Debbie Bliss Bobble Cable Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Bobble Cable Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Bobble Cable Cardigan is a knitted baby cardigan designed to fit ages 1, 2, and 3 years. This garment features a classic button-front closure with five buttons and combines decorative cable and bobble stitch elements throughout. The cardigan is available in three sizes with finished chest measurements of 60cm (23½in), 63cm (24¾in), and 66cm (26in), and lengths to shoulder ranging from 24cm to 28cm depending on size.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front, back, and sleeve sections.
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are sewn together after completion to form the finished cardigan.
• Cable work: Decorative cable twists are incorporated throughout the pattern using a cable needle to create textured, twisted stitch columns.
• Buttonholes: Five buttonholes are worked into the right front band to accommodate the button closures.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a variety of knitting stitches to create visual interest and texture:

• Stocking stitch (st st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric.
• Garter stitch: Used for ribbed edgings and borders to provide elasticity and a finished appearance.
• Cable stitches: Tw4Rb (twist 4 right back) and Tw4Lb (twist 4 left back) create decorative twisted cable effects by slipping stitches onto a cable needle and rearranging their order. These twists are worked over 23, 25, or 25 stitches depending on size.
• C4F (cable 4 front): A standard cable cross that slips 2 stitches to a cable needle, knits the next 2 stitches, then knits the held stitches from the cable needle.
• Bobble stitch (Mb): Created by working multiple stitches (knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1) into a single stitch, turning the work, purling across, turning again, knitting across, then passing the extra stitches over the first stitch to create a textured bobble detail.
• Through-the-back-loop (k1tbl): Stitches worked through the back loop to create a twisted effect within the cable pattern.

Materials

The Debbie Bliss Bobble Cable Cardigan is knitted using Debbie Bliss Eco Baby yarn in the Mallow colorway. The pattern requires 5 balls of 50g yarn (250g total). Two sizes of knitting needles are needed: 2.75mm (US 2) needles for ribbed edges and 3.25mm (US 3) needles for the main fabric. A cable needle is essential for working the twisted cable and bobble stitch elements. The pattern also calls for five buttons to complete the front closure. The recommended gauge is 25 stitches and 34 rows to a 10cm (4in) square when working stocking stitch on the 3.25mm (US 3) needles.