Blue Sky Fibers High Neck Cable

Blue Sky Fibers High Neck Cable Sweater – Knitting Pattern by Kim Hamlin

The Blue Sky Fibers High Neck Cable is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Kim Hamlin and published by Blue Sky Fibers (formerly Blue Sky Alpacas). It produces a classic, beautifully structured pullover sweater featuring a dramatic high neck, richly textured cable panels, and a seamless construction worked from the top down in the round. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is sized for women's Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large, fitting bust measurements of 32, 34, 36–38, and 40–42 inches respectively.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a women's pullover sweater with a distinctive high ribbed neckline, set-in-style sleeves, and prominent cable detailing worked along the front and back yoke and body. The sweater is designed to be a sophisticated, wearable garment that showcases the natural luster and softness of the recommended yarn. The finished body measures approximately 15 to 16 inches in length before the armhole shaping, depending on size, giving it a flattering, classic silhouette. Buttons — between 12 and 20 depending on size — are incorporated into the design, adding a refined, tailored finishing detail.

Construction and Techniques

The High Neck Cable sweater is constructed using a seamless, top-down, worked-in-the-round method. This approach eliminates the need for seaming and allows knitters to try on the garment as they go, making fit adjustments straightforward. Key construction techniques include:

• Top-down seamless construction: The sweater begins at the neckline and grows downward, with the body and sleeves shaped continuously without cutting the yarn or sewing seams.
• Worked in the round: Both the body and the sleeves are knitted circularly using a 32-inch circular needle for the body and double pointed needles or a 12-inch circular needle for the sleeves, keeping the fabric seamless and smooth on the right side.
• Cable knitting: Defined cable panels are worked between markers throughout the yoke and body. Cables are a classic knitting technique in which stitches are crossed over one another using a cable needle, creating a twisted, rope-like or braided texture that adds visual depth and structure to the fabric.
• Armhole shaping with stitch holders: Stitches for the underarms are placed on stitch holders to separate the sleeves from the body, a hallmark of seamless top-down sweater construction.
• Sleeve increases: Each sleeve is worked with regular increase rounds — specifically a make-one increase on each side every eighth round — to shape the sleeve from cuff to underarm.
• Decreases for shaping: Both the body and the neck ribbing incorporate paired decreases (ssk and k2tog) to create smooth, symmetrical shaping throughout.
• High neck ribbing: A tall, structured neckline is formed using 2×2 ribbing (knit 2, purl 2), which gives the collar its characteristic elasticity and height.

Stitches Used

The pattern draws on a focused set of knitting stitches and techniques that are well within reach of an intermediate knitter:

• 2×2 Ribbing (k2, p2): Used for the high neck collar and the sleeve cuffs, each worked for approximately 3 inches to create a stretchy, form-fitting edge.
• Cable Pattern: A defined repeating cable stitch pattern worked between ring markers, creating the signature textured panels on the body of the sweater. A cable needle is required to hold stitches temporarily while crossing others.
• Stockinette stitch (knit all rounds): The main body fabric between cable panels is worked in smooth stockinette, providing a clean backdrop that allows the cables to stand out.
• ssk (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease used in shaping rows and rounds.
• k2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used alongside ssk to create symmetrical shaping.
• p2tog (purl two together): A purl-side decrease used in the neck ribbing set-up row.
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