If you’ve been following along on the blog, you’ll have already met the Bunny Best Friend, the baby blanket comforter from my Scheepjes Baby Collection. The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted the cute little hooded cardigan the model is wearing in those photos. That’s Billy Bear, and this free baby bear jacket knitting pattern is getting its own post today. If this is the first you’re hearing about it, that’s exactly why the newsletter exists, pop your email in below and you won’t miss what’s coming next.
Free Baby Bear Jacket Knitting Pattern: Overview
The Billy Bear Jacket is a hooded baby jacket with bear ears, worked flat in garter stitch and seamed. It’s part of my Scheepjes Baby Collection, a series of free patterns designed to be as beginner-friendly as possible without ever looking it.
The jacket comes in five sizes, from 0–3 months up to 18–24 months, so you can knit it ahead of a new arrival or make it as a gift with room to grow. The finished length ranges from 23cm to 29cm depending on size, with the garter stitch fabric giving a comfortable, stretchy fit. The hood is worked by picking up stitches across the fronts and back once the shoulders are seamed, which is a lot more satisfying than it sounds, and the two bear ears are knitted separately and sewn on using the photos as a guide.
The rainbow buttons are a feature of this design and deserve a mention of their own. Six mismatched colours in a row down the front, each one a different shade. It’s the kind of detail that makes a baby point at it every single time, and it makes a genuinely beautiful baby shower gift whether you give the jacket on its own or pair it with the Bunny Best Friend blanket for a full set.
This is a free baby bear jacket knitting pattern worked entirely in garter stitch, with a cosy hood, two little round ears, and the most joyful set of rainbow buttons you’ve ever seen on a baby garment. There are no button bands to pick up, the buttonholes are worked in as you go with a simple yarn over, and the finishing is minimal. It’s a confident beginner make that looks far more involved than it actually is.
If you’re looking for a truly special baby shower gift, knit the Billy Bear Jacket alongside the Bunny Best Friend blanket and you have a luxury set that no baby shop could match. Both use the same yarn, both are garter stitch, and together they take a new arrival from first outing to naptime in style.
The Yarn
The Billy Bear Jacket is knitted in Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush in shade 252 Toorop, a warm heathered grey with a soft halo from the brushed finish. Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush is 50% Superwash Merino Extra Fine, 25% Microfibre and 25% Acrylic, and comes in 50g/105m balls. You’ll need 5 (6: 6: 7: 7) balls depending on your chosen size.
If you’d like to substitute a different yarn, Scheepjes Softfun is a good option at a similar weight, with a smooth finish and a lovely range of colours. Scheepjes Stone Washed also works beautifully, with a subtle stony texture that suits the bear aesthetic surprisingly well. Both are available from Scheepjes stockists.
Please note: the affiliate links above are to Scheepjes yarn suppliers. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Materials
Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush shade 252 Toorop, 5 (6: 6: 7: 7) x 50g balls (105m per ball)
6 x 17.5mm Bottoni Italiani buttons, item no. 4348-28, one each of the following colours: 722 dark red, 201 blue, 377 teal, 693 red, 642 yellow, 183 purple
Needles
3.25mm and 4mm straight knitting needles
Also Needed
3 stitch holders, stitch markers
Tension
22 sts and 44 rows to 10 x 10cm in garter stitch on 4mm needles. Check your tension before you begin and adjust needle size if necessary.
Finished Measurements
| 0–3 months | 3–6 months | 6–12 months | 12–18 months | 18–24 months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest | 40.5cm / 16in | 43cm / 17in | 45.5cm / 18in | 48cm / 19in | 50.5cm / 20in |
| Actual chest | 43.5cm / 17.5in | 47.5cm / 19in | 49cm / 19.5in | 52.5cm / 21in | 54.5cm / 21.75in |
| Length | 23cm / 9in | 25cm / 9.75in | 26cm / 10.25in | 28cm / 11in | 29cm / 11.5in |
Skill Level
Confident beginner. The Billy Bear Jacket uses basic knitting skills throughout: casting on, casting off, garter stitch, simple yarn over buttonholes, and sewing up. There are no picked-up button bands and the shaping is straightforward. If you’re comfortable following a pattern and working a simple seam, this is well within reach. The Craft Yarn Council skill level guide is a useful reference if you’re unsure where you sit.
