Kentwell Sweater - Knitting Pattern For Men in Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

Kentwell Jumper – Knitting Pattern for Men in Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

The Kentwell Jumper is a classic, cable-rich men's sweater pattern published by Debbie Bliss in 2018 and knitted in Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn. Designed with a generous, structured silhouette, it is an advanced-level knitting project that rewards experienced knitters with a beautifully textured, traditionally styled pullover. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers four chest sizes, making it a versatile wardrobe staple for men.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a seamed, cable-panel men's jumper worked in pieces and joined. It features a ribbed welt and cuffs, an all-over repeating cable and rib pattern across the body and sleeves, shaped armholes, and a shaped neckline. The sweater is designed to be worn with a comfortable amount of positive ease, producing a relaxed yet structured fit.

• To fit chest: 92–97 cm (36–38 in), 102–107 cm (40–42 in), 112–117 cm (44–46 in), 122–127 cm (48–50 in)
• Finished chest: 112 cm (44 in) to 146 cm (57½ in) depending on size
• Length to shoulder: 66–72 cm (26–28¼ in)
• Sleeve length: 54–55 cm (21¼–21¾ in)

Techniques Used

This pattern is classified as advanced and employs several techniques that require confidence and experience at the needles. The construction method is seamed and worked flat, meaning each piece — back, front, and sleeves — is knitted separately as flat fabric before being sewn together using mattress stitch or a preferred seaming method. This traditional approach produces clean, stable seams and a professional finish well suited to structured menswear.

• Cables: The signature technique throughout the pattern is the C6F cable — a six-stitch front cable worked by slipping three stitches onto a cable needle and holding them to the front of the work, knitting the next three stitches, then knitting the three stitches from the cable needle. This creates the classic rope-twist cable column that repeats across the entire body and sleeves.
• Seamed construction: All pieces are worked flat and then seamed together, requiring knowledge of shaping, casting off, and joining seams neatly.
• Ribbing: A structured rib using a k4, p2 sequence forms the welts and cuffs, which ties visually into the cable panel pattern above.
• Armhole and neck shaping: Stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows to create armhole shaping, and neck shaping is worked to form the finished neckline.
• Make one increase (m1): Increases are worked by picking up and knitting into the back of the loop lying between stitches, used during sleeve shaping.

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern is a 12-row repeat combining cables and rib that creates a richly textured, slightly elastic fabric. When slightly stretched, the tension is 26 stitches and 31 rows to 10 cm / 4 in over pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles.

• Knit (k) and purl (p) — the foundational stitches forming the rib columns and cable backgrounds
• C6F — six-stitch front cable cross, worked on the fifth row of every 12-row repeat
• K4, P2 rib — used for welts and cuffs, echoing the cable panel proportions
• Knit through back loop (tbl) — referenced in the abbreviations for refined stitch definition
• Make one (m1) — a neat lifted increase used in sleeve shaping

Materials Required