Debbie Bliss Collared Smock Coat Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Collared Smock Coat

What is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Collared Smock Coat is a knitted outerwear garment featuring a structured collar. This coat design combines classic tailoring elements with handmade knitted construction, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons depending on yarn fiber choice.

Craft and Construction Method

This project is created using the knitting craft, specifically worked flat rather than in the round. Working flat means the pieces are knitted as individual flat panels on straight needles, which are then seamed together to form the finished coat. This construction method allows for precise shaping and is particularly well-suited to structured garments like coats and jackets.

Techniques Used

The Collared Smock Coat employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques to achieve its finished appearance:

• Casting on and casting off: The pattern uses standard cast-on methods to create the foundation rows and cast-off techniques to finish edges securely and prevent unravelling
• Shaping through increases and decreases: The coat uses increase and decrease methods including knit front and back (kfb), purl front and back (pfb), and make one (m1) techniques to add stitches, as well as knit two together (k2tog) and purl two together (p2tog) to reduce stitch counts for shaping the garment
• Slip stitch techniques: Advanced decrease methods such as skpo (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over), sk2togpo (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over), and s2togkpo (slip 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over) create refined decreases
• Edge finishing: The pattern includes pick up and knit and pick up and purl techniques for adding stitches along finished edges, essential for creating the collar and other trim details
• Ribbing: Ribbed sections are incorporated, which can be cast off while maintaining the rib pattern for a professional finished edge

Stitches Used

The Collared Smock Coat utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and structure:

• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, this stitch produces a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Moss stitch (also called seed stitch): This alternating knit and purl stitch creates a fine, bumpy texture. With an odd number of stitches, the pattern is K1 [p1, k1] to end, repeated every row. With an even number of stitches, the pattern alternates between [K1, p1] on the first row and [P1, k1] on the second row
• Ribbing: Combinations of knit and purl stitches in vertical columns create elasticity and structure, commonly used for edges and fitted sections

Materials

The Debbie Bliss Collared Smock Coat pattern is designed to be worked with yarn and knitting needles. The specific yarn weight, yardage requirements, and needle size are detailed within the downloadable PDF pattern. Measurements are provided in both metric (centimetres and metres) and imperial (inches) units to accommodate knitters using different measurement systems.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle garment construction with shaping, multiple techniques, and finishing details like collar attachment.