Abbreviations
beg — beginning | cont — continue | g st — garter stitch (knit all rows) | inc — increase | k — knit | k2tog — knit 2 stitches together | pm — place marker | rem — remaining | RS — right side | st(s) — stitch(es) | yo — yarn over | WS — wrong side | [ ] — number of stitches on a given row
For a full reference, visit my free knitting abbreviations guide.
A Note on Safety
The Billy Bear Jacket uses six buttons, and buttons on any baby garment need to be attached with care. Sew each button on securely using a strong thread and needle in addition to the yarn, working over each one several times and pulling firmly. Give every button a firm tug before the finished garment goes to a baby. The yarn alone is not enough to keep a button in place against small, determined fingers, and a loose button becomes a choking hazard. For more on knitting safely for little ones, read my guide to knitting for babies and how to get it right.
Billy Bear Jacket Knitting Pattern
Pattern Notes
Place a marker on the front (RS row) of pieces to help keep track of shaping and buttonholes. The first row in garter stitch is the RS row. When measuring between buttonholes, always measure from the bottom of the buttonhole.
Back
Using 4mm needles, cast on 48 (52: 54: 58: 60) sts.
Work in garter st until piece measures 23 (25: 26: 28: 29)cm / 9 (9.75: 10.25: 11: 11.5)in, ending with RS row.
Shape Shoulders
Next row (WS) Cast off 14 (16: 16: 18: 18) sts, knit to end.
Next row (RS) Cast off 14 (16: 16: 18: 18) sts, place rem 20 (20: 22: 22: 24) sts onto holder for hood.
Right Front with Buttonholes or Left Front with Buttonholes
Using 4mm needles, cast on 39 (41: 42: 44: 45) sts.
Work in garter st until piece measures 5 (5: 6: 6: 7)cm / 2 (2: 2.5: 2.5: 2.75)in from cast-on edge, ending with WS row.
Buttonhole row (RS) on Left Front Knit to last 17 sts, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, k7, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, k2.
Buttonhole row (RS) on Right Front K2, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, k7, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, knit to end.
Note: On the following row you will need to knit into the back of the second yarn over to avoid it unravelling.
Cont in garter st working buttonhole row on RS rows every 5 (5.5: 5.5: 6.5: 6.5)cm / 2 (2.25: 2.25: 2.5: 2.5)in until you have 3 (3: 3: 3: 3) buttonhole rows.
Cont working in garter st until piece measures 23 (25: 26: 28: 29)cm / 9 (9.75: 10.25: 11: 11.5)in from cast-on edge, ending with RS row for Right Front and WS row for Left Front.
Shape Shoulder
Next row Cast off 14 (16: 16: 18: 18) sts, knit to end, slip rem 25 (25: 26: 26: 27) sts onto holder for hood.
Left Front or Right Front
Using 4mm needles, cast on 39 (41: 42: 44: 45) sts.
Work in garter st until piece measures 23 (25: 26: 28: 29)cm / 9 (9.75: 10.25: 11: 11.5)in, ending with WS row when you are working a Left Front and RS row when you are working a Right Front.
Shape Shoulder
Next row Cast off 14 (16: 16: 18: 18) sts, knit to end, slip rem 25 (25: 26: 26: 27) sts onto holder for hood.
Cast off.
Sleeve (make 2)
Using 4mm needles, cast on 46 (48: 52: 54: 56) sts.
Work in garter st until piece measures 15.5 (16.5: 19: 20.5: 21.5)cm / 6 (6.5: 7.5: 8: 8.5)in from cast-on edge.
Cast off.
Hood
Sew shoulder seams closed. With RS facing and using 4mm needles, knit across 25 (25: 26: 26: 27) sts on holder for Right Front, 20 (20: 22: 22: 24) sts on holder for Back and 25 (25: 26: 26: 27) sts on holder for Left Front. [70 (70: 74: 74: 78) sts]
Pm at beg edge of last row to mark start of hood.
Inc row Inc 2 (2: 4: 4: 3) sts evenly across row. [72 (72: 78: 78: 81) sts]
Work in garter st until piece measures 17 (18: 18: 19: 19)cm / 6.75 (7: 7: 7.5: 7.5)in from marker at start of hood, ending with WS row.
Cast off 24 (24: 26: 26: 27) sts at beg of next two rows. [24 (24: 26: 26: 27) sts]
Pm for hood fold.
