Joey - babies broken rib jacket

Joey Babies Broken Rib Jacket by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

The Joey is a babies cardigan designed by Jennifer Lee, crafted as a downloadable knitting pattern. This garment is specifically engineered for newborns and infants, with sizes ranging from 0 to 12 months. The cardigan features a classic V-neck design with set-in sleeves, making it a versatile layering piece for babies' wardrobes. The pattern is photographed in size 0 months to showcase the finished garment.

Sizing and Fit

The Joey cardigan is available in four sizes to accommodate babies at different growth stages:

• 0 months: Fits chest 35cm (13¾ ins), actual measurement 41cm (16 ins), length approximately 22cm (8¾ ins), sleeve length 11cm (4½ ins)
• 3 months: Fits chest 40cm (15¾ ins), actual measurement 46cm (18 ins), length approximately 26cm (10¼ ins), sleeve length 13cm (5 ins)
• 6 months: Fits chest 45cm (17¾ ins), actual measurement 52cm (20½ ins), length approximately 29cm (11½ ins), sleeve length 16cm (6¼ ins)
• 12 months: Fits chest 50cm (19¾ ins), actual measurement 58cm (23 ins), length approximately 33cm (13 ins), sleeve length 19cm (7½ ins)

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Joey cardigan is worked entirely in broken rib, a textured stitch pattern that creates visual interest while maintaining the elasticity needed for babies' clothing. The broken rib construction provides both stretch and structure, making it ideal for garments that need to accommodate a baby's movement and growth.

One of the design's most practical features is the integrated buttonhole placement. The buttonholes are worked directly into the Left Front panel during knitting, eliminating the need to sew on front bands or pick up stitches along the front edges after the main pieces are complete. This streamlined construction method reduces finishing time and creates a cleaner, more professional appearance. The cardigan features a V-neck shaping and set-in sleeves, which are sewn together after the individual pieces are knitted.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Joey cardigan is broken rib. This textured stitch combines knit and purl stitches in a broken sequence to create a subtle, sophisticated texture that differs from traditional ribbing. Broken rib is particularly suitable for babies' garments because it provides gentle stretch without the tight compression of standard ribbing, while still maintaining shape and structure. The pattern also incorporates standard knitting techniques for shaping, including increases and decreases for the V-neck and armhole shaping, as well as buttonhole construction integrated into the front panel.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Joey cardigan is designed to be knitted with DK weight yarn (8ply), specifically using Lincraft DK 8ply yarn, which features a yardage of 266 meters per 100g ball. The pattern calls for two colors:

• 1st Colour (C1): White – 1 ball for size 0 months, 1-2 balls for sizes 3-6 months, and 2 balls for size 12 months
• 2nd Colour (C2): Aqua – 1 ball for size 0 months, 1-2 balls for sizes 3-6 months, and 2 balls for size 12 months

The two-color construction allows for creative colorwork or simple color blocking, adding visual appeal to the finished garment. Yarn quantities may vary depending on individual knitting tension and the specific yarn brand used.

Needles and Notions

The Joey cardigan is knitted using 4.00mm knitting needles (UK size 8, US size 6). A wool needle is required for sewing up the finished pieces. The pattern also requires 3 to 6 buttons depending on the size being knitted, with smaller sizes needing 3 buttons and larger sizes requiring up to 6 buttons for proper closure.

Tension and Difficulty Level

The pattern specifies a tension of 35 stitches and 42 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over broken