I’m calling it a win that I’m releasing a cosy wintery pattern on the first snowy day of the year! Well done me. It may be blowing a gale outside but I’d say that’s perfect timing to cast on a super chunky coat! So meet the Cold Heart Coat, my latest knitting pattern available today. I guess you could call it a coat / cardigan hybrid (coatigan if you really must) and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out.
Scroll down for details and to purchase the Cold Heart Coat knitting pattern.
The super chunky yarn
We Are Knitters kindly sent me a blanket knitting kit last year, with a note that I could (of course) use the yarn for whatever I wanted, not just a blanket. So I made a wearable blanket! The Cold Heart Coat is without a doubt the cosiest, warmest, heaviest item I have ever made – the finished item weighs a whopping 1.8kg. I used (every last scrap of) 9 balls of We Are Knitters The Wool in shade Pearly Grey. (Ad / PR product). Super chunky yarn is definitely outside my knitting comfort zone, and as soon as it arrived I knew I wanted to go down the outerwear route. Many bulky knitting projects look cute and the huge stitches make everything more eye catching, but I had my doubts about the practicality of something dense and woolly that still required layers on top. So I made the outermost layer instead!
Choosing yarn: there is a huge variety of yarns classed as super chunky / super bulky – some are much thicker than others. The yarn used in the sample is definitely at the thicker end, and choosing a yarn that is too fine will result in a looser gauge. A loose gauge for garter stitch means the stitches are able to slide against each other, resulting in a fabric with too much vertical stretch and not enough structure. The fabric needs to be dense and bouncy when knitted to the specified gauge. As a rough guide, look for yarns with approximately 40-50m per 100g.
The design process
Garter stitch was the obvious choice since I wanted the coat to have as minimal a shape as possible, and most other stitches would require some form of edging that would interrupt the flow. When your stitches are this huge, every basic detail makes a big statement, so simple slipped stitches seemed like a good idea! I also loved the idea of cables against garter, but chose a nifty twisted stitch technique rather than actual cables to make the process easier and less bulky. The whole garment is seamless, but slipped stitches give the impression of seams down the deep raglan armholes. I added pockets because who wants a coat without pockets? And I couldn’t resist echoing the back detail with a minimal twist on the bottom of the sleeves too.
test knitter roundup
I am 100% certain that I have the best test knitters on the planet! I loved watching all these coats take shape, ironing out pattern issues, and getting to know everyone during the process. Check out my Instagram Reels to see everybody’s coats in video form too – I can’t help grinning every time I watch it!
Cold Heart Coat knitting pattern information
YARN
Super chunky / bulky weight yarn, approximately 635 (792; 1005) metres / 692 (863; 1095) yards. See Notes on choosing yarn. Sample shown in We Are Knitters The Wool in shade Pearly Grey. If using this yarn, you will need 8 (10; 12) skeins.
Yarns used by test knitters: Wool and The Gang Crazy Sexy Wool, Wool Ease Thick and Quick, Lion Brand Tuff Puff
GAUGE: 8 sts and 16 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in garter stitch on 12mm needles.
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
12mm long circular needles for body (see Notes)
12mm circular needle(s) of your preferred length for working sleeves in the round (ie. DPNs, magic loop)
Crochet hook for provisional cast on
8 stitch markers of 1 type, 2 stitch markers of a different type, and 4 stitch markers of a 3rd type.
Scrap yarn for holding stitches
Oddments of lighter weight yarn in a matching colour for sewing pocket linings
Cable needle (only used once on sleeves)
SIZING: Rather than my usual 9 sizes, this coat pattern is written in 3 sizes to cover the same range (28-62” bust). It is crucial that you do not size up or overestimate your own measurements, as the weight of the coat will mean it simply falls off.
1st size: bust 28-33” OR people with a petite / narrow frame
2nd size: bust 34-46” (shown in sample)
3rd size: bust 47-62”
Construction: the chunky coat is worked seamlessly from the top down in garter stitch. It begins at the centre of the collar, which is cast on using the provisional method for a seamless result. Stitches are picked up along the collar edge to begin working the yoke. Slipped stitch details travel along the raglan ‘seams’, down the sleeves, and along the front edges. A faux cable detail travels down the back, however this is created using twisted stitches so there is no need for a cable needle. At the end of the deep yoke, stitches are divided to work the main body and sleeves separately. Fairly soon after dividing, the pockets are created, followed by short rows to dip the back hem. The sleeves are worked in the round in garter stitch (ie. alternating a knit round with a purl round) and feature a twisted stitch detail to echo the back panel.
I LOVE seeing people knit my patterns and make them their own – if you could tag @lilykatemakes and #ColdHeartCoat on Instagram that would be great!
The Cold Heart Coat knitting pattern is also available via Ravelry and Etsy.
Lily Kate x
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