The Design

“Retro-rustic.”

In handsome, dense, double moss stitch, this cozy outerwear classic is a little retro, a little ‘Audrey.’ Three quarter length sleeves and a folded, stand-up collar—and the option to add generous pockets—give it a tailored finish. Dropped shoulders and straight sleeves allow room for comfy layering. Our original length brings to mind the favorite duffle or pea coat, while the crop version makes us think of 60s suits à la Jackie O.

For a Car Coat with a bit of a rustic touch, we chose chunky-weight Brooklyn Tweed Quarry. This yarn’s tweedy flecks add even more brilliant texture to this piece’s fabric! Quarry is 100% Wyoming-raised, Targhee-Columbia wool with a roving-style strand. Though it looks like a singles strand, it’s actually three unspun plies of wool twisted together. The knit fabric is lightweight, has good stitch definition, and softens nicely after hand-washing.

The Details

FINISHED SIZES
Details given for size S; larger sizes in parentheses ( ). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. Refer to schematic on original pattern for all dimensions. Only changes are listed below.
Sizes: S (M, L, XL).
Finished bust: 39 (45, 51, 57)"/99 (114.5, 129.5, 144.5)cm
To fit bust: 28-32 (34-38, 40-44, 46-50)"/71-81 (86-97, 102-112, 117-127)cm with 7-11"/18-28cm of ease.
Hem to underarm length: 12¼"/31cm.
Hem to high shoulder point: 20¾ (21, 21¼, 22)"/53 (53.5, 54, 56)cm.

YARN
7 (8, 9, 9) skeins Brooklyn Tweed Quarry (200 yds/182m each).
Or approx. 1385 (1500, 1640, 1800) yds/1266 (1372, 1500, 1646)m of an equivalent chunky-weight yarn.
Note: For this shorter version, we opted to leave pockets off.
Strong yarn for seaming.

Shown in Medium, Hip-Length in Color Fossil.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 9 (5.5mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge.
US 8 (5mm) circular needles, or one size smaller than gauge needle.
US 11 (8mm) needles, or two sizes larger than gauge needle for binding off sleeves.
US H/8 (5mm) crochet hook for provisional cast-on.
5 yds/m smooth worsted-weight yarn or knotting cord for provisional cast-on and 'lifelines'.
6 locking markers.
6 stitch markers.
2 stitch holders.
Darning needle to finish.
Five 1–1¼"/25–32mm buttons.
Five smaller backing buttons.
Fine darning needle (to fit buttonholes)

GAUGE
16 sts & 24 rows= 4"/10cm in double moss stitch after blocking.

Errata & Clarifications

KNITTER'S NOTES

Brooklyn Tweed Quarry has some unusual features we’d like you to know about. While it looks like a single-ply yarn, you’ll find that it’s actually three unspun plies that are lightly twisted together. As a result, its behavior on the needles is unique. Brooklyn Tweed has a helpful card we’ll include with each purchase of Quarry—you’ll find much of this information on it!

The twist of the three unspun plies likes to twirl into soft loops between the ball and your needles. To counter this, simply run your fingers gently along the working yarn toward the ball. The finished fabric will be well-balanced without bias.

Quarry ends tend to unravel, so we recommend you splice strands together when you join a new ball. To do this, remove a single ply a few inches from each end to be united. Moisten both ends, overlap them, and rub the remaining plies together between your palms. Warmth and friction will felt the ends together.

When you need to add a little more strength to your strand—whether you’re seaming or about to put stitches under tension—twirl the working yarn a few revolutions in the direction of the ply twist. Use this trick when weaving in cast-on and bind-off ends. (As she knit the Car Coat, Kit found herself needing to add a little twist now and then.)

To add even more strength to the seams of your Car Coat, you may choose to work your seams in a different, more tightly spun yarn that’s in a similar color to your choice of Quarry. Consider doing this with the optional pockets as well.