Cute Duffle-coats & Bears

Bear Hooded Duffle Coat by Linda Moorhouse

What is Being Made

This is a charming hooded duffle coat designed for children, featuring a bear-themed construction with a cozy hood and classic duffle coat styling. The garment is sized to fit a 20 to 21 inch chest, making it suitable for toddlers and young children. The design combines traditional duffle coat elements with playful bear-inspired details, creating a whimsical and practical outerwear piece.

Techniques Used

The bear hooded duffle coat employs fundamental knitting construction methods appropriate for intermediate-level crafters. The pattern utilizes slip stitch techniques at the beginning of rows to create neat, finished edges throughout the garment. Increases are worked strategically on the sleeves, performed at both ends of rows and repeated at regular intervals to achieve proper sleeve shaping and fit. Neck shaping is accomplished through casting off stitches in a single row to create the neckline opening for the hood attachment. Underarm shaping is created by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows to define the armhole depth and sleeve cap.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch: The primary stitch throughout the coat, created by knitting every row, which produces a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Slip stitch: Used at the beginning of nearly every row to create clean, professional-looking selvage edges
• Increases: Both-ends increases worked on sleeves at regular 7-row intervals to gradually expand sleeve circumference
• Cast off (bind off): Used to secure stitches and create defined shaping at the underarm and neckline

Materials and Tools

This project is worked in DK weight yarn, a versatile medium weight that provides excellent stitch definition and drape suitable for children's garments. The pattern requires two needle sizes to create varied fabric densities: 3.75mm needles are used for the initial cast-on and ribbed edge sections (worked over 4 rows), which create a snug, elastic cuff that helps the coat stay in place. 4mm needles are then used for the main body and sleeve sections, producing a slightly looser gauge that allows for comfortable movement and easier knitting of larger sections. This two-needle technique is a common approach in knit garment construction to balance structure with wearability.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The coat is constructed in separate pieces: a right side panel, a left side panel, and two identical sleeves that are knitted separately and then assembled. The body pieces measure approximately 107 rows from cast-on to completion, with deliberate shaping at rows 68 (underarm cast-off of 4 stitches) and rows 107-108 (neck shaping with an 18-stitch cast-off). The sleeves are worked over 58 rows total, beginning with 34 stitches and increasing to 46 stitches through strategic increases, creating a properly fitted sleeve cap that accommodates the arm movement required for active play.

Intermediate Skill Level Considerations

This pattern is classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle garment construction. The project requires understanding of shaping techniques, piece assembly, and the ability to read and follow detailed row-by-row instructions. The use of slip stitches throughout demonstrates professional finishing techniques, while the systematic increases on the sleeves teach gradual shaping principles. Crafters working this pattern should be comfortable with casting on and off, maintaining consistent tension, and potentially seaming pieces together to complete the finished coat.