Oscar Jacket - Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino Tonals

Oscar Jacket – Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino Tonals

The Oscar Jacket is a children's knitted jacket pattern designed by Debbie Bliss and worked in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino Tonals yarn. The pattern is sized to fit ages 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, and 8–9 years, with finished chest measurements ranging from 68 cm (26¾ in) to 82 cm (32¼ in) and lengths to back neck from 32 cm to 47 cm. It is an intermediate-level knitting project, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping, working multiple pieces flat, and finishing techniques such as inserting a zipper.

What Is Being Made

The Oscar Jacket is a classic children's zip-up jacket featuring a structured silhouette with set-in or shaped sleeves, a ribbed hem and cuff, a moss-stitch front border, and integrated pocket linings. The design uses two colours — a main tonal yarn and a contrast colour used for the cast-on rib rows — to create a subtle, polished detail at the edges. The finished jacket is closed with a zipper, giving it a practical, sporty feel ideal for everyday children's wear.

Garment Pieces and Construction

The Oscar Jacket is worked flat in separate pieces and then seamed together. The individual pieces include:

• Back: Cast on with the contrast colour Avocado 23 (C) for the first rib row, then continued in the main colour Speedwell 09 (M). The back is worked in stocking stitch with a ribbed lower border, and shoulders are shaped by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, with centre neck stitches left on a holder.
• Left Front: Worked flat with a moss-stitch border of five stitches along the front edge, alongside a ribbed lower border. The contrast colour is used for the first cast-on rib row before switching to the main colour. Stitches are increased at the end of the rib section to accommodate the body shaping.
• Right Front: Worked to mirror the Left Front, also featuring the moss-stitch border and two-colour rib detail.
• Sleeves: Sleeve lengths range from 20 cm (8 in) to 32 cm (12½ in) depending on size, worked flat with matching rib cuffs.
• Pocket Linings (make 2): Each pocket lining is worked separately in stocking stitch using the main colour on 3.25mm (US 3) needles, cast on with 30–33 stitches depending on size, and worked for 6–10 rows before being left on a spare needle to be incorporated into the fronts.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which is typical of classic seamed garment construction.
• Seamed construction: The finished pieces are joined using seams, creating a structured and durable garment with clean edges — an important feature in children's clothing that needs to withstand regular wear and washing.
• Zipper insertion: The front opening is finished with a zipper rather than buttons or a knitted button band, adding a functional and contemporary element to the classic jacket shape.
• Integrated pocket linings: Pocket linings are knitted separately and then joined to the front pieces mid-row, a technique that creates neat, hidden pockets within the fabric.
• Two-needle colour detail: The contrast colour Avocado 23 is used only for the very first rib row on each piece, then broken off, giving the cast-on edge a clean colour accent without requiring stranded colourwork.
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped by casting off groups of stitches at the beginning of rows, with centre back neck stitches left on a holder for neat neckline finishing.
• Make one (m1) increase: Used during shaping, this technique picks up and knits into the bar between stitches to add stitches invisibly within the fabric.