Our Classic Knit Jacket embraces the Japanese aesthetic principle of kanso. Kanso is the idea that a sense of grace and calm emerges from designs that are pared down to their most basic forms.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

To keep our Jacket simple, we knit up a timeless silhouette in smooth stockinette stitch. Our no-fuss approach highlights the unique beauty of Purl Soho’s Lanecardate Feltro, a super cozy and sturdy blend of superfine wool and angora.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

Knit from the top down with set-in sleeves, we also kept our Classic Knit Jacket’s construction as easy as can be. Simple, elegant, and refined… Kanso! -Kristy

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Kristina McGowan. Click here to see even more of Kristina’s designs!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoClassicKnitJacket. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho
  • 6 (7, 7, 8) (9, 9, 10) (10, 11, 12, 12) skeins of Purl Soho’s Lanecardate Feltro, 75% superfine wool, 25% Caregora angora. Each skein is approximately 98 yards/100 grams; approximately 585 (635, 685, 750) (795, 860, 915) (965, 1020, 1085, 1140) yards required. We used the color Medium Gray, Grigio 3. (NOTE: We no longer offer Lanecardate Feltro, but Purl Soho’s Lovebird is a great alternative, or choose from one of our other super bulky yarns.)
  • US 15 (10 mm), 32-inch circular needles
  • US 15, 16-inch circular needles
  • A set of US 15 double pointed needles
  • Two jumbo stitch markers
  • Stitch holders or scrap yarn

Gauge

10 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

NOTE For help picking a size, please check out our Understanding Ease + Selecting Size Tutorial!

36 (39¼, 42½, 45½) (48¾, 52, 55¼) (59¼, 62½, 65½, 68¾)

To fit actual chest circumference of approximately 30–32 (33–35, 36–38, 39–41) (42–44¾, 45¾–48, 49–51¼) (52¼–55, 56–58, 59–61½, 62½–64¾) inches, with 4–7 inches of positive ease

  • Finished Chest Circumference: 36 (39¼, 42½, 45½) (48¾, 52, 55¼) (59¼, 62½, 65½, 68¾) inches
  • Finished Length from Shoulder to Bottom Edge: 22 (22¼, 22½, 22¾) (23, 23½, 24) (24½, 25, 25½, 26) inches
  • Finished Length from Underarm to Bottom Edge: 13½ (13¼, 13¼, 13) (12¾, 12¾, 13¼) (13½, 13¾, 14, 14¼) inches
  • Finished Length from Underarm to Cuff: 16¾ (17, 17, 17½) (17½, 18, 18) (18¼, 18½, 18¾, 19) inches

SAMPLE: The sweater shown here is size 42½, worn with 6 inches of ease.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

Notes

Construction

You will work this garment from top down, starting with the Back and working down to bottom of Armholes. You will pick up at Back Shoulders and simultaneously work Right and Left Fronts down to bottom of Armholes. Then you will rejoin Back stitches, cast on for Underarms and work Body in one piece down to bottom. There, you will pick up stitches around the entire edge in order to work an I-Cord bind off. Finally, you will pick up and knit each Sleeve in the round from top to bottom.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

SHORT-ROW SHAPING: WRP-T (WRAP AND TURN)

NOTE: For more information about this technique, please visit our Short Rows Tutorial.

On the right side: Keeping yarn in back, slip next stitch purlwise from left needle to right needle. Bring yarn to front. Return slipped stitch to left needle. Bring yarn to back. Turn work so wrong side is facing you.

On the wrong side: Keeping yarn in front, slip next stitch purlwise from left needle to right needle. Bring yarn to back. Return slipped stitch to left needle. Bring yarn to front. Turn work so right side is facing you.

RLI (RIGHT LIFTED INCREASE)

NOTE: For more help with this increase, visit our Lifted Increase Tutorial.

Lift right leg of stitch below next stitch on left needle onto left needle and knit it. [1 stitch increased]

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

Cable cast on 1 stitch.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

*Knit first stitch on left needle, then knit second and third stitches together through the back loops (see above), slip two stitches on right needle back to left needle and repeat from * until you have bound off all stitches and you are back at the beginning of the round. [2 I-cord stitches remain on right needle]

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Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail.

Remove first stitch from right needle and pull on the loop of the stitch to bring tail through so that there is no longer a loop, just a tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitch.

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With a tapestry needle, neatly join the end of the I-cord to the beginning by threading the yarn underneath the first bound-off stitch.

Pattern

BACK

BEGIN AT TOP

Use a Long Tail Cast On to cast 36 (38, 40, 42) (44, 46, 48) (48, 50, 52, 52) stitches onto longer circular needles. Do not join for working in the round.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): P10 (11, 12, 12) (13, 13, 14) (13, 14, 15, 15), place marker (pm), p16 (16, 16, 18) (18, 20, 20) (22, 22, 22, 22), pm, p10 (11, 12, 12) (13, 13, 14) (13, 14, 15, 15).

