Viola Set in Adriafil Merino & Ice Cream - Downloadable PDF

Viola Set Knitting Pattern by Adriafil – Baby Jacket, Hat, Mittens & Shorts in Merino and Ice Cream Yarn

The Viola Set is a charming collection of coordinated baby knitwear designed for 12 months and published by Adriafil as a free downloadable PDF pattern. The set comprises four pieces: a jacket, a hat, mittens, and shorts, all worked in a soft palette of light blue using two signature Adriafil yarns. The combination of textured stitch patterns, delicate trim, and practical shaping makes this an ideal project for knitters who want to create a complete, gift-worthy baby wardrobe.

Yarns and Materials

The Viola Set calls for two Adriafil yarns used in combination to create both structure and decorative detail:

• Adriafil Merino in light blue no. 79 – the primary yarn, used doubled throughout the main fabric of the jacket and the other garment pieces. This is an aran-weight yarn when doubled, giving the finished fabric warmth, softness, and excellent stitch definition.
• Adriafil Ice Cream in light blue no. 95 – a DK-weight accent yarn used for decorative edging and trim, adding a subtle textural contrast to the finished pieces.

For the jacket specifically, the pattern requires 300 g of Adriafil Merino in light blue no. 79 (used doubled) and 50 g of Adriafil Ice Cream in light blue no. 95. Additional materials include:

• Knitting needles in sizes 5½ mm and 6 mm
• A 3.50 mm crochet hook for edging and finishing
• Eight buttons
• A tapestry needle for seaming

Tension and Gauge

The stated gauge for this pattern is 16 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm × 10 cm, measured over lozenge stitch using 5½ mm needles and Adriafil Merino doubled. Checking gauge carefully before beginning is especially important here because the Merino yarn is worked double-stranded, which means even small variations in individual knitting tension can significantly affect the finished dimensions of these small baby garments.

The Jacket

Construction and Shaping

The jacket is the centrepiece of the Viola Set. It is worked flat in separate pieces – back, fronts, and sleeves – and then seamed together. The back begins with 54 stitches cast on using 5½ mm needles and Adriafil Merino doubled. Two rows of garter stitch form the lower border before the fabric transitions into the signature lozenge stitch pattern. Side shaping is achieved through decreases: one stitch is decreased on each side after 20 rows, then one stitch every 6 rows a further four times, creating a neat, tailored silhouette suited to a baby's proportions.

Stitch Patterns Used in the Jacket

• Garter stitch – used for the lower border; created by knitting every row, producing a ridged, non-curling fabric that lies flat without blocking.
• Lozenge stitch – the main body fabric, worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2. This four-row repeat creates a raised, diamond-like texture through a combination of purl stitches, yarn-overs, and a distinctive slip-the-yarn-over technique that draws the fabric into elegant lozenges. The repeat is as follows: Rows 1 and 3 are worked in knit stitch; Row 2 works p2, yarn over, k2, slip the yarn over the two knitted stitches across; Row 4 begins with p2 then repeats the same yarn-over sequence offset by two stitches to create the staggered lozenge effect.
• Elastic rib – used for cuffs and borders where a snug, stretchy finish is needed.
• K1/P1 rib stitch –