fasten off.

Sleeves (make 2, Color A)

Join A with sl st to center of underarm ch-6 sp.

R1: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch around, join with sl st to first sc (20 sts).

R2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *dc in next st, dc in skipped st, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc (20 sts).

R3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (20 sts).

R4–7: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (7 rows total). Change to B.

R8–11: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (11 rows total). Change to A.

R12–15: Repeat R2–R3 twice more (15 rows total). Fasten off. Sleeve measures approx 8 inches.

Alien Face Patch (Color B)

R1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).

R2: Inc x6 (12 sts).

R3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

R4–6: Sc in each st around (18 sts).

R7: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

R8: Dec x6 (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Embroider eyes and mouth with A.

Neck Edging (Color B)

Join B at back neck. Ch 1, sc evenly around neck opening, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the alien patch to the center front of the body using the long tail and a tapestry needle, stitching around the edge of the disc. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working them through a few stitches in different directions so they don't work loose. Block lightly by misting with water and patting into shape—do not press chenille with a hot iron, as it can crush the pile. Let dry flat.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the stripe colors for any two bulky chenille shades—try charcoal and lime for an even more grunge look.
• Add a small crocheted antenna or two to the top of the alien patch for extra character.
• For a longer fit, add extra alpine stitch rounds to the body before the armhole split, keeping the stripe blocks in multiples of 8 rows.