Häkeljacke Jacket in Schachenmayr Catania - S8781 - Downloadable PDF

Häkeljacke Jacket in Schachenmayr Catania – S8781: Crochet Pattern Summary

This free downloadable PDF crochet pattern from Schachenmayr, reference S8781, provides instructions for a classic crocheted jacket worked in Schachenmayr Catania, a popular sport-weight yarn. The pattern is designed for two sizes — 36/38 and 42/44 — making it accessible for a range of adult figures. All instructions follow the convention of listing the smaller size first, with the larger size after the hyphen.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a structured crocheted jacket featuring a shaped back panel, two front panels, and carefully worked armhole and shoulder shaping. The design is constructed in separate pieces that are worked flat and then assembled, a traditional approach that gives the finished garment a clean, tailored silhouette. The jacket includes a rear neckline opening shaped by leaving centre stitches unworked and finishing both sides separately.

Garment Construction and Shaping Details

Back Panel (Rückenteil)

The back is begun by casting on 113–129 chain stitches and working in the main crochet stitch pattern throughout. The stitch repeat (Rapport) is worked 12–14 times per row depending on the size being made. After 30 cm from the cast-on edge, armhole shaping begins on both sides simultaneously by decreasing 4 stitches on each side. This decrease is then repeated twice more every second row, reducing the stitch count to 89–105 stitches.

After 50–52 cm from the cast-on edge, shoulder slope shaping begins, again on both sides, with a decrease of 8 stitches per side. This is followed by 1–2 further decreases of 8 stitches per row. Simultaneously with the first shoulder decrease, the centre 57 stitches are left unworked to form the rear neckline, and both shoulders are then completed separately.

Left Front Panel (Linkes Vorderteil)

The left front panel is cast on with 57–65 chain stitches and worked in the same main crochet stitch pattern, with the repeat worked 5–6 times per row. Armhole shaping on the left front begins after 34 cm from the cast-on edge, mirroring the shaping logic used on the back panel. The right front panel is worked as a mirror image of the left.

Techniques Used

• Working flat in rows: All panels are crocheted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, producing flat fabric pieces that are later seamed together.
• Stitch pattern repeat (Rapport): The main fabric is built on a repeating stitch motif that is worked a set number of times per row according to the size being made, ensuring consistent fabric width and texture.
• Armhole shaping: Decreases are worked at both edges simultaneously to create the curved armhole opening characteristic of a set-in or shaped sleeve jacket.
• Shoulder slope shaping: Gradual decreases at the outer shoulder edges create a sloped shoulder line for a better fit and a more professional finish.
• Neckline shaping: Centre stitches are left unworked to open the rear neckline, and both sides are then finished independently, a technique that produces a neat, symmetrical neck edge.
• Edge decreases: On the right edge, the specified number of stitches are passed over using slip stitches (Kettmaschen); on the left edge, the specified stitches are simply left unworked. This is the standard method for clean, stepped decreases in crochet garment construction.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (Luftmasche): Used to create the foundation chain at the start of each panel.
• Slip stitch (Kettmasche): Used specifically for edge decreases on the right-hand side of the work, allowing stitches to be passed over neatly without adding height.
• Main crochet stitch pattern (Häkelmuster