WEBS DIR03 In the Loop by Fiona Ellis - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southwick

In the Loop by Fiona Ellis – Fitted Cable Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women

In the Loop is a beautifully detailed women's jumper designed by Fiona Ellis as part of the Designer in Residence Series #3, published by WEBS (pattern reference DIR03). This longer-line, fitted top with cap sleeves is an intermediate-level knitting pattern worked in Valley Yarns Southwick, a luxurious worsted-weight yarn. The design is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters eager to cast on.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a longer-line fitted jumper with cap sleeves, designed to sit close to the body with a polished, elegant silhouette. The pattern is offered in seven sizes with finished bust measurements of 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 45, and 47.5 inches, and lengths ranging from 24 to 28 inches from hem to shoulder. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 33 inches. Both the front and back panels feature an intricate cable design, and the cap sleeves incorporate simple rope cables for a cohesive, textured look throughout the garment.

One of the most distinctive design elements of In the Loop is its neckline treatment. Rather than a standard ribbed or rolled collar, the neckline features a unique I-cord detail that gives the visual impression of the cable pattern spilling out of the fabric and looping around on itself — a clever and sophisticated finishing touch that sets this jumper apart from more conventional cable knitwear.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The jumper is worked from the hem upward, a traditional approach that gives knitters a familiar rhythm and allows for easy length adjustments before the armhole shaping begins.
• Worked flat (seamed): Both the front and back are knitted flat as separate pieces and then seamed together, producing clean, structured edges and a garment with excellent shape retention.
• Cables: The central design feature of the pattern. The front and back each carry an intricate cable panel incorporating textured stitches within the loops, while the cap sleeves feature simpler rope cables. Working cables flat on straight needles is a core skill exercised throughout this pattern.
• I-cord collar: A circular needle is used to work the I-cord neckline finish, which creates the signature looping effect at the collar. I-cord is a narrow, tube-like cord knitted on a small number of stitches and is a satisfying technique that produces a neat, rounded edge.
• Cable needle techniques: The pattern makes extensive use of cable needle crossings, including C4F (cable 4 front), C4B (cable 4 back), T3F (twist 3 front), and T3B (twist 3 back), all of which create the flowing, interlocking loops that define the cable panel.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Used for the body sections outside the cable panels and as the gauge reference fabric. Gauge is 23 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches over stockinette.
• Rope cable pattern: Featured on the cap sleeves. Gauge over rope cable pattern is 27 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches.
• Intricate cable panel (12-stitch panel): A 29-row or longer repeating cable panel worked across both the front and back. The panel measures 6.5 inches in the smaller sizes and 7 inches in the larger sizes. It incorporates knit and purl stitches arranged within the cable crossings to create textured loops and visual depth.
• Knit and purl combinations: Used within the cable panel rows to create the textured, seed-like stitches that sit inside the cable loops, adding dimension and contrast to the overall design.
• I-cord: Worked on double-pointed needles for the collar edging.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Southwick, a worsted-weight yarn with a composition of