Baby Jacket Knitting Pattern PDF | Vintage Button Cardigan 3–24 Months

Knit a timeless little layer with this Baby Jacket Knitting Pattern PDF.

The Vintage Baby Car Coat is a classic button-front baby jacket featuring a soft fold-over collar, neat garter-stitch front bands, shaped shoulders, and charming buttoned sleeve cuffs.

Worked flat in separate pieces and then seamed, this pattern has the look of traditional vintage baby knitwear while using clear, modern written instructions.

The pattern includes sizes from 3 months through 24 months, making it a lovely project for baby showers, newborn gifts, christenings, holidays, or handmade keepsakes.

Pattern Details

• Pattern Type: Digital knitting pattern PDF
• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
• Sizes Included: 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months
• Construction: Worked flat in pieces
• Style: Vintage-inspired baby car coat
• Closure: Button front
• Collar: Soft fold-over collar
• Sleeves: Long sleeves with decorative button cuffs
• Main Fabric: Stockinette stitch
• Trim: Garter stitch
• Yarn Weight: DK / Light Worsted
• Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette after blocking
• Buttons Needed: 7 total

Baby Sizes Included

The pattern includes sizing for:

3 Months

• To fit chest: 16" / 41 cm
• Finished chest: 18" / 46 cm
• Length: 8.5" / 22 cm
• Sleeve seam: 6" / 15 cm

6 Months

• To fit chest: 18" / 46 cm
• Finished chest: 19.5" / 50 cm
• Length: 10" / 26 cm
• Sleeve seam: 6.5" / 17 cm

12 Months

• To fit chest: 20" / 51 cm
• Finished chest: 21" / 54 cm
• Length: 12" / 30 cm
• Sleeve seam: 8" / 20 cm

18–24 Months

• To fit chest: 22" / 56 cm
• Finished chest: 23.5" / 60 cm
• Length: 14" / 36 cm
• Sleeve seam: 9.5" / 24 cm

The pattern recommends choosing primarily by the baby’s finished chest measurement and desired ease, rather than age alone.

Yarn Requirements

Use a soft, washable DK or light-worsted yarn with good stitch definition.

Approximate yardage:

• 3 months: 350–425 yd
• 6 months: 425–500 yd
• 12 months: 500–600 yd
• 18–24 months: 650–775 yd

Smooth baby-friendly yarn helps the stockinette body and garter-stitch details show clearly.

What You'll Need

• DK or light-worsted yarn
• US 6 / 4 mm needles for main fabric
• US 3 / 3.25 mm needles for borders, cuffs, front bands, and collar
• 7 buttons
• Stitch holders or scrap yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Stitch markers
• Row counter
• Blocking supplies

What's Included

Your downloadable knitting pattern includes:

• Complete written baby jacket instructions
• Sizes from 3 to 24 months
• Finished measurement chart
• Yarn requirements
• Gauge guidance
• Knitting abbreviation guide
• Beginner notes
• Back instructions
• Left and right front instructions
• Neck shaping
• Shoulder shaping
• Sleeves
• Shaped buttoned cuffs
• Sleeve-cap shaping
• Front button bands
• Buttonhole instructions
• Fold-over collar
• Seaming and assembly directions
• Fit adjustments
• Finishing checklist
• Inspiration image

Vintage Buttoned Cuff Detail

One of the most distinctive features of this coat is the decorative cuff construction.

Each sleeve begins with two cuff sections that overlap before being joined into the sleeve. One cuff section includes buttonholes, creating the vintage buttoned-cuff detail seen in the finished design.

The coat uses 7 buttons total — 3 on the front and 2 on each sleeve cuff.

Classic Flat-Knit Construction

The coat is worked in separate pieces:

• Back
• Left front
• Right front
• Two sleeves
• Front bands
• Collar

The shoulders are shaped and joined, the sleeves are set into the armholes, and the side and sleeve seams are sewn before finishing.

This traditional construction gives the jacket its structured vintage shape.

Fold-Over Collar & Front Bands

The front edges are finished with neat garter-stitch bands, including three front buttonholes.

Stitches are then picked up around the neckline and worked in garter stitch to create the soft fold-over collar.

The combination of the collar, button bands, and decorative cuffs gives the finished coat a more detailed look than a basic baby cardigan.

Great for Handmade Baby Gifts

This baby coat pattern is a beautiful choice for:

• Baby shower gifts
• Newborn keepsakes
• Christening or baptism outfits
• First birthday gifts
• Holiday baby outfits
• Vintage-inspired baby wardrobes
• Family heirloom knitting
• Handmade photography outfits

Choose a soft cream, oatmeal, pale blue, blush, sage, or another classic baby shade for a timeless look.

PLEASE NOTE — DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN

This listing is for a DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN PDF only.

No finished baby coat, yarn, buttons, or physical product will be shipped.

You will receive the knitting instructions needed to make the Vintage Baby Car Coat yourself.