Baby Totora Jacket Pattern

The Totora Jacket is an ideal project for beginners learning to crochet garments. It is worked in one piece from the yoke, and the sleeves are added afterward. The result is a light, soft little jacket with a beautiful marled effect.

🎥 Follow the step-by-step video tutorial at the bottom of this page

✨ Materials

• Baby yarn.
• 3 mm crochet hook (for crocheting the garment).
• 4 mm crochet hook (only for making the initial chains, so they are not too tight).
• 3 2 cm buttons.
• Other accessories: stitch markers, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a sewing needle.

📐 Sizes 

The pattern is available in four sizes:

• 0–3 months -> 1 ball
• 3–6 months -> 1 ball
• 6–9 months -> 2 balls
• 9–12 months -> 2 balls

Throughout the pattern, the stitches and rows are indicated by size in that order, separated by "/". For example, if it says "crochet 4/6/8/10 stitches", for size 0–3 months you should crochet 4 stitches; for size 3–6 months, 6 stitches; for size 6–9 months, 8 stitches; and for size 9–12 months, 10 stitches.

📐 Gauge

With a 3 mm crochet hook, my gauge in 10x10cm in double crochet is:

• 16 stitches
• 9 rows

It is important to check your gauge. If you crochet more tightly or loosely, you can try using a larger or smaller hook to match the gauge.

Step by step

1. Yoke (upper part of the jacket)

• Using the 4 mm hook, chain 54/59/64/70 chains.
• Switch to the 3 mm hook.
• Distribute the stitches by placing markers to separate the yoke sections:
  • 7/8/9/10 chains → front
  • 1 marker
  • 10/11/12/13 chains → shoulder
  • 1 marker
  • 16/17/18/20 chains → back
  • 1 marker
  • 10/11/12/13 chains → shoulder
  • 1 marker
  • 7/8/9/10 chains → front

• Work in double crochet for 7/9/9/9 rounds, taking the following considerations into account:
  • At the beginning of each round, work 2 turning chains, which do not count as a stitch.
  • At each marker (raglan), work the following: 1 double crochet + 1 chain + 1 double crochet in the same stitch → this will be your raglan increase.
  • Note that you will increase by 8 stitches in each round (2 for each raglan).
  • At the end of the last round, you will have 110/131/136/142 stitches in total.

2. Body

• Next, we will join the armholes to continue with the body (we will set the sleeves aside for later). To do this, work continuously across the front panel, back, and other front panel. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to work this joining round:
  • Work 14/17/18/19 double crochet stitches (front panel).
  • Work 1 double crochet in the raglan. Work 1 double crochet in the next raglan (skipping the unworked sleeve).
  • Work 30/35/36/38 double crochet stitches (back).
  • Work 1 double crochet in the raglan. Work 1 double crochet in the next raglan (skipping the unworked sleeve).
  • Work 14/17/18/19 double crochet stitches (front panel).
• At the end of this joining round, you will have the jacket body with 62/73/76/80 double crochet stitches.
• Work a total of 11/12/13/14 rounds in double crochet (including the joining round).

3. Jacket edging

Once you have completed the body, your hook will be at the lower corner of one front panel. With the right side of the garment facing you, work one complete round of single crochet around the entire inner edge (front panel, neck, and the other front panel), taking the following considerations into account:

• At the neck corners, work: single crochet + 1 chain + single crochet in the same stitch so that the turn is smooth and rounded.
• When working up and down the sides (where the sideways double crochets are): work 2 single crochets around each double crochet.
• When you reach the end, chain 1 and close with a slip stitch in the next stitch for a neat finish.

4. Sleeves

• Pick up the stitches of one sleeve (the ones that were left on hold).
• Start at the back raglan of the armhole.
• Work as follows:
  • 1 double crochet in the first raglan stitch.
  • All the sleeve stitches on hold (24/29/30/31 double crochets).
  • 1 double crochet in the next raglan stitch.
  • Add 1 extra double crochet in the gap between the two raglan stitches.
    
• Work 8/9/9/10 rows of double crochet (including this first one), bearing the following in mind:
  • Work in rows (not in the round), just as we did for the body.
  • Remember to chain 2 for height at the beginning of each round (these do not count as a stitch).
  • Close each round with a slip stitch in the first stitch, turn the work, and continue.
  • Place a marker in the first and last stitch of each round so you do not lose track of them.
• At the cuff, finish with 1 round of slip stitch on the right side.
• Repeat the same process on the other sleeve.

5. Finishing

To finish your jacket, use a tapestry needle to weave all the remaining ends between the stitches, making sure they are securely fastened and do not show on the right side of the work.

Next, sew three buttons onto the front, spacing them evenly opposite the openings left for the buttonholes.

6. Blocking and caring for the garment

Washing: machine wash at max. 30°C
Drying: flat to maintain its shape (do not tumble dry)
Do not iron

🎉 All done!

Your Totora Jacket is now finished. A lightweight, practical, and very special garment for babies, perfect for beginners who want to move on to garments with yokes and sleeves.

🎥 Follow the step-by-step video tutorial: