"Zaira" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern Women in Debbie Bliss Merion by Debbie Bliss

Zaira Jacket – Chunky Stripe Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss in Merion Yarn

The Zaira Jacket is a women's cardigan knitting pattern designed by Debbie Bliss, worked in the designer's own Debbie Bliss Merion yarn. This intermediate-level pattern produces a relaxed, cosy jacket featuring bold two-colour stripes in a satisfyingly simple garter stitch fabric. The Zaira is sized to fit a wide range of bust measurements, from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), with finished bust measurements ranging from 100 cm (39¼ in) to 132 cm (52½ in), making it an inclusive and versatile design.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's striped jacket-style cardigan with set-in-style sleeves and a structured body. The body length to shoulder measures either 53 cm (21¾ in) for the three smaller sizes or 60 cm (23½ in) for the two larger sizes, and the sleeve length is a consistent 46 cm (18 in) across all sizes. The result is a chunky, warm, and wearable layering piece with a bold stripe repeat that gives it strong visual impact.

Construction and Techniques

The Zaira Jacket is a seamed, worked-flat pattern, meaning the pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, and then sewn together at the seams to create the finished garment. This traditional construction method gives the jacket clean, structured edges and a neat, tailored finish.

• Body construction: The body is worked in one piece starting from the underarm, which reduces the number of seams required and simplifies the shaping process. Stitches are cast on and divided for the right front, back, and left front sections using markers, with the pattern specifying the use of pm (place marker) and sm (slip marker) throughout.
• Stripe sequence: A bold, regular stripe repeat of 16 rows in yarn A (Rose 12) followed by 16 rows in yarn B (Gold 04) is worked throughout the body and sleeves. This consistent repeat makes the stripe sequence easy to track and creates a striking two-colour effect.
• Raglan-style increases: The body shaping uses a structured increase row worked with kfb (knit into the front and back of a stitch) at either side of four markers, adding 8 stitches every increase row. This creates smooth, angled shaping lines that define the garment's silhouette.
• Sleeve construction: Sleeves are picked up and worked from the underarm cast-on stitches, with additional stitches picked up from the cast-on edges to create a smooth join. The sleeves are worked flat and then seamed.

Stitches Used

The Zaira Jacket is worked almost entirely in garter stitch — that is, knitting every row on both right-side and wrong-side rows. Garter stitch is one of the most beginner-friendly of all knitting textures, producing a ridged, squishy fabric that lies flat without curling, making it ideal for a chunky jacket. The primary stitches and techniques called upon in this pattern include:

• Knit (k): The foundational stitch used throughout every row of the pattern.
• Kfb (knit into the front and back): A simple increase stitch used to shape the body at the raglan lines, creating a neat, visible increase that blends well into the garter stitch fabric.
• Marker placement and slipping (pm, sm): Used to track the four increase points across the body, keeping shaping consistent and easy to follow.
• Cast on and cast off: Standard techniques used at the underarm and to finish the body and sleeves.
• Pick up and knit: Used at the sleeve joins to seamlessly integrate the sleeve stitches with the body cast-on edges.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Tension

This pattern is written specifically for Debbie Bliss