"Alexander Jacket" - Jacket Knitting Pattern For Boys - Jacket Knitting Pattern For Boys in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Alexander Jacket Knitting Pattern for Boys – Full Pattern Summary

The Alexander Jacket is a charming and practical boys' jacket knitting pattern from MillaMia, designed to be knitted in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn. Rated as a Beginner / Improving skill level, this pattern is an excellent choice for knitters who are building confidence and looking to create a polished, wearable garment for a child. The finished jacket has a distinctive military-inspired aesthetic, complete with decorative shoulder patches and buttonhole tabs that give it a structured, stylish look.

What Is Being Made

The Alexander Jacket is a fully seamed, structured boys' jacket worked in two colours. It features shoulder patches and buttonhole tabs as key design details, giving the garment a smart, tailored appearance. The pattern notes suggest it looks particularly striking in strong military colours such as Moss (103) as the main colour and Fawn (160) as the contrast, though the designer encourages knitters to experiment with softer or brighter shades, including lighter colourways suited to girls.

The jacket is sized to fit children aged ½–1 year through to 7–8 years, with actual chest measurements ranging from 54 cm to 83 cm and lengths from 28 cm to 50 cm. Sleeve lengths range from 17 cm to 36 cm depending on the size, making this a versatile pattern that can grow with a child across multiple years of wear.

Sizes and Measurements

• Ages: ½–1, 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, 5–6, and 7–8 years
• Chest: 54 / 59 / 64 / 68 / 73 / 78 / 83 cm (21¼ – 36½ in)
• Length to shoulder: 28 / 31 / 34 / 38 / 42 / 46 / 50 cm (11 – 19¾ in)
• Sleeve length: 17 / 19 / 22 / 24 / 28 / 32 / 36 cm (6¾ – 14¼ in)

Techniques Used

The Alexander Jacket is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat method, meaning the pieces are knitted flat on straight or circular needles from the lower edge upward and then seamed together at the end. This traditional construction approach is ideal for beginner and improving knitters, as it allows each section — front, back, and sleeves — to be worked independently before assembly.

• Bottom-up construction: The garment begins at the cast-on edge and is worked upward toward the shoulders, a logical and beginner-friendly approach that makes shaping easy to follow.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making this suitable for knitters who prefer straight needles or who are not yet comfortable with circular techniques.
• Seamed finishing: Once all pieces are complete, they are joined using seaming techniques. Careful seaming is essential to achieving a neat, professional result, particularly when attaching the shoulder patches and buttonhole tabs.
• Buttonhole technique: The pattern includes instructions for creating buttonholes within the tab details, a fundamental skill that adds both function and decorative interest to the jacket's front opening.
• Patch and tab application: The pattern includes specific hints and tips for pressing the buttonhole tabs and patches before sewing them on, and emphasises the importance of aligning the shoulder patches at the same height for a polished finish.

Stitches Used

As a sport weight, beginner-level knitting pattern, the Alexander Jacket relies on foundational knitting stitches. While the full stitch list is detailed in the abbreviations section of the downloadable PDF, the construction and texture of the garment suggest the use of:

• Knit and purl stitches – the building blocks of flat knitting, used to create the main fabric of the jacket body,