"F" hook or smaller will make preemie size 5 pound baby or smaller
"G-H" hook will make NB size to fit about 6 pound baby
Bernat Softee Baby was used for the sweater pictured.
{sweater begins on bottom of back}

 

Beg. chain 27 Row 1. SC 26 across in beg. CH, CH 1 turn. Mark this row as outside [safety pin works well]
Row 2 - 20, single crochet in each of the 26 SC's across to end, CH 1 turn at end of each row.
Row 21. [ RT. side facing you] 26 SC across, chain 21 [beginning of left sleeve]
Row 22. SC in each of the 20 CH one spaces, then SC in remaining 26 SC across. Chain 21, turn [beginning sleeve]
Row 23. 1 SC in each of the 20 chain spaces, SC in the 26 SC across back of sweater, SC in last 20 SC of sleeve. {66 SC across total}
Row 24 - 32 SC in each 66 across sleeve, body and second sleeve, CH 1 turn at end of each row.
Row 33. Sc in first 28 sc, ch 1 turn.
Row 34. [with right side of work facing, continuing sleeve] SC in each of the first 28 SC, CH 1 turn.
Row 35. [first increase] SC in 28, CH 2 turn
Row 36. SC in second chain from hook, and in 28 across, [29 SC]
Row 37. SC across 29, Chain 2 turn. [second increase]
Row 38. SC in second chain from hook and in 29 across, [30 SC]
Row 39. SC in 30 across, CH 3 turn. [third increase]
Row 40. SC each in second and third chain from hook, and in 30 across to equal 32 SC, CH 1 turn
Rows 41 - 51, SC in each stitch across, CH 1 turn [32 SC]
Row 52. [RT. side of work facing you] SC in first 13 stitches, chain 1 and turn.
Row 53 - 72, SC in each stitch across, CH 1 turn [13 SC ] END
 

With right side of work facing you , re-connect yarn to begin second sleeve. From first sleeve and neck edge -SKIP first 10 SC spaces for neck, connect yarn in next stitch, CH 1, and SC in SAME stitch.
THIS BEGINS ROW 33 {work as for Left side, increasing 3X's over the next 6 rows.}
ROW 33B continue making SC along previous row 32 - 28 SC include the first begining when you reconnected the yarn. CH 1, turn.
Row 34 B. [first increase] SC in 28, CH 2 turn
Row 35 B. SC in second ch from hook, and in 28 across, [29 SC]
Row 36 B. SC across 29, Chain 2 turn. [second increase]
Row 37 B. SC in second chain from hook and in 29 across, [30 SC]
Row 38 B. SC in 30 across, CH 3 turn. [third increase]
Row 39 B. SC each in second, third and fourth chain from hook, and in 30 across to equal 32 SC.
Rows 40 - 50 B, SC in each stitch across, CH 1 turn
Row 51 B. [RT. side of work facing you] SC in first 13 stitches, chain 1 and turn.
Row 52 - 72 B, SC in each stitch across, CH 1 turn [13 SC ] END, DO NOT BREAK OFF YARN

 

FRONT RIGHT, NECK, FRONT LEFT EDGES-
Right side of work facing you will be doing three rows of SC up one front, across the neck and down the other front incorporating 5 button holes on one side.
ROW 1 2 SC in first SC of corner, SC in each end of each row [for 44 SC], SC in corner where neck and shoulder meet, SC in 10 spaces skipped for neck edge, SC in corner where shoulder and neck meet, SC in end of each row [44] for a total of 100 SC. CH 1 turn.
ROW 2 SC in next 4 SC, * CH 2, SK 2 SC spaces, SC in next 4, repeat from * four times for five button holes. SC in remaining SC Spaces along front edge, neck, second front edge. CH 1 turn.
ROW 3 SC in each SC space and in each CH space around. END. Fasten off.
 

Finishing: weave in all ends [ at least 1 1/2 "] , weaving through on a diagonal and then back will insure the ends will remain woven.
Stitch under arm and sleeve seams, matching row ends.
Add buttons to front edge opposite button holes. For girls sweater - make button holes on RT. side, for boys make the button holes on the left side.