Louet Mattie Knitting Pattern

Louet Mattie GEMS Superwash Merino Wool Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Louet Mattie pattern is a downloadable knitting design for creating a coordinated baby garment collection featuring a raglan-sleeved jacket, overalls, and a hat. The pattern was designed by Trudy Van Stralen and is shown in the cover garment photographed in color #30 Cream. This make-it-your-own collection allows crafters to customize their pieces using the Louet GEMS yarn in multiple colorways and color combinations.

Garment Details: Mattie Jacket

The Mattie jacket is constructed as a raglan-sleeved design knit in one piece to the underarms, creating a seamless foundation for the upper body. The jacket features garter stitch borders in the main color running down both the left and right front edges. The construction method requires joining a second ball of main color yarn at the left front border, with special attention paid to twisting yarns around each other at color changes to prevent holes in the fabric. The jacket is available in three infant sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months.

Garment Details: Overalls and Hat

The pattern also includes instructions for overalls and a matching hat, offering a complete coordinated set for babies. The overalls and hat components are knit using double-pointed needles and circular needles depending on the specific section being worked. Optional knit-on booties are included in the pattern design, with crochet cast-on instructions provided for leg cuffs, though crafters may choose to omit the booties and use standard cast-on methods instead.

Yarn and Materials

The Mattie pattern is designed specifically for Louet GEMS 100% Superwash Merino Wool in Super Fine/Fingering Weight. Each skein contains 50 grams and provides 185 yards (169 meters) of yardage. The pattern requires multiple skeins depending on size and color choices: main color quantities range from 3 to 4 skeins, with 1 to 2 skeins each of two contrasting colors (Color A and Color B), allowing for creative color blocking and design customization. The superwash treatment makes the finished garments machine washable and dryable, ideal for baby clothing that requires frequent laundering.

Needles and Hardware

The Mattie pattern requires a range of needle sizes to accommodate different stitch gauges across garment sections. For the jacket, straight needles in sizes 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.25 mm, and 3.5 mm are needed. The overalls require 3.0 mm double-pointed needles and a 3.0 mm circular needle measuring 60 centimeters. The hat is worked on 3.0 mm double-pointed needles and a 3.0 mm circular needle measuring 40 centimeters, with a 3.25 mm circular needle also specified. Additionally, a 2.5 mm crochet hook is required for finishing details. The pattern calls for 8 small buttons for the jacket and overalls, and 2 medium buttons for the girl's hat version. Knitters should adjust needle sizes as necessary to achieve the correct gauge before beginning their project.

Stitches and Techniques

The Mattie pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. Key stitches and abbreviations used throughout the pattern include slip stitch (SL), knit 2 together (K2tog), purl 2 together (P2tog), knit 3 together (K3tog), yarn over (YO), knit into back of stitch (KB1), slip, slip, knit (SSK), and Make 2 (M2). Garter stitch is featured prominently in the front borders of the jacket. Stockinette stitch is used in sections of the overalls and other garment components. The pattern includes color work techniques, allowing crafters to work with multiple yarn colors and change between them while maintaining fabric integrity. The raglan construction method is a key technique, as the jacket is knit in one piece to the underarms before dividing for sleeves.

Gauge and Finishing

Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit of these baby garments. The jacket pattern requires a gauge of 30 stitches by 30 rows over 4 inches when worked in the jacket pattern stitch. Stockinette stitch sections should measure 28 stitches by 34 rows over 4 inches. The pattern includes an important note that knitters must machine wash and dry a gauge swatch at low heat for 15 minutes, then lay it flat to finish before measuring. This step is critical because the Superwash Merino Wool yarn will relax and set after