Jacket, Hat, Bonnet, Mittens, Bootees, Blanket in King Cole Comfort DK - 4945 - Downloadable PDF

Jacket, Hat, Bonnet, Mittens, Bootees & Blanket Knitting Pattern – King Cole Comfort DK (Pattern 4945)

This comprehensive knitting pattern from King Cole, pattern number 4945, provides instructions for a complete coordinated baby set knitted in King Cole Comfort DK yarn. The collection includes six individual projects: a jacket, hat, bonnet, mittens, bootees, and a blanket, making it an ideal pattern for creating a full, beautifully matched layette for a newborn or young baby. Sizes range from 31 cm to 51 cm (12 to 20 inches), covering a generous span of baby sizes from newborn through to older infants.

This pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable working with shaping, multiple stitch types, and following multi-part pattern instructions across several garments and accessories.

Materials Required

The pattern is designed to be worked in King Cole Comfort DK, a double knit weight yarn. 4mm knitting needles are recommended as the starting point, though knitters are advised to adjust needle size as necessary to achieve the correct tension. King Cole emphasises that achieving the stated tension is essential to the success of all six projects.

• Yarn: King Cole Comfort DK (double knit weight)
• Needles: 4mm knitting needles (adjust as needed for tension)

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over pattern using 4mm needles. Knitters are strongly advised to work a tension swatch before beginning. If fewer stitches and rows are achieved over 10 cm, finer needles should be used; if more stitches and rows are achieved, larger needles should be substituted. Correct tension ensures that each garment and accessory in the set will come out at the intended size and fit properly.

Techniques and Stitches Used

As an intermediate-level pattern covering six different projects, a variety of knitting techniques and stitches are employed throughout. These include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches – the foundational stitches used throughout all six pieces
• Garter stitch (G-St) – created by knitting every row, commonly used for borders, blanket sections, and decorative edging
• Increasing (inc) – used to shape garment pieces such as sleeves and the body of the jacket
• Decreasing (dec) – used for shaping crowns of hats, bonnet edges, mitten tops, and bootee construction
• Slip stitch (sl) – slipping stitches knitways as specified
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) – a decrease technique used to create neat, directional shaping
• Knitting through the back of the loop (tbl) – used for twisted stitches that add structure and definition
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – used to create decorative eyelets, which are common in baby knitting for lace details and buttonhole-style openings
• Alternating rows (alt) – working shaping or pattern changes on alternate rows for gradual, even results

The Jacket

The baby jacket is a central piece of this pattern set, sized from 31 cm to 51 cm to fit a range of baby ages. It is knitted flat in pieces and likely features garter stitch or textured stitch borders, shaped armholes, and set-in or simple sleeves. Shaping is achieved through increases and decreases worked at specified intervals. The jacket is designed to coordinate with the other pieces in the set, creating a unified look when the full layette is completed.

The Hat and Bonnet

Two separate head coverings are included in this pattern: a hat and a bonnet. While both are designed to fit the same size range as the jacket, they offer different styles. The bonnet is a traditional baby design with ties or a shaped back, while the hat offers a simpler pull-on style. Both pieces use decreasing techniques to shape the crown and are likely finished