Dart Jacket Knitting Pattern

Dart Jacket in Rowan Pure Alpaca

What Is Being Made

The Dart Jacket is a knitted garment designed by Lisa Richardson, available in nine size options ranging from 71-76 cm to 152-157 cm chest measurements (28-30 inches to 60-62 inches). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a fitted jacket with structured shaping and decorative pleat details.

Design Features and Techniques

This jacket incorporates sophisticated knitting techniques including cable needle work to create dimensional pleats on the back. The pattern uses a distinctive pleat-forming method where stitches are held on cable needles and worked together through multiple layers to create crisp, structured folds. The pleating technique involves careful manipulation of stitches to form both the first and second halves of pleats, demonstrating advanced shaping capabilities.

The garment construction begins with garter stitch ribbing at the lower edge before transitioning to stockinette stitch for the main body. This combination provides both elasticity and a smooth, refined finish typical of professional knitwear design.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (g st) – worked for the initial ribbed sections to create texture and stretch
• Stockinette Stitch (st st) – the primary stitch throughout the main body of the jacket
• Knit Together (K tog) – used extensively in pleat construction to join multiple layers of fabric
• Cable Needle Techniques – for holding and manipulating stitches to form the decorative pleats

Materials

The Dart Jacket is knitted using Rowan Pure Alpaca, a luxury yarn available in 50-gram balls. Two colorways are specified in the pattern: Khaki (shade 126) and Lichen (shade 124). Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 10 to 17 balls depending on the finished chest measurement selected.

The project requires two sets of needles: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed sections and 3¾mm (US 5) needles for the main body knitting. Additionally, two cable needles are essential for executing the back pleat shaping that defines this design.

Skill Level

Rated as an intermediate knitting project, the Dart Jacket requires competency with basic stitches, needle techniques, and the ability to work with cable needles. The pleat construction, while detailed, is clearly charted and suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex shaping and three-dimensional fabric manipulation.