Free Jacket Knitting Patterns

Free knitted jackets for babies, children and grown-ups

Every pattern on this page is a free download, and the range stretches further than the word "jacket" first suggests. At the delicate end there are traditional baby matinee jackets in 4 ply, worked flat in one piece to the underarm with lace or eyelet borders. Then come hooded baby jackets, pram coats, all-weather toddler jackets with pockets, and duffle-style children's coats with toggles. For adults there are casual jackets, coatigans, boxy drop-shoulder shapes, cropped denim-jacket-inspired knits and heavier outdoor layers in chunky yarn. Weights run from 4 ply on 3.25mm needles right up to super chunky on 10mm, so there is something for every deadline.

Matinee jackets and why they endure

The matinee jacket is one of the great British baby knits: a short, loose, long-sleeved jacket, traditionally knitted in 4 ply or DK, buttoned or ribbon-tied at the neck, and worked in one piece from the hem to the underarms so the only real seaming is the sleeves and shoulders. The classic versions use a lace or feather-and-fan border, a garter or moss stitch body, and yoke shaping worked with simple decreases. They remain popular because they suit newborns perfectly: no tight neck to pull over a small head, easy to get on and off, and light enough for a warm hospital ward. A 0-3 month version takes around 100-150g of 4 ply.

Choosing your pattern

• For a first jacket, pick one worked flat in pieces with garter or moss stitch bands; those stitches lie flat and need almost no finishing.
• For a quick adult layer, go chunky. A drop-shoulder jacket on 8mm needles can be done in a week or two.
• For babies, check whether the pattern is written in a machine-washable yarn, and substitute if not.
• Count the buttonholes in the pattern and match them to buttons you already own before casting on; it is a small check that saves an annoying trip.
• Look at the schematic for the finished chest measurement rather than relying on the size label.

Hoods, collars and pockets

These are the details that make a jacket a jacket, and each has a knack. Hoods are usually knitted by picking up stitches evenly round the neckline and working up, then either grafting the top seam with Kitchener stitch or seaming it; picking up at a ratio of about three stitches to four rows keeps it from flaring. Shawl collars use short rows to build extra depth at the back. Patch pockets are simply squares sewn on afterwards, and are far easier than inset pockets, which need waste yarn and picked-up stitches. Adding a patch pocket to a plain jacket is a good first bit of pattern modification.

Seaming and finishing well

Because jackets have more pieces than most garments, finishing matters. Block each piece flat to its schematic measurements before you sew anything, then seam with mattress stitch, working one stitch in from the edge on both pieces; it makes an invisible, flat, elastic join along the sleeves and sides. Set in sleeves from the centre of the shoulder outwards, easing the cap in gradually rather than all at one point. Reinforce the button band with a length of grosgrain ribbon on a heavy adult jacket. Finally, sew buttons on with the shank sitting loose enough to allow for the thickness of the fabric.

Downloading and using the free PDFs

Add any pattern here to your library and it stays yours: download the PDF whenever you like, print the size you are making, or read it on a tablet. Print out and highlight your size column before starting, and note the needle sizes and tension at the top of the page. For more layers, look through the full cardigan knitting patterns, or the cosy cabled options in baby Aran knitting patterns.

Common questions

Is there an easy matinee jacket knitting pattern as a free PDF? Yes, simple matinee jackets are among the free downloads here, including versions written for straight needles and worked mostly in one piece.

Are baby hoodie patterns included? They are, sized from newborn upwards, with both button-front and zip-front styles.

What yarn suits a baby jacket best? Machine-washable 4 ply or DK. Keep the fibre soft next to the skin and avoid anything that sheds.

Can a beginner knit a jacket? Yes, if you choose one with drop shoulders, garter borders and no set-in sleeves. Those three things remove most of the difficulty.