Rowena - Jumper Knitting Pattern For Women in Debbie Bliss Angel by Debbie Bliss

Rowena Sweater Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss – Women's Striped Jumper in Lace Weight Angel Yarn

The Rowena Sweater is a beautifully crafted women's pullover jumper designed by Debbie Bliss and knitted in her signature Debbie Bliss Angel yarn. This intermediate-level knitting pattern produces an elegant, relaxed-fit sweater with generous finished bust measurements ranging from 110 cm (43¼ in) up to 154 cm (60½ in), making it suitable for a wide range of sizes from a 32–34 in bust through to a 48–50 in bust. The finished length to shoulder measures between 68 cm and 72 cm depending on size, with a consistent sleeve length of 43 cm (17 in).

What Is Being Made

The Rowena pattern produces a women's long-sleeved jumper worked in a striking striped colourwork design. The sweater is generously sized with a comfortable, wearable silhouette suited to everyday wear. The use of lace weight yarn gives the finished garment a delicate, lightweight drape despite its full coverage, making it ideal for layering or wearing as a standalone piece across cooler seasons.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls exclusively for Debbie Bliss Angel, a lace weight yarn sold in 25g balls. Three colourways are used to create the stripe sequence:

• Debbie Bliss Angel in Claret 43 (Colour A) – required in quantities of 5, 6, 6, 7, or 7 balls depending on size
• Debbie Bliss Angel in Heather 36 (Colour B) – required in quantities of 7, 7, 7, 8, or 8 balls depending on size
• Debbie Bliss Angel in Rose 19 (Colour C) – required in quantities of 4, 5, 5, 6, or 6 balls depending on size

Two pairs of needles are required: 3.75mm (US 5) needles, typically used for the ribbed or edging sections, and 4.5mm (US 7) needles for the main body fabric. The recommended tension is 18 stitches and 24 rows to a 10 cm (4 in) square over stocking stitch using the 4.5mm needles. Achieving correct tension is particularly important with lace weight yarn, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished dimensions of a garment.

Techniques Used

The Rowena Sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate difficulty category:

• Bottom-up construction – the garment pieces are worked from the lower edge upward toward the shoulders, a traditional approach that gives knitters clear structural progression through the pattern
• Worked flat – all pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning knitters work back and forth in rows, alternating knit and purl sides
• Seamed finishing – the individual pieces (front, back, and sleeves) are joined together using seaming techniques after knitting is complete, which contributes to a neat, structured finish typical of classic knitwear construction
• Stripes – the three colourways of Debbie Bliss Angel are worked in a stripe sequence, requiring colour changes at regular intervals; working stripes flat makes yarn management straightforward as new colours are simply introduced at the beginning of rows
• Make one purlwise (m1p) – a specific increase stitch used within the pattern, worked by picking up and purling into the front of the loop lying between the stitch just worked and the next stitch
• Skpo (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) – a left-leaning decrease used for shaping within the garment

Stitches Used

The Rowena Sweater is primarily worked in classic knitting stitches that are well within reach of an intermediate knitter:

• Stocking stitch (st st) – the main fabric stitch, formed by kn