"Grete Sweater" - Sweater Knitting Pattern For Women in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - DB225

Grete Jumper – Women's Cable and Stripe Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss

The Grete Jumper is a sophisticated women's pullover knitting pattern designed by Debbie Bliss, published under the pattern code DB225. Worked in the luxuriously soft Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn, this sweater combines bold cable detailing with striking two-colour stripes to create a garment that is both textural and visually dramatic. It is rated as an advanced knitting project, making it an ideal challenge for experienced knitters looking to develop their cable and colourwork skills.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a classic women's fitted jumper with set-in or structured sleeves. It is sized to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–87 cm (32–34 in) up to 102–107 cm (40–42 in), across three sizes. The finished chest measurements span from 96 cm (37¾ in) to 122 cm (48 in), with a body length to shoulder of 45–49 cm (17¾–19¼ in) depending on size. The sleeve length is a consistent 45 cm (17¾ in) across all sizes. The result is a stylish, wearable everyday sweater with a strong design identity rooted in traditional cable knitting elevated by modern colourwork.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The jumper is worked from the lower edge upward, a traditional approach that allows knitters to adjust length easily before committing to the armhole shaping.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, meaning the front, back, and sleeves are worked as separate panels and then seamed together. This is well-suited to the cable and stripe patterning used throughout.
• Cable knitting: Cables are a central design feature of the Grete Jumper. The pattern uses a range of cable crosses worked over both small and large stitch counts, adding rich three-dimensional texture to the fabric.
• Stripes: Two-colour stripe sequences are incorporated into the design, creating bold horizontal bands that contrast with the cable texture. The interplay between the stripe colourwork and the cable relief is a defining characteristic of this pattern.
• Seaming: Because the garment is worked flat in separate pieces, knitters will need to join the sections using mattress stitch or a preferred seaming method.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette): The base fabric of the jumper is worked in stocking stitch, with a tension gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch on 5mm needles.
• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold at the back, knit 2, then knit 2 from the cable needle. Creates a right-leaning cable twist over 4 stitches.
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold at the front, knit 2, then knit 2 from the cable needle. Creates a left-leaning cable twist over 4 stitches.
• C8B (Cable 8 Back): Slip 4 stitches to a cable needle and hold at the back, knit 4, then knit 4 from the cable needle. A bold, wide right-leaning cable cross worked over 8 stitches.
• C8F (Cable 8 Front): Slip 4 stitches to a cable needle and hold at the front, knit 4, then knit 4 from the cable needle. A wide left-leaning cable cross worked over 8 stitches.
• Alternate rows: The pattern references alternate row working, standard practice in flat cable knitting where cable crosses are worked on right-side rows and purl or rest rows are worked on wrong-side rows.

Materials Required

• Yarn – Main Colour (M): Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Charcoal 28 – 12