Estella Jumper - Sweater Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Paloma

Estella Jumper Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss – A Detailed Summary

The Estella Jumper is a women's knitted sweater pattern designed by Debbie Bliss, worked in the brand's luxurious Paloma yarn. This is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern intended for intermediate-level knitters who are comfortable working flat pieces and seaming garments together. The finished project is a classic, cosy jumper (sweater) that showcases the beautiful texture and drape of a super-chunky weight yarn.

About the Yarn – Debbie Bliss Paloma

Debbie Bliss Paloma is described within the pattern as a beautiful chainette yarn, a construction style where the fibres are knitted into a hollow tube rather than twisted together in the traditional way. This gives Paloma an exceptionally soft, lightweight feel with excellent stitch definition despite its super-chunky weight. As with all Debbie Bliss patterns, the designer strongly recommends using the specified yarn – Paloma – to achieve the intended results, and the pattern notes that responsibility cannot be accepted for the finished product if any alternative yarn is substituted.

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Paloma
• Weight: Super Chunky
• Construction: Chainette
• Care: Refer to the ball band for specific washing and pressing instructions

Construction Method and Techniques

The Estella Jumper is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat approach. This means the knitter begins at the lower hem of each garment piece and works upward toward the shoulders, with the fabric produced in flat, back-and-forth rows rather than in the round. Once all pieces are complete, the jumper is seamed together using a finishing technique to join the front, back, and sleeves into the finished garment.

Working flat and seaming is a traditional and reliable construction method that many knitters find easier for shaping garments, as it allows each piece to be blocked individually before assembly. Seamed garments also tend to have added structure along the join lines, which can improve the longevity and shape retention of the finished jumper.

Key Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction – knitting begins at the cast-on hem edge and progresses upward
• Worked flat – knitted in rows on straight or circular needles, producing a flat fabric
• Seamed finishing – individual pieces are joined together after knitting is complete

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and techniques appropriate for an intermediate knitter. One notable stitch technique referenced in the pattern is the ssk (slip, slip, knit) decrease, which is a left-leaning decrease commonly used in shaping. The ssk is worked by slipping two stitches knitwise one at a time, then inserting the tip of the left-hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped stitches and knitting them together. This creates a neat, directional decrease often used symmetrically alongside a k2tog (knit two together) decrease for balanced shaping at armholes, necklines, or sleeve caps.

The pattern also references the use of alternate (alt) rows, a common instruction in shaping sequences where a decrease or increase is worked every other row to create gradual, smooth shaping.

Stitches and Techniques Referenced

• ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease used in shaping)
• alt – alternate rows, used in shaping sequences
• Standard knit and purl stitches forming the main fabric
• Directional decreases for garment shaping

Sizing and Tension

The Estella Jumper is available in multiple sizes, with instructions given for the first (smallest) size and larger sizes provided in round brackets throughout the pattern. Where a single figure or instruction appears without brackets, it applies to all sizes equally. Any instructions enclosed in square brackets are to be repeated the number of times stated.

As with all Debbie