SHAPE SHOULDERS

NOTE: In this section you will be working back and forth in short rows, turning the work partway through each row. For extra help, see Special Instructions.

Short Row 1 (right side): [Knit to next marker, slip marker (sm)] 2 times, k3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t (see Special Instructions).

Short Row 2 (wrong side): [Purl to next marker, sm] 2 times, p3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, k3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 4: Purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrapped stitch with its wrap, p3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 5: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, knit to end of row.

Next Row: Purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrapped stitch with its wrap, purl to end of row.

Removing stitch markers, work even in stockinette stitch until piece measures 5 (5½, 5¼, 5) (5½, 5½, 5½) (4, 4¾, 4½, 4¼) inches along selvage, ending with a wrong-side row.

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Increase Row (right side): K2, RLI (see Special Instructions), knit to last 3 stitches, RLI, k3. [2 stitches increased]

Next Row (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Repeat last two rows 3 (3, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6) (9, 8, 9, 10) more times. [44 (46, 50, 54) (56, 60, 62) (68, 68, 72, 74) stitches]

Cut yarn and place stitches onto stitch holders or scrap yarn.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

FRONTS

PICK UP AT SHOULDERS

NOTE: In the following section, you will pick up Left and Right Fronts at the same time, using separate balls of yarn for each Front. Before beginning, make sure you have two balls of yarn to work with.

Orient piece so cast-on edge is at the top with right side of Back facing you.

With longer needles…

Pick-Up Row (right side): Joining one ball of yarn, pick up and knit 10 (11, 12, 12) (13, 13, 14) (13, 14, 15, 15) stitches along cast-on edge for Right Front; skip center 16 (16, 16, 18) (18, 20, 20) (22, 22, 22, 22) cast-on stitches for Back Neck; with a separate ball of yarn, pick up and knit 10 (11, 12, 12) (13, 13, 14) (13, 14, 15, 15) stitches along remaining cast-on edge for Left Front. [20 (22, 24, 24) (26, 26, 28) (26, 28, 30, 30) stitches total; 10 (11, 12, 12) (13, 13, 14) (13, 14, 15, 15) stitches for each Front]

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

SHAPE SHOULDERS

NOTE: In this section you will continue to work Left and Right Fronts at the same time, shaping both shoulders using short rows.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, purl to end of row.

Short Row 1 (right side): For Right Front, knit to Neck edge; for Left Front, k3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 2: For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, p3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 3: For Right Front, knit to Neck edge; for Left Front, knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, k3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 4: For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrapped stitch with its wrap, p3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 5, 5), wrp-t.

Short Row 5: For Right Front, knit to Neck edge; for Left Front, knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, knit to end of row.

Row 6: For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrapped stitch with its wrap, purl to end of row.

SHAPE FRONT NECKLINE

Row 1 (right side): For Right Front, knit to 3 stitches before Neck edge, RLI, k3; for Left Front, k3, RLI, knit to end of row. [1 stitch increased at each Neck edge]

Row 2 (wrong side): For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, purl to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 one (1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) more time(s). [24 (26, 28, 30) (32, 32, 34) (32, 34, 36, 36) total stitches; 12 (13, 14, 15) (16, 16, 17) (16, 17, 18, 18) stitches each Front]

CAST ON FOR FRONT NECKLINE + CONTINUE FRONTS

Row 1 (right side): For Right Front, knit to Neck edge, turn so wrong side is facing you, cable cast on 6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7) stitches, turn so right side is facing you; for Left Front, knit to end of row. [30 (32, 34, 36) (38, 39, 41) (39, 41, 43, 43) total stitches; 18 (19, 20, 21) (22, 23, 24) (23, 24, 25, 25) stitches for Right Front; 12 (13, 14, 15) (16, 16, 17) (16, 17, 18, 18) stitches for Left Front]

Row 2 (wrong side): For Left Front, purl to Neck edge, turn so right side is facing you, cable cast on 6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7) stitches, turn so wrong side is facing you; for Right Front, p6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7), p1 through the back loop (tbl), purl to end of row. [36 (38, 40, 42) (44, 46, 48) (46, 48, 50, 50) total stitches; 18 (19, 20, 21) (22, 23, 24) (23, 24, 25, 25) stitches each Front]

Row 3: For Right Front, knit to Neck edge; for Left Front, k6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7), k1 tbl, knit to end of row.

