Sirdar Rainbow Bomber Jacket & Dungarees Knitting Pattern

Sirdar Rainbow Bomber Jacket & Dungarees in Snuggly DK

What is Being Made

This design features two coordinating baby garments: a rainbow bomber jacket cardigan and matching dungarees, both sized for infants from 0 to 24 months. The set is designed to be knitted together as a cohesive outfit, with the jacket serving as a layering piece and the dungarees as comfortable everyday wear for babies and toddlers. The rainbow element comes from using multiple yarn colors strategically throughout both pieces.

Garment Details: Bomber Jacket Cardigan

The bomber jacket is a button-front cardigan with a structured fit, featuring a chest measurement range from 42 cm (16½") for newborns up to 56 cm (22") for 18-24 month olds. The full length ranges from 26 cm (10¼") to 37 cm (14½"), making it an ideal layering piece. Sleeves are set-in style with lengths progressing from 16 cm (6¼") to 25 cm (9¾") as sizes increase. The cardigan requires five to six buttons depending on size, providing secure closure while maintaining ease of dressing for active babies.

Garment Details: Dungarees

The dungarees are designed with a comfortable hip width ranging from 48 cm (19") to 60 cm (23¾") across the size range. Full length measurements extend from 46 cm (18") to 67 cm (26½"), with inside leg lengths from 18 cm (7") to 30 cm (11¾"), accommodating growth through the first two years. The dungarees provide practical, playful clothing that pairs perfectly with the bomber jacket for a complete outfit.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern employs double knitting as the primary construction method, a fundamental technique that creates a smooth, even fabric ideal for baby garments. The pattern utilizes color work throughout both pieces to create the rainbow effect, requiring knitters to manage multiple yarn colors within rows. Set-in sleeves are used on the jacket, a classic tailoring technique that provides a fitted, professional appearance. Button bands are incorporated on the cardigan front for a structured closure. The pattern includes shaping techniques such as increases and decreases to achieve proper fit across the six different size options.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The design is worked primarily in stocking stitch (stockinette stitch), the most common knit fabric that creates the smooth, classic appearance suitable for baby wear. Ribbed sections are likely used for cuffs, neckbands, and waistbands to provide elasticity and a neat finish. The color work sections employ techniques such as stranded knitting or intarsia to introduce the multiple rainbow colors, with careful attention paid to tension and float management to ensure the garment remains soft and comfortable against delicate skin.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern is designed for Sirdar Snuggly DK (double knitting weight yarn), Britain's best-selling baby yarn specifically formulated to be gentle on infant skin. The yarn has been rigorously tested to remain soft and comfortable through repeated washing. Four yarn colors are required: Yarn A, Yarn B, Yarn C, and Yarn D, with quantities varying by size. For the jacket, most sizes require one ball each of Yarns A, B, and C, with Yarn D requiring two to four balls depending on size. The dungarees follow a similar color distribution. Suggested color options include shade 484 Cherry Pie, 469 Happy Hippo, 511 Angel, and 224 Light Navy, though knitters can select from the full Snuggly DK color palette available on the pattern's back page. Double knitting needles in the appropriate size for DK yarn are required, along with five to six buttons suitable for baby garments.

Pattern Quality and Support

This Sirdar design (Design No. 5412) comes from a company established in West Yorkshire in 1880 with generations of hand knitting heritage. Sirdar explicitly states that all patterns are triple-checked to guarantee success, providing confidence for intermediate knitters undertaking this project. The comprehensive sizing from newborn through 24 months ensures the pattern serves families through multiple stages of early childhood development.