Here’s Help with Baby Surprise Jacket Struggles

If you want to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket but have run into trouble, keep reading for many helpful resources–and alternative patterns

If you’re part of a knitting group that knits cardigans for babies, chances are pretty good that someone in your group has knitted (or is knitting) a Baby Surprise Jacket.

Why do I believe this? In part, because of any baby knitting project I’ve seen mentioned in my Knitting for Charity with Nicole Facebook group, I see the most mentions of the Baby Surprise Jacket.

But mostly, it’s because, if you check the Ravelry pattern database and filter for “knitting,” “Sweater-Cardigan” and “Baby,” you’ll find that the Baby Surprise Jacket is listed first (meaning it’s the most popular baby cardigan on Ravelry).

And if you hit the “Projects” tab on the Baby Surprise Jacket, you’ll see that–as of this writing–this pattern has been knitted by Ravelry users a whopping 31,100 times. 😲

What Makes the Baby Surprise Jacket So Special?

Let’s start with its designer. If you’ve been knitting for any length of time, you have probably heard of Elizabeth Zimmerman. She’s considered by many to be the pioneer of modern knitting, and she’s almost certainly the first famous worldwide knitting instructor.

More importantly, of course, is the jacket pattern itself. You don’t need many specialized knitting skills to create the jacket. If you can knit garter stitch (literally knitting every single stitch) and seam, you can knit this jacket.

(Or so you might think, when reading the introduction to the pattern.👀But we’ll get to that later.)

Then there are the many variations. The Surprise Jacket is no longer simply for babies! You can also find child- and adult-sized Surprise Jackets. You can find stockinette versions, crochet versions, even versions with collars and/or hoods.

Finally, there’s its unique appearance. The pattern creates stripes (unless you knit it all in one color, though you’ll still see its distinct design) that run vertically along the arms and down the body, until it gets below the underarms, at which point the stripes become L-shaped. It gives the jacket an unbeatably stylish flair! 🤩

What Makes the Baby Surprise Jacket Tricky to Knit?

Number one, the Baby Surprise Jacket was published in 1968. That means that, as of this writing, it’s nearly 60 years old. As such, the language of the pattern can be a bit archaic, using terms and descriptions that many modern-day knitters aren’t accustomed to.

Number two are the specialized skills. The introduction from Schoolhouse Press (the publishing company founded by Elizabeth herself) says that the jacket is “knitted back and forth in Garter stitch, then cleverly folded and completed by weaving the shoulder seams.”

This might give you the impression that you need only to knit garter stitch and sew the shoulder seams, and you’re golden. But no.

Here are the skills you will actually need to knit the Surprise Jacket in its original form, in addition to garter stitch knitting:

• double decreases
• double increases
• knit a flap with live stitches left on a needle
• pick up stitches on the edge of garter stitch knitting
• seaming from live stitches to cast-on edge

None of these skills are impossible to learn; in fact, if you’ve knitted even a couple of pairs of socks or slippers, you’re likely to have used many of these already. But if you’re not expecting to need such skills when you begin knitting, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

But aren’t you lucky? You live in the Internet age!

Assistance with the Baby Surprise Jacket

Folks on Ravelry have kindly come to the rescue for anyone who struggles with knitting the Baby Surprise Jacket!

First, there’s a group that’s entirely devoted to the original Baby Surprise Jacket, which you can find here: Ravelry: Baby Surprise Jacket 🤸

At this group, you can not only access the Baby Surprise Jacket Wiki (more on that in a bit), but you can also get links to purchase the original pattern and to a few of the pattern variants, ask questions if you get stuck, and even join a perpetual knitalong!

What’s a perpetual knitalong, you ask? It’s a series of threads within the group where intrepid knitters can jump in and enjoy a community of other knitters working the BSJ at particular “stages.” There are 5 different stages, starting with casting on and the first 12 rows, and ending with, of course, the last several rows and finishing. 🧶

And second, this same group has put together a Baby Surprise Jacket Wiki. This page provides a ton of helpful tips and resources for knitting the BSJ and its child and adult variants. There are links to other sizes (including preemie!), links to videos, links to the various techniques you’ll need, and links to many variations, both free and for sale. 🥳

Alternatives to the Baby Surprise Jacket

Below are a number of free patterns based on or inspired by Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise jacket.

Note: A few of these do require the original pattern, which you can purchase here.

Ulina

• What you’ll need to knit it: 570 to 620 yards fingering weight yarn; US Size 2 circular needles, at least 29 inches long (to accommodate the large number of stitches); stitch markers; 5 buttons

• What makes it a great alternative: Available in both English and German, this jacket is a delightful way to use up fingering weight yarn remnants. The construction is also significantly different, so if you really struggle with the EZ original, you may find this far simpler!

Baby Surprise Jacket Preemie Sized

• What you’ll need to make it: Original BSJ pattern; about 300 to 400 yards DK-weight, light worsted weight, or worsted weight yarn (DK weight is needed for preemies; if you want to make it a bit bigger, you can use thicker yarn); US Size 4, 6, or 7 needles (depending on which size you wish to make); 4 buttons
  
  You may want to make sure you have enough yarn, if you choose to knit the booties and hat, too.

• What makes it a great alternative: This is not only a terrific way to practice the jacket pattern in larger sizes, but it also makes a wonderful charity project. And as a bonus, you can make matching booties and a hat.

Killian Jacket and Pants

• What you’ll need to make them:
  
  For the jacket: 672 to 1120 yards fingering weight yarn (depending on the size you choose); US Size 2 or 3 circular needle, at least 32 inches; 3 to 5 buttons, again depending on size
  
  For the pants: 366 to 549 yards sport weight yarn (depending on the size you choose); US Size 2 or 3 circular needle and/or DPNs (depending on how you prefer to knit in the round)

• What makes it a great alternative: First, it’s free. Second, the construction is a fair bit different, as it’s knitted in 2 pieces and then seamed. Finally, this pattern also offers a matching pair of pants, so you can knit an adorable outfit all at once!

Baby Surprise Snowsuit

• What you’ll need to make it: Original BSJ pattern; 560 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 4 needles; 14 buttons

• What makes it a great alternative: Want to extend the jacket into a snowsuit? Check out this clever variation!

Baby Surprise Jacket, Stockinette Version

• What you’ll need to make it: Original BSJ pattern; 300 yards worsted weight yarn; circular needles at least 24 to 32 inches long (use whatever size you need to get gauge; start with US Size 6 or 7 and go from there); 3 buttons

• What makes this a great alternative: If you prefer the look of stockinette to garter, this is the variation for you.

Seamless BSJ

• What you’ll need to make it: Original BSJ pattern; about 250 to 400 yards of the yarn of your choice; 40-inch circular needle size that matches your yarn weight; buttons (optional)

• What makes it a great alternative: The name says it all: if you dislike seaming, this is your variation! The joins of this pattern create attractive-looking “seams” that add a certain flair to this project.

Sometimes even the classics can be complicated, but the Surprise Jacket (for baby, child, adult, or virtually any size) doesn’t have to be. With the resources and/or patterns on this page, you may find the Surprise Jacket downright addictive. 😍