Debbie Bliss Jenni Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Jenni Jacket

What is Being Made

The Jenni Jacket is a structured knitted cardigan jacket designed to fit bust sizes ranging from 82–127 cm (32–50 inches). This intermediate-level project produces a finished garment with bust measurements between 95–145 cm (37½–57 inches) and a length to shoulder of 55–63 cm (21¾–24¾ inches). The jacket features a classic tailored silhouette with set-in sleeves measuring 45 cm (17¾ inches) when the cuff is turned back.

Techniques Used

The Jenni Jacket employs several key knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate crafter:

• Seamed construction: The jacket is worked in separate flat pieces that are later seamed together, allowing for precise shaping and a professional finish.
• Buttonhole placement: The design incorporates functional buttonholes worked into the fabric, requiring careful stitch manipulation and yarn overs to create openings for the six buttons.
• Armhole shaping: Strategic cast-offs and decreases at the beginning of rows create properly fitted armholes that accommodate set-in sleeves.
• Shoulder shaping: Graduated cast-offs across multiple rows ensure a smooth transition from body to neckline.
• Cuff construction: The sleeves feature a turned-back cuff detail that adds a refined finishing touch.

Stitches Used

The Jenni Jacket utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and structure:

• Knit stitch (k): Forms the primary fabric base throughout the garment.
• Purl stitch (p): Works in combination with knit stitches to create the stitch pattern.
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main fabric stitch used across the body and sleeves, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side.
• Decreases (k2tog, skpo): Used for armhole and sleeve cap shaping to gradually reduce stitch count and create a fitted silhouette.
• Make one (m1): Employed for increases where shaping requires adding stitches.
• Yarn overs (y2rn): Creates the buttonholes by wrapping yarn twice around the needle, producing decorative eyelets.
• Slip stitches (sl): Used in decrease sequences such as skpo (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) for a neat left-leaning decrease.

Materials

The Jenni Jacket requires two complementary yarn colors from the Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed collection:

• Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed in Midnight 016 (A): 5–6 balls of 50g weight, depending on size.
• Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed in Spice 009 (B): 4–6 balls of 50g weight, depending on size.
• Needles: Two pairs of needles are required—3.25 mm (US 3) for ribbed edges and 3.75 mm (US 5) for the main fabric. The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over pattern using the 3.75 mm needles.
• Notions: Six buttons for closure.

Construction Overview

The jacket is constructed by working the back, front panels, and sleeves flat on straight needles, then seaming the pieces together. The back begins with a cast-on of 126–190 stitches depending on size, worked in ribbing on smaller needles before transitioning to stockinette stitch on larger needles. The body is worked straight to the armhole depth, where stitches are cast off and decreases are worked to shape the armholes. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through graduated cast-offs over multiple rows. The front panels and sleeves follow similar construction methods, with buttonholes integrated into the front bands. Once all pieces are complete, they are seamed together to create the finished jacket with set-in sleeves and a tailored fit.