Kellie - cropped jacket with raglan sleeves

Kellie Cropped Jacket with Raglan Sleeves

Garment Overview

Kellie is a ladies cropped jacket designed by Jennifer Lee, featuring short raglan sleeves and decorative picot edges. This beginner-friendly knitting pattern creates a fitted, modern silhouette perfect for layering. The jacket is available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large, with bust measurements from 31½ inches to 43¼ inches and a cropped length of approximately 17¾ to 19 inches.

Design Features and Construction

The Kellie jacket showcases several key design elements that make it visually appealing and structurally sound. The raglan sleeves are a defining feature, creating a diagonal seam line from the underarm to the neckline, which provides both comfort and a flattering fit. The picot edges add a delicate, finished detail to the garment's perimeter. Short sleeve lengths range from 2¾ to 4 inches depending on size, making this an ideal piece for three-season wear or layering over long sleeves.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The primary stitch used throughout the garment is stocking stitch (also called stockinette stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern appearance on the right side. Stocking stitch is achieved by alternating knit rows and purl rows, making it an essential technique for any knitter to master. The pattern also incorporates decreasing techniques to shape the raglan sleeves and create the fitted silhouette.

Yarn and Needle Requirements

The Kellie jacket requires 3 balls of Lincraft Winter Warmth yarn in 50-gram balls, with each ball containing approximately 78 meters of yarn. This yarn is classified as DK weight (double knitting weight), a versatile medium weight that works well for structured garments and creates excellent stitch definition.

The pattern calls for multiple needle sizes to achieve proper tension and construction:

• 3.75mm (UK size 9, US size 5) straight knitting needles
• 4.00mm (UK size 8, US size 6) straight knitting needles
• 3.75mm (UK size 9, US size 5) circular knitting needle
• 4.00mm (UK size 8, US size 6) circular knitting needle

The smaller needles are typically used for ribbed edges or cuffs to create elasticity, while the larger needles are used for the main body fabric. Circular needles allow for seamless construction of certain sections and make it easier to work with larger stitch counts.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is crucial for this pattern's success. The recommended tension is 21 stitches and 31 rows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) over stocking stitch using 4.00mm needles. Knitters should always swatch before beginning the project to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications, as variations in tension can significantly affect the final garment size and fit.

Additional Materials and Tools

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires a wool needle for sewing seams together during finishing, and 3 stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches during construction—a common technique when working on garment pieces that will be joined later.

Difficulty Level

Rated as Easy and suitable for beginners, the Kellie jacket uses straightforward knitting fundamentals. The combination of stocking stitch, basic decreasing, and simple raglan shaping makes this an excellent project for knitters developing their skills in garment construction.