Cow Bell Sleeve Sweater in Sirdar Stories DK - 10539 - Downloadable PDF

Cow Bell Sleeve Sweater in Sirdar Stories DK – Pattern 10539

This intermediate-level knitting pattern from Sirdar (Design No. 10539) guides you through creating a stylish bell sleeve sweater with a distinctively flared, cow-bell-shaped sleeve silhouette. Available as a downloadable PDF, the pattern covers a generous size range from UK 6–28 (US 2–24), making it accessible to a wide range of knitters. The design is worked in Sirdar Stories Double Knitting yarn, shown in shades 821, 805, and 803, combining multiple colours for a contemporary, fashion-forward finish.

About the Design

The standout feature of this sweater is its bell-shaped sleeve, a silhouette that flares dramatically from the elbow or upper arm downward, creating an elegant and on-trend look. The use of multiple colours adds visual interest and allows knitters to explore colour-blocking or tonal combinations using the three specified shades of Sirdar Stories DK. The garment is designed as a top or sweater, making it a versatile wardrobe addition suitable for transitional and warmer seasons.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for use with Sirdar Stories Double Knitting, a cotton-rich acrylic blend yarn. This fibre composition offers several practical benefits:

• Natural cotton content provides breathability and comfort, making it well suited to lighter, warmer-weather garments.
• The acrylic blend helps the finished sweater maintain its shape over time and through repeated wear.
• The DK (double knitting) weight creates a fabric that is lighter than heavier-weight yarns, ideal for a sweater intended for warmer conditions.
• Three colourways are featured: shades 821, 805, and 803 from the Sirdar Stories DK range.

As with all Sirdar patterns, knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn would be used. Sirdar triple-checks every pattern to guarantee a successful result when worked with the recommended Sirdar yarn.

Knitting Techniques and Skills Required

Rated as intermediate in difficulty, this pattern is best suited to knitters who are comfortable with core techniques and ready to develop their skills further. The construction of a shaped sleeve such as the bell or cow-bell style typically involves:

• Shaping increases and decreases to achieve the characteristic flared sleeve silhouette
• Seaming to join garment pieces, as is standard in classic sweater construction
• Colour management, working with multiple yarn shades across the garment
• Reading and following a multi-size pattern across a wide range of sizes from UK 6 to UK 28
• Standard sweater construction elements including body shaping, neckline finishing, and sleeve attachment

Stitches Used

As a knitted garment in DK weight yarn, this sweater is likely to incorporate fundamental knitting stitches and techniques, which may include:

• Knit and purl stitches forming the main fabric of the sweater body and sleeves
• Rib stitch (combinations of knit and purl) commonly used for cuffs, hems, and neckbands to provide stretch and a neat finish
• Increase and decrease stitches to shape the distinctive bell sleeve and garment body

About Sirdar Stories Double Knitting

Sirdar is a British yarn company established in West Yorkshire in 1880, with a long heritage in hand knitting. The Stories Double Knitting yarn is part of their seasonal offering, blending classic comfort with contemporary design. Its cotton-rich acrylic composition is specifically noted for creating lighter garments that keep their shape, making it an excellent choice for a sweater designed to be worn in warmer months. Sirdar triple-checks all patterns to ensure