Jackets in Sirdar Temptation - 8201 - Downloadable PDF

Sirdar Temptation Jacket and Waistcoat Knitting Pattern 8201

This Sirdar pattern 8201 provides instructions for two classic knitwear designs: a jacket with set-in sleeves and a sleeveless waistcoat, both worked in Sirdar Temptation DK yarn. The pattern is a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and simple stitch patterns but looking to develop their skills further. Notably, the pattern includes larger sizes, covering a broad range from a 32/34 inch bust right through to a 52/54 inch bust, making it an inclusive and versatile choice.

Designs Included

The Jacket

The jacket is a full-length knitted garment featuring set-in sleeves with adjustable sleeve length. It is worked in Sirdar Temptation shade 804 and requires between 7 and 11 balls of 50g yarn depending on the size being knitted. The finished actual measurements range from 97 cm (38 in) to 151 cm (59½ in) across the chest, with a full length of between 70 cm and 83 cm. Sleeve length is given as approximately 44–46 cm but is described as adjustable, allowing knitters to customise the fit. The jacket features button fastenings, requiring 7 to 9 buttons depending on size.

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless version of the design, worked in Sirdar Temptation shade 805. It requires between 5 and 9 balls of 50g yarn across the size range. Sharing the same bust measurements and overall construction approach as the jacket, it offers a lighter, more versatile layering option. Like the jacket, it uses button fastenings.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Both garments are constructed using a combination of classic and textured stitch patterns that give the finished pieces visual interest while remaining accessible to intermediate knitters.

• Eyelet pattern: A key decorative stitch used across both designs, created using yarn forward (yfwd) increases paired with decreases to form a repeating lace-like texture. This stitch pattern gives the fabric a delicate, open appearance.
• Stocking stitch: Used in combination with the eyelet pattern, stocking stitch forms the smooth, classic knitted fabric on certain sections of the garments. It is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side.
• Thumb method cast on: Specified for casting on stitches at the beginning of the back piece, this technique creates a firm, neat edge suitable for garment construction.
• Armhole shaping: Worked through a combination of cast-off rows and decreases, shaping the armhole for a neat, fitted set-in sleeve.
• Shoulder shaping: Achieved using cast-off rows and purl-two-together (p2tog) decreases to create a sloped shoulder line.
• Neck shaping: Worked simultaneously with shoulder shaping, requiring the knitter to manage two sets of shaping at once — a hallmark of intermediate-level garment construction.
• Slip stitch decreases: The pattern uses s1, k1, psso (slip one stitch knitways, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) and s2, k1, p2sso (slip two stitches together knitways, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over) for neat, directional decreasing.
• Wrap 1: A short-row technique used in the pattern, worked by slipping a stitch onto the right-hand needle, moving the yarn to the opposite side of the work, and slipping the stitch back — this prevents holes when working partial rows.
• Increasing and decreasing: General shaping throughout both garments uses standard increase and decrease methods to achieve the correct silhouette across all six sizes.

Materials

Yarn

Both designs are worked in Sirdar Temptation, a DK weight yarn