Work even in stockinette stitch until Fronts measure 5 (5½, 5¼, 5) (5½, 5½, 5½) (4, 4¾, 4½, 4¼) inches from pick-up row, measuring along Armhole selvage.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Row 1 (right side): For Right Front, k3, RLI, knit to Neck edge; for Left Front, knit to last 3 stitches, RLI, k3. [2 total stitches increased; 1 stitch increased at each Armhole edge]

Row 2 (wrong side): For Left Front, purl to Neck edge; for Right Front, purl to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 three (3, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6) (9, 8, 9, 10) more times. [44 (46, 50, 54) (56, 60, 62) (66, 66, 70, 72) total stitches; 22 (23, 25, 27) (28, 30, 31) (33, 33, 35, 36) stitches each Front]

Cut yarn for Right Front.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

BODY

PREPARE TO JOIN BACK + FRONTS

With wrong sides facing you, slip Back stitches onto same needles next to Left Front stitches, then slip Right Front stitches onto same needles next to Back stitches. [88 (92, 100, 108) (112, 120, 124) (132, 32, 140, 144) total stitches]

Continue with yarn attached to Left Front and right side facing you.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

CAST ON FOR UNDERARMS + CONTINUE

Cast-On Row (right side): Knit to end of Left Front, *turn so wrong side is facing you and cable cast on 1 (3, 3, 3) (5, 5, 7) (7, 11, 11, 13) stitch(es) for Underarm, turn so right side is facing you,** knit to end of Back, repeat from * to **, knit to end of Right Front. [90 (98, 106, 114) (122, 130, 138) (148, 156, 164, 172) total stitches]

Work in stockinette stitch until Body measures 13½ (13¼, 13¼, 13) (12¾, 12¾, 13¼) (13½, 13¾, 14, 14¼) inches from Underarms, ending with a right-side row.

WORK I-CORD EDGING

With right side facing you and starting at bottom corner of Right Front, pick up and knit 2 stitches for every 3 rows up Right Front selvage.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

With right side still facing you, pick up and knit 6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7) stitches along Right Front Neck cast-on; pick up and knit 2 stitches for every 3 rows around Right Neck edge; pick up and knit one stitch in each stitch across Back Neck; pick up and knit 2 stitches for every 3 rows around Left Neck edge; pick up and knit 6 (6, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7) stitches along Left Front Neck cast-on; pick up and knit 2 stitches for every 3 rows down Left Front selvage.

With right side facing you and working across bottom Body stitches first, bind off all stitches using 2-Stitch I-Cord Bind Off (see Special Instructions).

SLEEVES

PICK UP

Pick-Up Round (right side): With right side facing you and using 16-inch circular needles, join new yarn and beginning at center of Underarm, pick up and knit 16 (17, 18, 20) (21, 22, 23) (24, 25, 26, 27) stitches evenly up one side of Armhole to top of Shoulder; pick up and knit 16 (17, 18, 20) (21, 22, 23) (24, 25, 26, 27) stitches evenly down other side of Armhole to center of Underarm. [32 (34, 36, 40) (42, 44, 46) (48, 50, 52, 54) stitches]

Place marker for end of round and join to work in the round.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

SHAPE SLEEVE CAP

NOTE: In this section you will work back and forth in short rows to shape Sleeve Caps.

Short Row 1 (right side): K22 (23, 24, 27) (29, 30, 31) (32, 33, 34, 37), wrp-t.

Short Row 2 (wrong side): P12 (12, 12, 14) (16, 16, 18) (18, 20, 20, 22), wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, wrp-t.

Short Row 4: Purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrapped stitch with its wrap, wrp-t.

Repeat Short Rows 3 and 4 seven (8, 9, 10) (10, 11, 11) (12, 12, 13, 13) more times.

Next Row (right side): Knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrapped stitch with its wrap, knit to end of round.

Continuing in the round…

Next Round: Knit to end of round, knitting wrapped stitch with its wrap.

Knit 2 rounds even.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

SHAPE SLEEVE

Note: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.

Decrease Round: Slip slip knit, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together. [2 stitches decreased]

Continuing in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, repeat Decrease Round every 1 (1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2) (1, 1, 1, 1) inch(es) 2 (2, 2, 4) (4, 5, 6) (7, 7, 8, 9) more times. [26 (28, 30, 30) (32, 32, 32) (32, 34, 34, 34) stitches remain]

CONTINUE

Continue even in stockinette stitch until Sleeve measures 16¾ (17, 17, 17½) (17½, 18, 18) (18¼, 18½, 18¾, 19) inches from Underarm, or to desired length.

Bind off all stitches using 2-Stitch I-Cord Bind-Off.

Work second Sleeve identical to first.

WEAVE IN ENDS + BLOCK

Weave in ends. If using plied yarn, separate plies and weave in each separately for a tidy finish. Block as desired.

Classic Knit Jacket | Purl Soho

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!