Debbie Bliss Sidney Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Sidney Knitted Top

What is Being Made

Sidney is a women's knitted top designed by Debbie Bliss, published in 2018. This garment is a fitted, seamed pullover with cap sleeves and decorative cable detailing. The pattern is available in six sizes to fit bust measurements from 81cm (32 inches) to 107cm (42 inches), with finished bust measurements ranging from 88cm (34¾ inches) to 115cm (45¼ inches) when cables are extended. The length to the upper arm measures between 48cm and 53cm (19 to 20¾ inches) depending on size.

Techniques Used

Sidney employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and structure in the finished garment. The top is worked flat on straight needles, meaning it is knitted in flat pieces rather than in the round, and then seamed together to form the finished garment. The construction method is bottom-up, beginning with the back piece cast on at the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline.

Cable work is a primary design feature of this pattern. The cables are created using a cable needle to manipulate stitches, creating twisted rope-like textures across the fabric. Specific cable techniques used include T8B (twist 8 back) and T8F (twist 8 front) abbreviations, which involve slipping stitches onto a cable needle, holding them to the back or front of the work, and then working stitches in a specific sequence to form the cable crossover. These cable motifs are repeated throughout the pattern to create the garment's textured surface.

The pattern also incorporates increases worked using the m1 (make one) technique, where new stitches are created by picking up and working into the loop lying between stitches. This method is used during the ribbed cuff shaping and when increasing for the cap sleeves and upper arm shaping.

Stitches Used

The Sidney pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create both textured and smooth fabric areas. Stocking stitch (also called stockinette stitch) forms the main fabric body, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knitted appearance.

Ribbing is used for the lower edge and cuff sections. The pattern specifies a [K1, p1] rib, meaning alternating knit and purl stitches in a single column pattern. This elastic ribbing helps the garment fit snugly at the edges and provides shape retention. The ribbed section is worked for 28 rows after the initial cast-on, creating a substantial cuff.

The cable pattern itself combines knit and purl stitches in a structured repeat. The cables feature sequences of k1, p2, k1 (knit one, purl two, knit one) stitches that are crossed over each other using the cable needle technique. This creates the characteristic twisted, rope-like appearance of cable knit fabric. The pattern states that rows 1 through 12 form the cable pattern repeat, which is then continued throughout the body of the garment until the specified length is reached.

Materials

Sidney requires Debbie Bliss Piper yarn in the Flame colorway. The yardage needed varies by size, requiring between 4 and 6 balls of 100g weight, depending on which size is being knitted. This yarn weight and fiber content are specifically chosen to work with the stitch gauge and cable definition required for this pattern.

Two pairs of knitting needles in different sizes are required to complete this project. A pair of 3.25mm (US size 3) needles is used for the ribbed cuff sections, which creates a tighter fabric that helps the ribbing maintain elasticity. A pair of 4mm (US size 6) needles is used for the main body of the garment worked in stocking stitch and cables. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch using the 4mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

A cable needle is also required to work the cable stitches. This specialized needle, typically shorter than regular knitting needles and sometimes bent or notched, is used to temporarily hold stitches while cable crossovers are being worked.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced difficulty. While the basic techniques of knitting, purling, and ribbing are fundamental, the consistent cable work throughout the garment