Jo Sharp Empire Coat Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Jo Sharp Empire Coat

What is Being Made

The Jo Sharp Empire Coat is a fitted coat or cropped jacket featuring distinctive empire shaping and soft Garter stitch work. This downloadable knitting pattern is offered in multiple versions, with decorative cables positioned above shaped pockets on the long bodice and edging on both the bodice and cuffs. The design combines structured tailoring with textured stitch detail, creating a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs seamed construction and is worked flat on straight needles, allowing for precise shaping and finishing. The garment features several intermediate-to-advanced techniques including cable work, strategic increases and decreases for empire shaping, and armhole shaping worked simultaneously with neckline shaping. Decorative gathering techniques are incorporated into the design, creating visual interest and structure at key points on the bodice.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch: The primary fabric stitch, created by knitting right-side rows and purling wrong-side rows for a smooth, classic appearance
• Garter Stitch: Used extensively for edging on the bodice and cuffs, as well as for decorative sections, created by knitting every row for a textured, reversible fabric
• Cable Stitches: Decorative 3/3 cables (both LC and RC variations) worked using a cable needle, positioned as featured design elements above the shaped pockets
• Decrease Stitches: Single decreases (k3tog, sssk) and double decreases used for shaping the empire waist and armholes
• Increase Stitches: Make 1 (M1) increases and knit front and back (Kfb) techniques for gradual shaping adjustments

Materials

The Jo Sharp Empire Coat is designed to be worked in Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool yarn, a versatile weight suitable for creating well-defined stitch detail and structured garment shaping. The pattern requires straight needles for flat knitting construction and a cable needle for working the decorative cable elements. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, with multiple size options accommodated through varied stitch counts at cast-on (ranging from 103 to 141 stitches depending on size selection).

Pattern Versions

The Jo Sharp Empire Coat is presented in multiple versions (Version 1, Version 2, and Version 3), offering different design interpretations of the same basic silhouette. This allows knitters to choose their preferred styling while working from a single foundational pattern structure, with variations in cable placement, shaping details, or edging treatments.