Debbie Bliss Romane Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Romane Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Romane is a classic knitted cardigan designed for a comfortable, everyday fit. This garment is constructed as a button-front cardigan with long sleeves and a tailored silhouette. The pattern provides seven size options ranging from 82cm to 112cm bust measurements, making it suitable for various body types. The finished cardigan features a length to shoulder of approximately 51–57cm depending on size, with consistent sleeve length of 37cm when the cuff is turned back.

Techniques Used

The Romane cardigan is worked using several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner to intermediate knitters. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, meaning each piece (back, left front, right front, and sleeves) is knitted as individual flat sections rather than in the round. The construction follows a bottom-up method, beginning with the ribbed cuffs and working upward toward the shoulders. The cardigan is seamed together, requiring assembly of the individual pieces using mattress stitch or similar seaming techniques. Buttonholes are incorporated into the right front band to accommodate the button closure, and the pattern specifies placement for 10 buttons distributed evenly down the front opening.

Stitches Used

The Romane cardigan relies primarily on stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) as the main fabric, which creates the smooth, classic appearance characteristic of traditional cardigans. The cuffs, button bands, and neckline are worked in ribbed stitch, typically a knit-purl combination that provides elasticity and a neat finish. Shaping techniques include skpo (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over) and k2tog (knit two together) decreases for armhole and shoulder shaping, as well as m1 (make one) increases for waist shaping. The pattern uses standard abbreviations including knit (k), purl (p), slip (sl), and yarn forward (yf) for decorative elements.

Materials and Tools

The Romane cardigan is knitted using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn, a luxury blend known for its softness and drape. The pattern requires 8–12 balls of 50g yarn depending on the chosen size, primarily in the main color Tobacco 98 (M), with one additional 50g ball in the contrast color Wasabi 313 (C) for accent details. The recommended needle sizes are 2.75mm (US 2) for the ribbed sections and 3.25mm (US 3) for the main fabric, with a circular 3.25mm needle also needed for neckline finishing. The pattern specifies a gauge of 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch using the 3.25mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. Ten buttons are required to complete the cardigan front closure.

Construction Details

The cardigan begins with casting on stitches for the back panel using the smaller needles and ribbed stitch. After establishing the ribbed cuff, the knitter switches to the larger needles and works in stocking stitch, incorporating waist shaping through strategic increases. The armholes are shaped by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by additional decreases worked at the edges to create a tapered armhole. Shoulders are shaped through successive cast-offs, and a center back neck opening is created. The left and right front panels are worked separately with similar shaping, and buttonholes are integrated into the right front band during the knitting process. Sleeves are worked from the cuff upward with increases distributed to create the proper sleeve cap shaping. Once all pieces are complete, they are blocked and seamed together using mattress stitch or similar techniques, the button bands are finished, and buttons are sewn in place to complete the garment.