This simple garter stitch jacket is a brilliant project for new knitters or anyone returning to knitting and looking for an easy, comforting make. Why? Because the back is just a square. That’s it – a square!

If you make the version without the hood, there’s no picking up stitches either (woohoo!), which is always a treat. With that in mind, I’d recommend making sure the front edges are nice and neat, and that you join in any new balls of yarn at the side seams for the best finish.

There’s just a teeny bit of shaping at the neck with some basic decreases, and a few simple increases on the sleeves – it’s a lovely introduction to shaping without anything too fiddly.

And there’s an option for a hood too, if you fancy it.
Love this jacket and wish it came in adult sizes? It does! The Halyard pattern originally from my Simple Knits book is my grown-up version of the Leighton Jacket – perfect for anyone who’s fallen in love with the original.

CONSTRUCTION
The back, left and right front, and two sleeves are knitted flat from the bottom upseparaterate pieces and joined together. The sleeves are drop.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, decreasing at neck shaping, increasing on the sleeves, buttonholes, cast off. Joining seams. Sewing on buttons. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: mattress stitch and three needle cast off.

YARN
with hood: 2(3:3:4:4) 100g hanks of WYS Bluefaced Leicester DK.
100% British Bluefaced Leicester wool, 225m/246yds per 100g
without hood: 3(4:5:6:7) 50g balls of hjertegarn merino cotton.
50% extrafine merino wool & 50% cotton 120m/131yds per 50g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
4mm.

NOTIONS
6 buttons.

GAUGE (tension)
22 stitches and 40 rows to 10cm/4ins square over garter stitch pattern. I obtained this gauge with 4mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

SIZE AND FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

To Fit Age (suggested):
0-6 months, (6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years)

Chest circumference
43, (52, 58, 65, 72)cm
17, (20½, 22¾, 25½, 28¼)ins

Length (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
26, (28, 32, 34, 38)cm
10¼, (11, 12½, 13¼, 14¾)ins

Sleeve Length (from underarm to cast on edge)
17, (19, 22, 26, 30)cm
6¾, (7½, 8¾, 10¼, 11¾)ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.