Bailey Ripple Sweater - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Nell

Bailey Ripple Sweater – Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Nell

The Bailey Ripple Sweater is a women's pullover knitting pattern published by Debbie Bliss Limited in 2023. It is a chunky-weight jumper worked in a striking ripple stitch pattern with bold colour-block stripes, making it an eye-catching yet achievable project for knitters with some experience. The finished sweater has a relaxed, cosy silhouette with a classic set-in sleeve construction and is seamed together at the end, giving it a neat, structured finish.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's pullover sweater — sometimes called a jumper — featuring a ripple or wave stitch pattern worked in three contrasting colours. The design is available in five sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 77–86 cm up to 137–147 cm (approximately 30–58 inches), with finished chest measurements of 96 cm, 115 cm, 133 cm, 152 cm, and 171 cm. The length to shoulder ranges from 58 cm to 62 cm depending on size, and sleeve lengths range from 38 cm to 44 cm. The pattern includes both a back and a front panel, plus sleeves, all worked flat and then seamed together.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: All pieces — back, front, and sleeves — are knitted flat on straight needles, meaning each row is worked back and forth rather than in the round.
• Seamed construction: The finished pieces are joined using seaming techniques, which gives the garment clean, defined edges and a professional, structured shape.
• Stripes: The ripple pattern is worked across three colours — Rose 09 (A), Sunset 11 (B), and Willow 08 (C) — creating bold horizontal stripe sequences that interact with the wave stitch to produce a dynamic visual effect.
• Ripple/wave pattern: The signature stitch pattern is an 8-row repeat that creates the ripple effect. It involves a combination of yarn forwards, decreases, and increases worked across the right side rows, giving the fabric its characteristic undulating texture.
• Increases and decreases: The pattern uses specific shaping techniques including m1 (make one by picking up and knitting into the back of the loop), m1pw (make one purlwise), k2tog (knit two together), and skpo (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) to create and maintain the ripple wave effect throughout the fabric.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): Used as a base reference for tension and likely incorporated in certain sections of the garment construction.

Stitches Used

• Ripple/wave pattern stitch — the primary decorative stitch, worked over an 8-row repeat using yarn forwards, k2tog, skpo, and make-one increases
• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) — knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows; used as a tension reference and in structural sections
• k2tog — knit two stitches together, a right-leaning decrease
• skpo — slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; a left-leaning decrease
• yf (yarn forward) — brings the yarn to the front to create a new stitch and contributes to the open, ripple effect
• m1 and m1pw — make-one increases worked knitwise and purlwise respectively, used for shaping

Materials Required

The pattern is designed specifically for Debbie Bliss Nell, a chunky-weight yarn sold in 50g / 1¾ oz balls. Three colourways are used:

• Rose 09 (A) — 3 to 5 balls depending on size
• Sunset 11 (B) — 4 to 6 balls depending on size
• Willow 08