Make a jacket for a baby as a gift. You will need about 4 oz sport's weight or 3 ply baby yarn. Choose a soft, machine-washable yarn. Remember that wool often irritates delicate skin. Use a 'G' hook.
To adapt this pattern for 6 month old babies, use soft 4 ply yarn and a 'H' hook.
To make a shell: (2dc ch1 2dc)
Bodice
Starting at the neckline, loosely ch 38.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in every sc across.
Row 2: Ch 2, turn, 1dc in each of the next 4 sc, (3dc in next sc - dc increase made), 1dc in each of the next 7 sts, dc inc, 1dc in each of the next 9 sts, dc inc, dc in each of next 7 sts, dc inc, 1dc in each of last 5 sts (45 sts).
Row 3: Ch1, turn, sc in each st, making 3sc in center st of each dc inc, (53 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, 1dc in each sc across, with dc inc in center st of each sc inc across. ( 61 sts)
Rows 5 - 9: Repeat rows 3 and 4, ending with row 3. (101 sts at end of row 9)
Row 10: Ch1, turn, sc in each of the first 13 sts, skip 24 sts (first armhole made), sc in each of next 27 sts, sk 24sts, sc in last 13 sts.
Row 11: Ch 2, turn, dc in next st, * sk 1 st, make shell in next st, sk 1 st, dc in next st, repeat from * to end of row.
Rows 12 - 15: Ch 2, turn, 1 dc in next st, make shell in each shell and 1 dc in each single dc.
Row 16: Work across, making a shell in each shell and 2dc in each single dc.
Rows 17 - 18: Work across, making a shell in each shell and a dc in each single dc.
Row 19: Work across, making a shell in each shell and increasing each 2dc bar to a 3dc bar (I usually make an extra dc between sts).
Row 20: work a row of sc across the bottom, up the front, across the neckline and down the other front, making 3sc at each corner. Fasten off.
Sleeves
With right side facing, attach yarn at bottom or armhole, ch3.
Row 1: Make dc in each st around, joining to the top of beginning ch3.
Rows 2 - 5: Without turning, ch 3 and make dc in each dc around, joining to the top of beginning ch3.
Row 6: Without turning, ch 3, * sk 1 st, dc in next 5dc, repeat around, dc to end, joining to the top of beginning dc.
Row 7: Ch 3, dc in each st around, joining to the top of beginning ch 3.
Row 8: Ch 3, * sk 1 dc in next 3dc, repeat across, dc to end, join to the top of beg ch.
Rows 9 - 11: Sc around to make a cuff.
Repeat for second sleeve.
Fastening
The nature of crochet is such that you can probably sew two buttons and use the openwork for buttonholes. Alternatively, make chains of about 40 stitches and attach at the neck to make ties.
Safety
It is inadvisable to make a long chain and thread it through the neck eyelets. It is possible, if not likely, that a baby will manage to strangle herself.
This jacket makes an adorable gift for a new baby, but have you considered making one to donate to charity?
Glossary
dc – double crochet
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
inc – increase
sts – stitches
sk – skip
Lynne Thompson - Lynne has many diverse interests, ranging from early childhood and crafts to history and literature. She holds a Masters degree in ...
