Baby Shepherd's Jacket

Baby Shepherd's Jacket by Cheryl Andrews

What is Being Made

The Baby Shepherd's Jacket is a rustic, button-closure cardigan designed for infants in three sizes: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months. This knitted jacket features a charming, practical design perfect for dressing little ones in a cozy, classic style. The garment showcases a rustic aesthetic inspired by traditional shepherd's wear, adapted for babies.

Construction Method

This jacket is knitted side to side, beginning at the left wrist and ending at the right wrist. This construction approach allows for seamless integration of the sleeves and body, creating a unified garment with minimal seaming. The side-to-side knitting method provides flexibility in fit and makes it easier to adjust sizing during the knitting process.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Baby Shepherd's Jacket employs an intermediate difficulty level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The primary stitch pattern is a simple yet effective pattern stitch that creates visual texture:

• Row 1: Knit on the right side
• Row 2: Purl
• Row 3: Knit
• Row 4: Knit on the wrong side, creating a distinctive purl ridge on the right side

This repeating pattern generates a textured fabric with subtle horizontal ridges that add visual interest and depth to the finished garment. The pattern stitch is worked at a gauge of 16 stitches by 28 rows over 4 inches, providing a fabric with good structure and drape suitable for a baby garment.

Closure and Finishing

The jacket features a single button closure, providing a simple, secure fastening mechanism. The neck edging is finished using a size I or 9 crochet hook, creating a neat, professional edge that frames the neckline.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Baby Shepherd's Jacket is designed to be worked in aran weight yarn. The yardage requirements vary by size: approximately 180 yards for the smallest size (0-6 months), 270 yards for the medium size (6-12 months), and 300 yards for the largest size (12-18 months).

Yarn Fiber Options: The pattern calls for 100% cotton yarn in aran weight. The sample garments were knitted using two specific cotton yarns:

• I Love This Cotton – 100% cotton, aran weight, 100g = 180 yards per skein. The yellow, blue, and green samples required (1, 2, 2) skeins respectively for the three sizes.
• Araucania Pomaire – 100% cotton, aran weight, 100g = 183 yards per skein. The rose sample was created using this yarn.

The pattern notes that worsted weight yarn can also be substituted, though using worsted will result in slightly smaller finished sizes. Cotton yarn is ideal for baby garments due to its breathability, softness, and easy-care properties.

Needles and Tools

The Baby Shepherd's Jacket requires the following needle specifications:

• Size 8 needles: Two straight needles and one double-pointed needle, or alternatively, three straight needles for the main knitting
• Size I or 9 crochet hook: Used for finishing the neck edging

The combination of straight needles and a double-pointed needle (or three straight needles) accommodates the side-to-side construction method, allowing the knitter to manage the stitches effectively as the garment grows from wrist to wrist.