Jackets in Hayfield Spirit DK - 8036 - Downloadable PDF

Hayfield Spirit DK Jackets – Pattern 8036: Complete Summary

Pattern 8036 from Hayfield is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern titled Easy Knit, offering instructions for two distinct jacket designs — a Short Jacket and a Long Jacket — both worked in Hayfield Spirit DK yarn. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers an impressively wide size range, making it accessible to a broad range of knitters. Both jackets share the same construction approach and stitch vocabulary, differing primarily in finished length and yarn shade.

Who This Pattern Is For

Rated as beginner difficulty and described explicitly as Easy Knit, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to work a simple shaped garment. The straightforward stitch patterns and clear abbreviations make it an excellent confidence-building project for those new to garment knitting.

Size Range

Both jackets are sized to fit bust measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) through to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), spanning six sizes. The actual finished (eased) measurements range from 107 cm (42 in) to 157 cm (62 in), providing a comfortable, relaxed fit. The inclusion of larger sizes up to 52/54 inches makes this a notably inclusive pattern.

Finished Lengths

• Short Jacket: 50–63 cm (19¾–24¾ in), measured from the back of the neck
• Long Jacket: 65–78 cm (25½–30¾ in), measured from the back of the neck
• Sleeve length: 42–44 cm (16½–17¼ in), noted as adjustable to suit individual preference

Design One: The Short Jacket

The Short Jacket is a neat, cropped style worked in Hayfield Spirit DK shade 400. Its shorter length makes it a versatile layering piece, suitable for casual or smart-casual wear. Despite its compact proportions, it is fully shaped with shoulder shaping worked by decreasing stitches at each end of rows, giving the finished garment a professional, tailored finish.

Design Two: The Long Jacket

The Long Jacket offers a more substantial, relaxed silhouette, worked in Hayfield Spirit DK shade 407. Its greater length — up to 78 cm from the back of the neck in the largest size — creates a cosy, wrap-style feel. Like the Short Jacket, it features shoulder shaping for a neat fit across the upper body.

Techniques Used

Both jackets are constructed using classic flat knitting techniques, making them well-suited to knitters who prefer working back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round. Key techniques featured in this pattern include:

• Thumb method cast-on — a sturdy, elastic cast-on well suited to garment edges
• Stocking stitch (st-st) — the primary fabric of both jackets, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side
• Rib pattern — used as a textural element, particularly for borders and welts, adding stretch and structure to the edges
• Shoulder shaping — achieved by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows and decreasing at each end of rows to create a sloped shoulder line
• Increasing and decreasing — used throughout for shaping the body and sleeves

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) — the foundational stitch of the fabric
• Purl stitch (p) — used on wrong-side rows to create stocking stitch, and in combination with knit stitches to form the rib pattern
• Stocking stitch — smooth, classic fabric formed by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows
• Rib pattern — an alternating knit and purl