Debbie Bliss Puff Sleeve Sweater Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Puff Sleeve Sweater

What is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Puff Sleeve Sweater is a classic knitted pullover featuring distinctive puff sleeves. This garment is designed to fit chest sizes ranging from 86-92 cm (34-36 inches) up to 127-132 cm (50-52 inches), with finished chest measurements from 100 cm (39¼ inches) to 145 cm (57 inches). The sweater offers a length to shoulder of 48-56 cm (19-22 inches) depending on size, with all sizes featuring a consistent sleeve length of 60 cm (23½ inches).

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat method. The sweater begins with the back and front pieces knitted separately in flat rows, followed by sleeve pieces, which are then seamed together. The puff sleeve construction involves shaping techniques to create the characteristic fullness at the sleeve cap, with specific increases and decreases worked into the pattern to achieve the distinctive silhouette.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch (Stockinette Stitch): The primary stitch throughout the sweater body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Ribbing: Used for the cuff detail, typically worked as [K1, p1] (knit one, purl one) to create an elastic, fitted edge
• Shaping Stitches: Includes make one (m1) for increases and skpo (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) for decreases, used to shape armholes, shoulders, and neckline
• Seaming: Pieces are joined together using the seamed construction method for a professional finish

Materials

The Debbie Bliss Puff Sleeve Sweater is worked in Debbie Bliss Nell yarn in the Ruby 10 colorway. The pattern requires 7-10 balls of 50g/1¾oz yarn depending on the size selected. Construction uses two sizes of knitting needles: 5.5mm (US 9) for the ribbed cuffs and 6mm (US 10) for the main fabric. The recommended tension is 14 stitches and 20 rows to a 10cm/4-inch square worked over stocking stitch using 6mm (US 10) needles.