Lulu Jumper, Beret and Handwarmers - Knitting Pattern For Kids in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Lulu Jumper, Beret and Handwarmers – Kids' Knitting Pattern in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

The Lulu Set by Debbie Bliss is a charming coordinated children's knitwear collection comprising three separate pieces: a stranded colourwork jumper (sweater), a beret, and a pair of handwarmers. Designed for children aged 1–3, 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years, the set is worked in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a beloved sport-weight yarn celebrated for its soft, skin-friendly blend. The beret and handwarmers are sized to fit an average child's head and hands respectively, making the full set a beautifully matched gift or wardrobe staple for little ones.

The Lulu Jumper

The centrepiece of the set is the Lulu Jumper, a colourwork sweater featuring a playful multi-colour design worked from a charted pattern. It is sized to produce the following finished chest measurements:

• 1–3 years: 64 cm / 25¼ in chest, 37 cm / 14½ in length to shoulder, 22 cm / 8½ in sleeve length
• 3–4 years: 69 cm / 27 in chest, 41 cm / 16¼ in length to shoulder, 25 cm / 9¾ in sleeve length
• 4–5 years: 75 cm / 29½ in chest, 45 cm / 17¾ in length to shoulder, 28 cm / 11 in sleeve length
• 5–6 years: 80 cm / 31½ in chest, 49 cm / 19¼ in length to shoulder, 31 cm / 12¼ in sleeve length

The jumper is constructed using a combination of worked flat (back-and-forth on straight needles) and worked in the round (on circular needles) techniques. The colourwork sections are executed using the stranded knitting technique, where multiple yarn colours are carried across the back of the fabric to create the pattern. A key feature of the design is the inclusion of bobbles — each made by working [k1, p1, k1] all into the next stitch, turning and purling, then completing with a central decrease — adding delightful three-dimensional texture to the colourwork motifs.

The chart uses five colours of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino:

• Silver 12 – the main colour (M), requiring 3(4:4:5) × 50g balls
• Lake 301 – contrast colour A, one 50g ball
• Acid Yellow 91 – contrast colour B, one 50g ball
• Mint 03 – contrast colour C, one 50g ball
• Sienna 67 – contrast colour D, one 50g ball

The body and sleeves are worked primarily in stocking stitch (stockinette), with ribbed edgings worked on the smaller needle size. The chart is read from right to left on every row, as is standard for stranded colourwork charts. Shaping is achieved through standard decrease techniques including skpo (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) and k2tog (knit two together).

Needles required for the jumper: a pair of 3mm (US 2-3) straight needles and a pair of 3.25mm (US 3) straight needles, plus a 3mm circular needle and a 3.25mm circular needle for working in the round on neckbands or other circular sections.

The recommended tension (gauge) is 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm / 4 in over stocking stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Achieving this tension before beginning is