free pattern friday: mossy jacket

Whenever I see a pattern for a baby something-or-other that says it's a very special something-or-other for baby, that usually means it is hyper-ruffled, tied with 100 ribbons or made from artisan-spun cashmere. I think this little jacket is a very special baby gift because it's like, really nice. It has a funky off-center button band, it's cute, colorful, fairly quick to knit and made from merino wool - just a little bit chi-chi but not ridiculously so.

The jacket is knit top-down, all-in-one piece, and the yarn is knit tightly on needles slightly smaller than called-for to make a nice winter jacket for a babe. Just two buttons makes it easy to get on and off the very special tyke. (Note: I am a really loose knitter, so the needle size might not work for you - make sure you do a swatch to get the correct gauge for this project).

materials

• 3 (4, 4) skeins Classic Elite Beatrice (100% merino; 63 yards) in color A (#3428)
  
• 1 (1, 2) skeins in color B (#3285)
  
• US size 9 circular needles and DPNs
  
• US size 10 circular needles and DPNs
  
• scrap yarn to hold sleeves
• two 1" buttons
• stitch markers
• tapestry needle

gauge: 3.5 st and 5 rows/inch in stockinette stitch on larger needles

size: 6 mos (12 mos, 18 mos)

measurements:
Finished length: 10 (11 1/2, 13) in.
Finished sleeve length: 7 ( 7 1/2, 8) in.
Finished chest circumference: 20 (22, 24) in.

pattern notes:

• make all increases (inc) by knitting into the front and back of the stitch (kfb).
• notice that as you knit this garment, you begin with the neckline, and you will be increasing on the right side but not the left - that's how you get the off-center placement of the button band.

start at the neckline
Using larger needles and color A, cast on 3 st, place marker, CO 8 (8, 9), PM, CO 14 (15, 16), PM, CO 8 (8, 9), PM, CO 1. (34, (35, 38) st cast on).

Row 1: Kfb of first st, slip M, Kfb. *K to 1 st before next M, inc, sl M, inc, repeat from * to end, Kfb of last st (9 st inc).
Row 2: P all st.
Row 3: K1, *K to 1 st before next M, inc, sl M, inc, repeat from * to last st, Kfb (9 st inc).
Row 4: P all st.

Continue in this manner (repeating rows 3 and 4), inc at the M on every RS row, until there are 22 (23, 24) st btw the back two markers. At the end of this RS row, CO 4 (5, 6) st.
Next row: P all st.
Next RS row: As before, *K to 1 st before next M, inc, sl M, inc, repeat from * to end. You will no longer be increasing on the final st.
Next WS row: P all st.

Continue in this manner until there are 34 (37, 40) st between the back two markers.

divide for sleeves
Next RS row: K to first M, remove M. Using a tapestry needle, place all sleeve st on a length of scrap yarn. CO 1 st for the underarm portion. Remove next M and continue knitting the back of the sweater by Kfb of the first st. Knit to next M. Remove M, place sleeve st on scrap yarn, CO 1 st, remove next M, Kfb of the next st and K to end.
Now all your body stitches are knit continuously, and the sleeves have been separated out as in the photo below.



Cont knitting the body in st st until it measures 9(10 1/2, 12) in long (from the back neck to the bottom edge).

Change to smaller needles and color B. K 1 row in st st.
K 4 rows in seed stitch, BO loosely following seed st (you may want to bind off using the larger needle size).

sleeves
Using larger DPN's, put all held st on DPN's and distribute evenly. Join yarn (color A), pick up and knit the underarm stitch, and cont knitting all sleeve st using st st. At the end of your first rnd, place a marker to mark the start of the rnd.
K 3 more rows.

Next rnd (dec rnd): K to last 2 st, K2tog. K three rounds.
Repeat dec rnd on every 4th rnd until 5 st have been dec (23 (25, 28) st rem). Sleeve should measure about 6 (6 1/2, 7) in from armpit.

Change to smaller needles and color B. K 1 rnd in st st.
K 4 rnds in seed st. BO loosely in seed st.
Repeat for second sleeve.

button band
Left side: Using smaller circular needles and color B, pick up and K 3 out of every 4 selvedge st up the left side of the cardi (about 30 (34, 39) st). K 4 rows in seed st, BO in patt.

Right side: Using smaller circular needles and color B, pick up and K 3 out of every 4 selvedge st up the right side of the cardi (about 30 (34, 39) st). K 2 rows in seed st.
Row 3 (buttonhole row): Patt 2 st, YO, K2tog (or P2tog as appropriate). Patt 5 st, YO, K2tog (or P2tog as appropriate). Patt to end.
K another row in seed st, BO in patt.

collar
Using smaller needles and color B, pick up and knit 4 button band st, 11 (12, 13) front right side st, 8 (8, 9) right side shoulder st, 14 (15, 16) back section st, 8 (8, 9) left side shoulder st, 6 (7, 8) left front st and 4 button band st.
K 3 rows in seed st. BO in patt.

finishing
Mark placement of buttons and sew on securely. Weave in loose ends.




important notice: This is a free pattern and you are welcome to use it for all the non-commercial purposes you like. However, you may not reproduce this pattern to sell, and you may not sell what you make with it. You may donate what you make with it to charity, and you may use it for charity fundraisers only if 100% of the proceeds are donated to the charity (and by charity I don't mean your kid's college fund). Thanks for understanding!