Rebecca Cable Sweater

Rebecca Cable Sweater by Jo Sharp

What is Being Made

The Rebecca Cable Sweater is a women's fitted knit sweater featuring a prominent cable panel at the centre front. This advanced-level knitting project is designed for knitters with cable experience and creates a sophisticated garment suitable for intermediate to experienced crafters.

Yarn and Materials

This sweater is knitted using Silkroad Aran Tweed yarn in aran weight. The pattern is available in multiple sizes (A, B, C, and D), allowing for customization based on individual measurements and fit preferences. The aran weight yarn provides structure and definition to the cable work while creating a garment with good drape and warmth.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Rebecca Cable Sweater employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques:

• Cable work - The defining feature of this sweater, with cable panels worked at the centre front creating visual interest and texture
• Decreasing techniques - Including k3tog tbl (knit 3 together through back loop) for shaping, demonstrating advanced stitch manipulation
• Shaping - Shoulder shaping through strategic cast-offs and decreasing rows worked on alternate rows to create a fitted silhouette
• Stitch pickup - Using the Up 1 technique (picking up the loop laying between needles and knitting into the back of it) for seamless construction

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The sweater incorporates the following stitches and abbreviations:

• C8B and C8F - Cable 8 Back and Cable 8 Front, the primary cable stitches that create the dimensional cable panel. These are worked by slipping stitches onto a cable needle and holding them either at the back or front of the work before knitting
• Stockinette stitch - Used for the body sections, creating a smooth fabric that allows the cable panel to stand out
• Reverse stockinette stitch - The purl stitches (p2, k2, p12, k2) that frame the cable panel, providing contrast and definition
• Decreasing stitches - k3tog tbl for shaped decreases during armhole and shoulder shaping

Pattern Construction Details

The cable panel at the centre front is worked over 16 stitches with a two-stitch reverse stockinette border on each side (p2, k12, p2). The pattern includes multiple size options with varying stitch counts for different garment dimensions. Shaping is accomplished through strategic decreases on right-side rows, with decreases repeated on alternate rows multiple times (4, 4, 5, or 5 times depending on size) to create a fitted waist and proper shoulder slope. Shoulder shaping involves casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, with final stitches cast off to complete the neckline opening.

Difficulty Level

This sweater is rated as advanced and is recommended for knitters with prior cable experience. The combination of cable work, fitted shaping, and multi-size construction requires solid foundational knitting skills and familiarity with cable techniques.