"Stella Jacket" - Jacket Knitting Pattern For Women in Debbie Bliss Falkland Aran - DBS036

Stella Jacket – Women's Cable Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Falkland Aran

The Stella Jacket is a sophisticated women's knitting pattern designed by Debbie Bliss, worked in the brand's own Falkland Aran weight yarn. This is a fully seamed, structured jacket featuring intricate cable detailing, making it an ideal project for advanced knitters looking for a rewarding and technically engaging garment. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, pattern reference DBS036.

Garment Overview

The Stella Jacket is a classic, tailored women's jacket silhouette constructed using traditional knitting methods. It is worked flat in separate pieces that are subsequently seamed together, resulting in a polished, structured finish characteristic of high-quality handknitted outerwear. The use of Debbie Bliss Falkland Aran yarn gives the finished jacket excellent stitch definition, which is particularly important for showcasing the cable patterning throughout the design.

Techniques Used

• Cable knitting – The Stella Jacket prominently features cable techniques, which involve crossing groups of stitches over one another to create twisted, rope-like or lattice textures. Cables are a hallmark of Aran-style knitwear and require the use of a cable needle to hold stitches temporarily while others are worked.
• Worked flat – All pieces of the jacket are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, producing a fabric with distinct right and wrong sides. This is the traditional construction method for seamed garments.
• Seamed construction – The individual knitted pieces, such as the front panels, back, and sleeves, are joined together using seaming techniques after knitting is complete. This gives the jacket its structured shape and durability.
• Tension/gauge management – As noted in the pattern, achieving the correct tension is essential. Knitters are instructed to work a tension square before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly if their stitch count differs from the stated gauge.

Stitches Used

• Purl (p) – Standard purl stitch, forming the reverse side of stockinette and used extensively in cable panels as a background stitch to make cables stand out in relief.
• Purl into front and back (pfb) – A purl-based increase stitch worked by purling into both the front and back of the same stitch, adding one additional stitch to the row.
• Yarn round needle twice (y2rn) – A double yarn-over technique used to create elongated stitches or decorative effects within the pattern.
• Cable stitches – Worked using a cable needle, these involve slipping a set number of stitches, knitting or purling the next stitches, then working the held stitches, creating the characteristic twisted cable effect.
• Alternate stitch sequences (alt) – The pattern uses alternating row instructions to build the cable and texture repeats correctly across the fabric.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Falkland Aran – an Aran weight yarn. The pattern specifies this yarn exclusively, and as noted in the instructions, Debbie Bliss cannot accept responsibility for the finished product if any yarn other than the one specified is used. Falkland Aran is known for its excellent stitch definition and durability, making it well suited to structured cable garments.
• Needles: Straight or flat knitting needles appropriate for Aran weight yarn. Knitters should adjust needle size based on their individual tension swatch results, moving to a larger needle if tension is too tight and a smaller needle if tension is too loose.
• Cable needle: Required for working the cable crossing techniques throughout the jacket.

Sizing and Difficulty

The Stella Jacket is offered in multiple sizes, with instructions given for the first size and larger sizes provided in round brackets throughout the pattern. Where a single figure appears, it applies to all sizes. This pattern is rated advanced in difficulty, making it most suitable for experienced knitters who are already comfortable with cable techniques, shaping, and seamed garment construction. The combination of cable panels, precise tension requirements, and multi-piece seamed assembly means this is a project that rewards patience and careful attention to