Winter Coat Knitting Pattern

Winter Coat in Rowan Soft Boucle

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted winter coat designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), making it available in nine size options. The garment features a structured silhouette with set-in sleeves, a front opening edge, and a hood component. The actual bust measurement of the finished garment ranges from 111.5 cm to 194.5 cm depending on size selected, providing generous ease appropriate for layering and winter wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key construction techniques:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch – The primary fabric texture throughout the back, fronts, and sleeves, creating a smooth, refined surface ideal for showcasing the yarn's boucle texture
• Set-in Sleeves – Sleeves are shaped with strategic increases worked at regular intervals before being attached to the body with shoulder shaping
• Shoulder Shaping – Progressive cast-offs at the beginning of rows create angled shoulders for a tailored fit
• Hood Construction – Stitches are held on a holder during front and shoulder completion, then worked later to create the hood component
• Front Opening Edge Detail – A knit stitch selvage is maintained on the front opening edge throughout, worked on every row while all other stitches remain in reverse stockinette

Stitches Used

The stitch vocabulary for this project is straightforward and appropriate for intermediate knitters:

• Knit (K) – Used for the front opening edge selvage and ribbing setup rows
• Purl (P) – Used to begin rows and as the primary stitch in reverse stockinette fabric
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (rev st st) – The dominant stitch pattern, created by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows, producing a textured, bumpy surface
• Increases (Inc 1 st) – Used strategically in sleeve shaping to gradually expand the sleeve width
• Cast-offs – Applied at shoulders to shape the neckline and create the garment's upper structure

Materials

This pattern calls for Rowan Soft Boucle yarn in 50-gram balls. The photographed sample features the colorways Natural 602 and Bear 604, though the pattern accommodates various color selections. Knitting is worked on 6½mm (US 10½) needles, with a tension of 14 stitches and 16 rows measured over 10 cm (4 inches) in reverse stockinette stitch using the specified needle size. The boucle texture of the yarn adds visual interest and dimension to the reverse stockinette fabric, making it particularly suitable for a winter coat where texture and warmth are priorities.

Pattern Structure Overview

The coat is constructed in separate pieces: a back panel, two front panels with opening edges, two sleeves with shaping, and a hood. The back is worked straight until it reaches the required length before shoulder shaping begins. Front pieces mirror the back's length and shaping while incorporating the distinctive knit stitch selvage along the front opening. Sleeves begin with a cast-on of 43–51 stitches depending on size and are increased at regular intervals—either every 4th row or every alternate row depending on the size being knitted—until reaching their final stitch count of 73–101 stitches. All pieces are worked in reverse stockinette stitch, creating a cohesive, professional appearance throughout the finished garment.