"Ray" - Jacket Knitting Pattern Women in Debbie Bliss Merion by Debbie Bliss

Ray Jacket Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss

What is Being Made

The Ray is a women's jacket coat designed by Debbie Bliss, available in five size options to fit bust measurements from 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) up to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches). The finished bust measurements range from 127 cm (50 inches) to 167 cm (65¾ inches), with length to back neck varying from 76 cm (30 inches) to 84 cm (33 inches) depending on size. The jacket features a consistent sleeve length of 43 cm (17 inches) across all sizes.

Knitting Techniques

The Ray coat is constructed using bottom-up construction, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edge upward. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and pieces are seamed together upon completion. This traditional approach allows for straightforward shaping and customization of fit across multiple size ranges.

The pattern includes shoulder shaping achieved through strategic cast-off sequences. The back piece is worked straight from the cast-on edge until reaching the specified length, then shoulders are shaped by casting off 7 stitches at the beginning of four consecutive rows, followed by additional stitches (8 to 14 stitches depending on size) at the beginning of the following two rows.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Ray coat is worked primarily in garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row. This fundamental stitch produces a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges and provides excellent drape and warmth, making it ideal for a jacket garment. The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations including knit (k), purl (p), decrease (dec), slip stitch (sl), and slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (skpo) for shaping.

Materials and Gauge

The Ray coat is designed to be worked in Debbie Bliss Merion, a chunky-weight yarn. The pattern requires 12 to 16 balls of 100g yarn (depending on size selected), all in the Pebble 05 colorway. The recommended gauge is 12 stitches and 24 rows to a 10 cm (4 inch) square over garter stitch using 7mm (US 10.5) needles.

Two needle sizes are required: a pair of 5mm (US 8) needles and a pair of 7mm (US 10.5) needles. Additionally, a long circular 7mm (US 10.5) knitting needle is needed, likely for working certain sections or for managing large stitch counts during construction.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it accessible to knitters new to garment construction. The straightforward garter stitch fabric, simple seamed construction, and basic shaping techniques provide an excellent introduction to knitting a fitted jacket without overwhelming complexity.