Jacke Blue Sky

Jacke Blue Sky by Ellen Hildebrandt

What is Being Made

The Jacke Blue Sky is a colorwork knitted jacket designed by Ellen Hildebrandt and sized for L/XL. This intermediate-level knitting project features a sophisticated color-blocking design combining royal blue as the primary color with accent stripes in pink, mint, and yellow. The jacket is constructed using circular needles and incorporates raglan shaping for a fitted, contemporary silhouette.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several intermediate techniques that make it suitable for experienced knitters. The construction utilizes circular needle knitting throughout, allowing for seamless or minimal-seam construction. The pattern incorporates raglan shaping, a classic tailoring method where increases are worked at regular intervals to create the characteristic diagonal lines from the neckline to the underarm. Color work is a central feature, with the designer using multiple yarn colors to create visual interest and depth. The pattern uses stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and includes techniques such as yarn overs for decorative elements and decreases for shaping.

Stitches Used

The Jacke Blue Sky employs fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision. The primary stitches include:

• Knit stitch (rechts stricken) – the basic right-leaning stitch forming the fabric base
• Purl stitch (links stricken) – the reverse stitch used for textural variation
• Garter stitch (kraus rechts) – created by knitting every row, producing a textured, reversible fabric
• Yarn overs (Umschlag) – increases that create decorative holes or lace effects
• Decreases including knit two together (zuss) and slip-slip-knit (übzuss) – used for raglan shaping and fitted construction
• Twisted stitches (verschränkt stricken) – worked through the back loop for a tighter, more refined appearance
• Slip stitches (abheben) – used for edge finishing and pattern transitions

Materials and Specifications

The Jacke Blue Sky requires 550 grams total of Borsted Alpakka yarn from Sandnes Garn, a premium brushed alpaca blend. The yarn composition is 96% brushed alpaca with 4% nylon, providing softness with added durability and elasticity. The yarn yields 110 meters per 50-gram ball, classified as aran weight, a medium-heavy yarn ideal for structured garments.

The recommended color breakdown for the L/XL size includes:

• 400 grams Royal Blue (color 5836) – the dominant color
• 50 grams Pink (color 4602) – accent color
• 50 grams Mint (color 7020) – accent color
• 50 grams Yellow (color 2112) – accent color

The pattern requires two 5mm circular needles for working in the round, eight stitch markers for tracking raglan increases and pattern sections, and an additional circular needle or spare yarn for holding stitches during construction. One button completes the garment. The aran weight yarn and 5mm needles create a fabric with good drape and structure suitable for a tailored jacket silhouette.

Pattern Notes

This downloadable PDF pattern is presented in German and includes a comprehensive abbreviations key for international knitters. The pattern was designed by Ellen Hildebrandt and is protected by copyright (05/20), intended exclusively for private use. Knitters should refer to the gauge swatch instructions included in the pattern to ensure proper fit before beginning the full project.