Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat #B106

Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat #B106 by Sue McCain

What Is Being Made

The Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat is a women's hooded cardigan-style coat designed by Sue McCain. This knitting project features a structured silhouette with a functional hood and button front closure. The pattern accommodates an extensive range of sizes, from XX-Small through 7X-Large, with finished bust measurements ranging from 31.25 inches to 74.25 inches, making it accessible for diverse body types and fit preferences.

Construction Method and Approach

This garment is constructed using the top-down method, a popular knitting technique that begins at the neckline and progresses downward toward the hem. The top-down approach offers several advantages: knitters can try on the piece as they work, easily adjust length to personal preference, and avoid the need for seaming. The hood is integrated into the construction from the beginning, creating a seamless design element.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat is knit primarily in stockinette stitch (St st), the foundational stitch that creates the smooth, classic fabric visible on both sides of the garment. This stitch provides an excellent canvas for displaying the texture and color of bulky-weight yarn.

The pattern employs circular knitting as its primary construction method. Knitters use multiple circular needles to manage the large number of stitches required for a full-sized coat, allowing for seamless construction in the round. The sleeves are worked using double-pointed needles, a traditional technique for creating tubular sections like sleeves and cuffs.

Stitch markers are essential notions used throughout this project to denote pattern repeats, increases, and construction landmarks, helping knitters maintain accuracy across the many stitches involved in a bulky-weight garment.

Yarn and Materials

The Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat requires bulky-weight yarn, with yardage ranging from 1275 yards for the smallest size (XX-Small) to 2625 yards for the largest size (7X-Large). The sample garment shown in the pattern was knit using Plymouth Yarn Galway Chunky, a 100% wool yarn that provides warmth and structure ideal for an outerwear piece. Each 100-gram skein yields 123 yards.

Knitters should note that if they plan to customize the length of the body or sleeves beyond the pattern specifications, additional yarn yardage will be necessary to complete the project successfully.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for size 10 (6 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches long or longer for the main body construction, allowing the knitter to work the coat in the round without seaming. A shorter 12-inch circular needle in the same size is used for smaller circumferences, such as the neckline or cuff areas. One set of five size 10 (6 mm) double-pointed needles is required for sleeve construction.

The target gauge for this project is 15 stitches and 21 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is critical for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the coat fits as designed. Knitters are strongly advised to knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project.

Notions and Finishing Details

Beyond yarn and needles, the Boston Top-Down Hooded Coat requires several additional notions to complete the project: stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily during construction, safety pins for securing pieces during assembly or fitting, and five 1.5-inch toggle buttons for the front button closure.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The top-down construction method, circular knitting, and multiple needle types require familiarity with these methods, though the straightforward stockinette stitch base keeps the project manageable for dedicated intermediate-level knitters.