Apres Ski Sweater - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK by Debbie Bliss - DB407 - Downloadable PDF

Apres Ski Sweater – Knitting Pattern for Women by Debbie Bliss (DB407)

The Apres Ski Sweater is a striking, colourwork-rich women's pullover knitting pattern designed by Debbie Bliss and worked in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK yarn. Released under the Debbie Bliss Limited 2022 collection, this downloadable PDF pattern delivers a bold, ski-lodge-inspired aesthetic through intricate stranded colourwork motifs, making it a rewarding project for advanced knitters looking to showcase their skills.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic women's fitted sweater (jumper) with a richly patterned body and sleeves inspired by traditional après-ski knitwear. The finished garment is sized across a wide range, fitting chest measurements from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 142–147 cm (56–58 in), with finished chest measurements spanning 91 cm (35¾ in) to 156 cm (61¼ in). The length to back neck ranges from 57 cm to 63 cm depending on size, and the sleeve length is a consistent 45 cm (17¾ in) across all sizes.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colourwork – The defining technique of this pattern, stranded knitting (sometimes called Fair Isle-style knitting) involves carrying two or more yarn colours across a row, working stitches in each colour as dictated by a chart. This creates the dense, graphic motifs characteristic of ski-style sweaters. Careful tension management is essential to prevent puckering.
• Working in the round – Sections of the sweater are knitted in the round using circular needles, which is particularly advantageous for stranded colourwork as the right side always faces the knitter, making it easier to read and follow the colour chart.
• Short-row shaping (Wrap 1) – The pattern employs a specific short-row technique using a Wrap 1 method, described separately for right-side and wrong-side rows. Wrapped stitches are later worked together with their wrapping loop to close gaps neatly, a technique used to shape areas such as shoulders or necklines without leaving visible holes.
• Flat knitting – Alongside circular construction, some sections are worked flat on straight needles, requiring the knitter to manage colourwork on both right-side and wrong-side rows.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st) – The primary fabric stitch, forming the ground for the colourwork motifs. Tension is measured as 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm / 4 in over stocking stitch using 4 mm needles.
• skpo – Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over; a left-leaning single decrease used in shaping.
• m1 (make one) – An increase stitch used to add stitches during shaping.
• k tbl (knit through back loop) – Used in specific shaping or finishing contexts to twist a stitch and close gaps.
• Knit and purl stitches – Fundamental stitches forming the basis of all stocking stitch and ribbed sections.

Colourwork and Yarn

The sweater uses five colours of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, a luxurious blend of merino wool and cashmere available exclusively at lovecrafts.com. The colours specified are:

• Blackberry 19 (A) – the main colour, requiring 10 to 16 balls of 50 g / 1¾ oz depending on size
• Ecru 02 (B) – 1 ball
• Fuchsia 20 (C) – 1 ball
• Lilac 21 (D) – 1 ball
• Leaf 12 (E) – 1 ball