Download this guide to make Kids Cable jacket Hoodie!
How to Make the Kids Cable Jacket Hoodie
Keep them warm with this classic knitted cable jacket featuring a buttoned front, cosy hood and textured cable panels. The jacket is worked in separate pieces before being sewn together, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable working cables, shaping armholes and picking up stitches.
Project: Kids Cable Jacket Hoodie
Pattern: A472
Difficulty: Intermediate
Sizes and Finished Measurements
| Age | 4–5 | 6–7 | 8–10 | 11–12 | 13–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits chest | 63 cm | 68 cm | 75 cm | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| Finished garment chest | 72 cm | 78 cm | 84 cm | 89 cm | 94 cm |
| Finished length | 46 cm | 50 cm | 54 cm | 56 cm | 59 cm |
| Sleeve length | 31 cm | 35 cm | 40 cm | 42 cm | 43 cm |
What You Will Need
Yarn
The original pattern uses Lincraft Coaster in 50 g balls.
| Age | 4–5 | 6–7 | 8–10 | 11–12 | 13–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 g balls required | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
Needles and Notions
- One pair of 5.5 mm knitting needles
- A cable needle
- A wool needle for sewing up
- Six, seven or eight buttons, depending on the size
Tension
To achieve the correct finished measurements, work to a tension of 16.5 stitches and 22 rows over 10 cm in stocking stitch using 5.5 mm needles.
Knit and wash a tension square before beginning. If you have too many stitches over 10 cm, try a larger needle. If you have too few stitches, try a smaller needle.
Understanding the Cable Pattern
The jacket uses a repeating cable pattern worked over four rows. The cables are formed by temporarily placing stitches on a cable needle and holding them either at the front or back of the work before knitting them.
The pattern includes narrow two-stitch cables and wider three-stitch cables. Make sure you check whether the cable needle should be held at the front or back, as this determines the direction in which the cable twists.
Construction Overview
The jacket is knitted in separate pieces:
- Back
- Left front
- Right front
- Two sleeves
- Two front bands
- Hood
The pieces are worked from the lower edge upwards. Ribbed borders provide a neat finish, while cable panels run vertically through the body and sleeves.
Knitting the Back
Begin the back with a ribbed lower band. Increase stitches evenly across the final rib row, then establish the cable pattern.
Continue in pattern until the required length to the armholes is reached. Shape the armholes by casting off stitches at the beginning of the next rows, followed by gradual decreases at each edge.
Once the armhole depth is complete, shape the shoulders by casting off stitches in stages. Cast off the remaining centre stitches for the back neck.
Knitting the Fronts
Work the left and right fronts separately, beginning with ribbing and then establishing the cable pattern.
Shape the armholes to match the back. Work the neck shaping at the front edge while continuing the cable pattern across the remaining stitches.
Complete the shoulder shaping so each front matches the corresponding shoulder of the back.
Knitting the Sleeves
Begin each sleeve with a ribbed cuff. Increase stitches evenly across the final rib row, then position the cable pattern through the centre of the sleeve.
Increase at both edges at the intervals given for the selected size. Incorporate the new stitches into reverse stocking stitch while maintaining the central cable panel.
Continue until the required sleeve length is reached. Shape the sleeve top by casting off stitches at both edges and then decreasing gradually before casting off the remaining stitches.
Adding the Front Bands
The button and buttonhole placement may be reversed depending on the preferred style of the finished jacket.
With the right side facing, pick up stitches evenly along the front edge. Work the band in ribbing and create evenly spaced buttonholes on one side. Work the opposite band to match, omitting the buttonholes.
Knitting the Hood
Cast on the required stitches and begin with ribbing. Increase one stitch at the centre of the final rib row, then continue in reverse stocking stitch.
Work until the hood reaches the required depth. Shape the back of the hood by working each side separately and decreasing along the inner edges.
Cast off the remaining stitches loosely, then join the centre-back hood seam.
Finishing the Jacket
- Join the shoulder seams.
- Join the side and sleeve seams.
- Sew the sleeves into the armholes.
- Join the centre-back seam of the hood.
- Sew the hood around the neckline, beginning and ending at the inner edges of the front bands.
- Sew the buttons opposite the buttonholes.
- Sew in all loose ends.
Alternative Yarns for This Project
Lincraft Coaster may no longer be available, but the jacket can be knitted in another yarn that produces the same tension: 16.5 stitches and 22 rows over 10 cm in stocking stitch on 5.5 mm needles.
Suitable Yarn Types
- 12 ply wool – provides warmth, structure and excellent cable definition. Choose a machine-washable wool for easier care.
- 12 ply wool and acrylic blend – combines warmth and stitch definition with improved durability and easier washing.
- 10 ply or light 12 ply anti-pilling acrylic – a practical and affordable choice for children. Acrylic is lightweight, washable and available in a wide colour range.
- Aran-weight merino – creates a soft, warm and premium jacket with clearly defined cables.
- Machine-washable alpaca blend – produces a softer, warmer garment with more drape. Choose a blend rather than pure alpaca so the jacket retains its shape.
- Cotton and wool blend – creates a lighter jacket suitable for milder weather while retaining enough elasticity for the ribbing and cable pattern.
Choosing the Best Substitute
For the closest result to the original jacket, select a smooth 10 ply or 12 ply yarn with enough structure to display the cables clearly.
Avoid highly textured, fluffy or boucle yarns, as these can obscure the cable pattern. Very heavy yarns may also produce a garment that is too bulky for a child.
Care Tips
Follow the care instructions on the yarn label. For children's clothing, a machine-washable wool, wool blend or anti-pilling acrylic is generally the most practical option.
After washing, reshape the jacket to the finished measurements and dry it flat. Avoid hanging the wet garment, as the weight of the hood may stretch the shoulders and neckline.