Continue in garter st on rem 24 (24: 26: 26: 27) sts until piece measures 11 (11: 12: 12: 12.5)cm / 4.25 (4.25: 4.75: 4.75: 5)in from cast-off sts at hood.
Cast off.
Ear (make 2)
Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 24 sts.
Rows 1–6 Knit.
Row 7 (K3, k2tog) twice, k4, (k2tog, k3) twice. [20 sts]
Row 8 Knit.
Row 9 (K2, k2tog) twice, k4, (k2tog, k2) twice. [16 sts]
Row 10 Knit.
Row 11 K1, (k1, k2tog) twice, k2, (k2tog, k1) twice, k1. [12 sts]
Row 12 (K2tog) 6 times. [6 sts]
Leave a long tail, thread through rem 6 sts, pull tight to close.
To Finish
Fold sleeves in half and place a marker at the half-way point of the cast-off edge. Join this marker with the centre top of the shoulder and sew sleeves into place. Sew side seams and underarm sleeves.
Sew buttons in place using the buttonholes as a guide, making sure to sew them on securely to avoid them becoming a choking hazard.
Fold the centre top section of the hood to meet the cast-off edges to form a rectangle-shaped hood and sew in place.
Using the photo as a guide, sew ears to hood. Weave in all ends.
Wash according to ball band instructions and lay flat to dry naturally.
Make the Matching Set
The Billy Bear Jacket works beautifully alongside the Bunny Best Friend baby blanket comforter, the other piece from the same Scheepjes Baby Collection. Both are worked in Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush in 252 Toorop, so if you’re knitting both you only need one shade and the pieces are a natural pair. Knit the jacket first or the blanket first, they’re both manageable weekend makes, and the gift they make together is something a new family will keep for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Billy Bear Jacket?
The Billy Bear Jacket is a free baby bear jacket knitting pattern from my Scheepjes Baby Collection. It’s a garter stitch hooded jacket with two knitted bear ears on the hood and six mismatched rainbow buttons down the front. It comes in five sizes from 0–3 months to 18–24 months and is designed to be as beginner-friendly as possible without looking it.
What skill level is this free baby bear jacket knitting pattern?
Confident beginner. You need to be comfortable with basic cast on and cast off, garter stitch, yarn over buttonholes, and simple seaming. There are no picked-up button bands and all the shaping is manageable. If you’ve knitted a straightforward flat project and are ready for your first baby garment, this is an excellent place to start.
What yarn does the Billy Bear Jacket use?
The original pattern uses Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush in shade 252 Toorop, a warm heathered grey with a soft brushed halo. You’ll need 5 (6: 6: 7: 7) x 50g balls depending on your size. If you’d prefer to substitute, Scheepjes Softfun and Scheepjes Stone Washed both work well at a similar weight.
Can I make this free baby bear jacket knitting pattern in a different colour?
Absolutely. The pattern works in any DK-weight yarn at the correct tension, and the garter stitch construction looks lovely in any shade. The heathered grey of the original lets those rainbow buttons really sing, but a soft cream, a pale blue, or a dusty pink would all be beautiful. If you’re substituting yarn, aim for a high natural fibre content for a garment going next to a baby’s skin.
Is it safe to give a knitted baby jacket with buttons to a baby?
Yes, provided the buttons are sewn on securely. See the full safety note above for how to reinforce your buttons before the finished jacket goes to a baby. Use a strong sewing thread and needle in addition to the yarn, work over each button several times, and give each one a firm tug test before gifting.
What sizes does the Billy Bear Jacket come in?
The pattern includes five sizes: 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–18 months, and 18–24 months. The chest measurement to fit ranges from 40.5cm (16in) up to 50.5cm (20in), with positive ease built in for a comfortable, wearable fit.
*Pattern reproduced with the kind permission of Scheepjes
If You Love Knitting for Babies
There are plenty more free patterns where this one came from. Browse the full collection in the free baby knitting patterns archive.
Show Me Your Billy Bear
I’d love to see your finished makes. Share your Billy Bear Jacket on social media and tag me. Nothing makes my day quite like seeing a real baby wearing something I designed.
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About Jane
Jane Burns is a UK-based knitting and crochet pattern designer with 18 years of experience, specialising in whimsical, characterful patterns for babies and children. She is the founder of Jane Burns Whimsical Children’s Knits, with patterns that carry real personality and a focus on making knitting feel accessible, satisfying, and a little bit special.
