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# The Coco Boxy Jacket — A Classic Chanel-Style Cardigan

A timeless, collarless boxy jacket inspired by the iconic French couture house. Worked flat in simple stockinette with garter-stitch trim borders that echo the famous braided edging. This beginner-friendly version is seamed for structure and finished with an open front (optional hook-and-eye closures).

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## MATERIALS

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Medium #4), approximately **1200–1800 yds** depending on size.
  - XS: ~1200 yds | S: ~1350 yds | M: ~1500 yds | L: ~1650 yds | XL: ~1800 yds
- **Needles:**
  - US 7 / 4.5 mm (main fabric)
  - US 5 / 3.75 mm (trim borders)
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, 3 hook-and-eye sets (optional closure), sewing needle and thread.

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## GAUGE

- **20 sts and 26 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.
- Always knit a swatch and block it before starting. Accurate gauge ensures correct fit.

*Math check: 20 sts ÷ 4" = 5 sts per inch; 26 rows ÷ 4" = 6.5 rows per inch.*

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## SIZES

Written for sizes **XS (S, M, L, XL)**.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Chest | 36" | 38" | 40" | 42" | 44" |
| Back Width | 18" | 19" | 20" | 21" | 22" |
| Body Length | 21" | 21.5" | 22" | 22.5" | 23" |
| Sleeve Length | 17" | 17" | 17.5" | 17.5" | 18" |

*Choose a size with 2–4" of positive ease for the intended boxy fit.*

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **BO** – bind off
- **CO** – cast on
- **k2tog** – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **St st** – stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS)
- **rep** – repeat
- **rem** – remaining
- **beg** – beginning

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## NOTES

1. This jacket is worked flat in five pieces (Back, two Fronts, two Sleeves), then seamed.
2. The body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch with a garter-stitch lower border.
3. The front edges, neckline, and lower hem are finished with picked-up **garter trim bands** that mimic the classic Chanel braided edge — keep them tidy and even for the signature look.
4. The jacket is **collarless and open-front** by design. Hook-and-eye closures are optional and invisible from the outside.
5. Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise for clean seaming edges if desired (optional for beginners).

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## BACK

With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, CO **90 (95, 100, 105, 110) sts**.

**Border:** Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 1" (about 6 rows). End with a WS row.

Change to US 7 / 4.5 mm needles.

Work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures **13" (13", 13.5", 13.5", 14")** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping
BO **4 sts** at beg of next 2 rows.
→ 82 (87, 92, 97, 102) sts rem.

Dec 1 st each end every RS row 4 times:
*RS row: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.*
→ 74 (79, 84, 89, 94) sts rem.

*Math check: 90 − 8 (BO) − 8 (decs) = 74. ✓*

Work even in St st until armhole measures **8" (8.5", 8.5", 9", 9")**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck Shaping
BO **8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts** at beg of next 2 rows (shoulders).
→ 58 (61, 64, 67, 70) sts rem.

BO **8 (9, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beg of next 2 rows.
→ 42 (43, 46, 47, 48) sts rem.

BO rem **42 (43, 46, 47, 48) sts** for back neck.

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## FRONTS

*Make 2 (one as written for the Right Front; reverse all shaping for the Left Front).*

With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, CO **46 (49, 52, 54, 57) sts**.

*Note: Front cast-on ≈ half back width + 2–3 sts for front overlap.*

**Border:** Work in garter stitch for 1" (about 6 rows). End with a WS row.

Change to US 7 / 4.5 mm needles.

Work in St st until piece measures **13" (13", 13.5", 13.5", 14")** from cast-on, ending with a WS row (for Right Front, end ready for an armhole shaping row at the side edge).

### Armhole Shaping (armhole edge only)
At the armhole edge (side seam edge), BO **4 sts** once.
→ 42 (45, 48, 50, 53) sts rem.

Dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row 4 times.
→ 38 (41, 44, 46, 49) sts rem.

*Math check: 46 − 4 − 4 = 38. ✓*

Work even until armhole measures **5.5" (6", 6", 6.5", 6.5")**, ending at the **neck edge**.

### Neck Shaping
At the neck edge, BO **10 (10, 11, 11, 12) sts** once.
→ 28 (31, 33, 35, 37) sts rem.

Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row **4 (5, 5, 5, 5) times**.
→ 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts rem.

Work even until armhole matches Back to shoulder, ending at the armhole edge.

### Shoulder Shaping
BO **8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts** at armhole edge once.
→ 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts rem.
BO rem **16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts**.

*Math check vs. Back shoulders: Back uses 8+8 (9+9, 10+9, 11+10, 12+11) per shoulder = 16 (18, 19, 21, 23). Each Front shoulder uses 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts toward the seam; remaining front stitches form the front neck/shoulder line. Seam shoulders matching the outer 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts.*

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## SLEEVES

*Make 2.*

With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, CO **40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts**.

**Border:** Work in garter stitch for 1.5" (about 9 rows). End with a WS row.

Change to US 7 / 4.5 mm needles. Work 4 rows St st.

### Sleeve Increases
Inc 1 st each end on the next RS row, then every **8th row 13 (13, 14, 14, 15) times** total:
*Inc row (RS): k1, M1 (or knit into front and back), knit to last st, M1, k1.*
→ 66 (68, 72, 74, 78) sts.

*Math check: 40 + (2 × 13) = 66. ✓*

Work even until sleeve measures **17" (17", 17.5", 17.5", 18")** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping
BO **4 sts** at beg of next 2 rows.
→ 58 (60, 64, 66, 70) sts.

Dec 1 st each end every RS row until **24 (24, 26, 26, 28) sts** rem.

BO rem sts.

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## BUTTON_BANDS (Garter Trim Bands)

This jacket is **open-front and collarless**, so in place of button bands we work signature **garter trim bands** around the front opening and neckline.

1. **Seam shoulders** first (see Finishing).
2. With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles and RS facing, beginning at the lower Right Front, **pick up and knit** stitches up the right front edge, around the back neck, and down the left front edge at a rate of approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along vertical edges and **1 st per stitch** along the back neck.
3. Knit every row (garter stitch) for **6 rows** (about 1").
4. BO knitwise loosely. The garter band should lie flat without flaring; if it ruffles, pick up fewer stitches.

*Optional braided look: work the trim in a contrasting color for a true Chanel effect.*

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## FINISHING

1. **Block** all pieces to measurements.
2. **Seam shoulders** using mattress stitch, matching the outer shoulder stitches of each Front to the Back.
3. **Set in sleeves:** Center each sleeve cap at the shoulder seam and sew into the armhole, easing the cap to fit.
4. **Seam sides and sleeves** in one continuous line from cuff to hem on each side.
5. **Work the garter trim band** (see Button_Bands section).
6. **Optional closures:** Sew 3 hook-and-eye sets evenly spaced along the inside front edges so the jacket closes invisibly.
7. **Weave in all ends** and give a final light steam-block.

*Tip for the signature look: a row of garter trim along the lower hem and cuffs is already built into the borders. For extra couture flair, add a fine chain or decorative selvage trim along the front bands.*

Enjoy your timeless boxy Chanel-style jacket!