Knit a Chunky Baby Matinee Jacket for 2–3 Years in Velvet Yarn
Chunky velvet yarn and 5 mm needles make this sweet jacket so fast that I finished it in a day. Little gathers at the waist, a raglan yoke and a big garter collar.
This lovely little jacket-coat is for a 2–3 year old girl. It's easy and it grows really fast. I made it in one day, and if you're a beginner you can easily finish it in two. The sleeves and body are knitted flat, then joined onto one needle for the raglan yoke and the collar.
What you'll need
- Chunky velvet (blanket-style) yarn in a base colour, plus a multicolour yarn for the borders and collar
- 5 mm needles (size 7). If your hands knit tightly, use size 6
- Stitch markers, a sewing needle, buttons and a bow to finish
Step 1: The sleeves (make two)
- Border
In multicolour, cast on 18 stitches loosely (I use the Old Norwegian cast on) and knit 6 rows of garter stitch.
- Change colour
In the base colour, knit 1 row (knit the old tail in as you go so the seam isn't bulky later), then purl 1 row.
- Pattern row (RS)
Slip 1, knit into the front and back of the next stitch (increase). *Yarn forward, slip 1, purl 1.* Repeat to the last 2 stitches. Yarn back, increase in the next stitch, knit the last. 20 stitches.
- Next row (WS)
Slip 1. Knit the stitches you slipped and purl the ones you purled.
- Straight
6 rows of stockinette.
- Increase
Slip 1, increase, knit to the last 2, increase, knit 1 (22). Purl back. Knit 10 rows of stockinette.
- Increase again
Same as before, to 24 stitches. Purl back. Knit 4 rows of stockinette.
- Decrease
Slip 1, slip-slip-knit, knit to the last 3, knit 2 together, knit 1 (22). Purl back, then knit 1 row and purl 1 row plain.
- Repeat
Work the decrease and 3 plain rows twice more (3 decreases in all), leaving 18 stitches.
My sleeve measures 12 inches including the border. Put it aside on a spare needle and knit the second one the same way.
Step 2: The body
- Border
In multicolour, cast on 62 stitches and work the same garter border as the sleeves.
- Base colour
Work the same slip-and-purl pattern row and the row after it, without increases.
- Straight
14 rows of stockinette.
Step 3: Gathers at the waist
Divide the 62 stitches into 16 (front), 30 (back) and 16 (front). In each section you'll turn 6 stitches into 2, which gives soft little gathers.
- The gather: On the first 3, bring the first two to the front and the third from behind, then knit all three together through the back loop. On the next 3, bring the last one from behind and the other two to the front, then knit all three together through the front loop.
- First front: Slip 1, knit 4, gather the next 6, knit 5. You now have 12.
- Back: Knit 12, gather 6, knit 12. You now have 26.
- Second front: Knit 4, gather 6, knit 6. You now have 12.
Purl back. You have 50 stitches. Work 14 rows of stockinette. My body measured 11 inches here; add or take away rows to suit your size.
Step 4: Shape the armholes
Divide the 50 stitches into 13 (front), 24 (back) and 13 (front). Work each part separately.
- First front
Slip 1, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 1 (12). Turn and purl back. Knit 1 row and purl 1 row plain. Repeat these 4 rows twice more to leave 10 stitches. Don't cut the yarn. You'll use it for the yoke.
- Back
Join new yarn. Knit 1, slip-slip-knit, knit 18, knit 2 together, knit 1 (22). Purl back, then work 2 plain rows. Repeat these 4 rows twice more to leave 18.
- Second front
Join new yarn. Knit 1, slip-slip-knit, and knit to the end. Decrease only at the armhole edge. Purl back, then work 2 plain rows. Repeat twice more to leave 10.
Step 5: Join the sleeves and knit the raglan yoke
Put everything on one needle in order: front, sleeve, back, sleeve, front. Using the yarn from the first front, join them. At each of the 4 joins, knit the last stitch of one piece together with the first stitch of the next.
- Knit across the front to the last stitch, slip it, and knit it together with the first sleeve stitch.
- Knit the sleeve to its last stitch and join it to the back the same way. Do the same at the other sleeve and front.
- Purl back. You have 70 stitches. Mark the 4 joining stitches; they're your raglan lines.
- Raglan decrease (RS)
Slip 1 and knit to 2 stitches before the first marked stitch. Knit 2 together, slip the marked stitch without knitting, then slip-slip-knit. Do the same at all 4 marked stitches (8 stitches decreased), and knit to the end.
- Next row (WS)
Purl all.
Repeat these two rows until the armhole measures about 5½ inches. I stopped with 4 stitches before the first raglan line and 32 stitches left for the neck.
Step 6: The garter collar
- Row 1:
In multicolour, knit every stitch with no decreases, knitting in the loose ends as you go.
- Row 2 (increase row):increase row
Mark the 4 raglan stitches again. At each one, cast on 1 stitch before it and 1 after it (8 stitches added).
- Garter
Knit every row. I knitted 12 rows of garter stitch in all, then bound off knitwise. You can knit the collar in stockinette instead if you like.
Step 7: The button band
- Along the front edge, skip the first stitch and pick up stitches purlwise (the wrong side faces you) up to the collar. I picked up 28, including one in the multicolour. Pick up fairly firmly, because the band pulls in.
- 2x2 rib: Slip 1, knit 2, then purl 2, knit 2 across. Your band starts and ends with 3 knits. Work 2 rows.
- Buttonhole row: Make a yarn over and work the next stitch together with its neighbour. Put these holes in the middle of the rib pairs. I made five.
- Finish: Work 1 more row in rib, then bind off, knitting the knits and purling the purls.
Step 8: Sewing up
Sew each sleeve seam from the cuff up to where the sleeve decreases began. Then sew the short armhole edges, front and back. Add buttons, and a bow if you like. I didn't add a hood, because this yarn is already very chunky and a hood would make the jacket too heavy for a little one.
- matinee jacket
- baby jacket knitting
- velvet yarn
- chunky yarn
- kids knitting pattern
- raglan
- hand knitted baby clothes
- handmade
