BabyAlpenChic – why this little jacket was allowed to breathe again
Some patterns stay with you far longer than you ever planned.
The Baby AlpenChic Trachtenjanker is one of those pieces for me.
I wrote this pattern more than ten years ago.
Back then, I was braver than I was structured, more experimental than tidy –
and my present-day inner perfectionist would probably get quietly nervous reading it.
And yet:
this little jacket never disappeared.
It was knitted, passed on, gifted.
It kept resurfacing – in messages, in questions, in small bits of feedback.
And almost just as regularly, one particular question came up:
"Is there a version in adult sizes?"
For years, my answer was no.
Not because I didn't want to –
but because I was very self-critical.
And because I knew: if I do this, then I'll do it properly.
🧶 The Moment when Things start to Move
A few weeks ago, I asked my community
whether an adult version of this jacket would make sense for them.
The result was clear.
And suddenly there wasn't just a question anymore,
but a thought that firmly settled in my mind:
👉 Before building something new on top of it, the foundation has to be right.
So I didn't start with the adult version.
I started with what mattered most to me:
the original pattern.
✨ The 2026 Reissue – More than just an Update
I didn't "quickly modernise" the Baby AlpenChic Trachtenjanker.
I truly sat down with it again.
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The sizes were extended (116–164)
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The instructions were rewritten to be clearer and better structured
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The fit was revised and supplemented with precise measurements
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The decorative border is now explained cleanly step by step, including a video reference
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And yes – the photos were also completely refreshed
The photos were especially important to me.
Not because the old ones were bad –
but because my eye, my standards, and my sense for presentation have changed.
Out of nostalgia, the old front image was allowed to stay.
Some beginnings simply belong to the story.
The style remains.
But the text, the fit, and the images are now at a level
that feels right to me today.
A Small Preview
Many of you have asked –
and yes, I can finally say it now:
👉 The adult version of the Baby AlpenChic jacket is in the works.
It's not finished yet,
but the yarn has already been pulled from the shelves,
the colours are chosen,
and the patterns are taking shape step by step.
In the next blog post, I'll take you along on this process –
from yarn choice and proportions
to the first thoughts on construction.
So if you'd like to knit this little jacket for yourself one day:
👉 staying tuned will be worth it.
Thinking it through together – in the Community
This journey isn't happening behind closed doors.
The first thoughts about the adult version, the initial poll,
and today's step of reworking the children's jacket as a foundation
have all been – and continue to be – shared in my Facebook group.
If you'd like to follow this path –
from the first idea and colour decisions
to the next development steps –
feel free to join us:
👉 Stricken & Häkeln – always UP TO DATE with stricken-im-trend
That's where you can ask questions, join the discussion,
and often get insights well ahead of time.
If you'd like to knit it yourself
If you'd like to knit the Baby AlpenChic Trachtenjanker yourself,
you'll find the lovingly revised 2026 edition here:
👉 My Conclusion
For me, the Baby AlpenChic Trachtenjanker is more than an old pattern from the archive.
It's a piece of development – technically, creatively, and personally.
With the 2026 reissue, this little jacket got exactly what it deserved:
clarity, structure, clean sizing, refreshed images –
while still keeping its soul.
Now the foundation is set.
And on that foundation, something new is ready to grow.
Thank you for walking this path with me –
with your questions, your feedback, and your patience.
I'm truly happy if this little jacket now gets knitted many times again.
Stitch by stitch.
With love.
And maybe with a little bit of nostalgia, too. 🧶💛
With love,
Kathrin 🌸
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