Sidney - Knitting Pattern For Women in Debbie Bliss Piper

Sidney – Cable Knit Top Pattern for Women by Debbie Bliss in Piper DK Yarn

Sidney is a sophisticated women's knitted top designed by Debbie Bliss and worked in her Piper DK-weight yarn. The pattern is rated advanced and produces a fitted, structured top featuring striking cable panels that extend across the bust and into shaped cap sleeves. The finished garment is seamed, giving it a polished, tailored silhouette that makes it a standout piece for any handknitter's wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

Sidney is a women's knitted top designed to fit bust sizes ranging from 81 cm (32 in) to 107 cm (42 in), with finished bust measurements — cables extended — of 88 cm (34¾ in) to 115 cm (45¼ in). The length to the upper arm spans 48 cm to 53 cm (19 in to 20¾ in) depending on the size chosen. The top features cap sleeves that are shaped directly from the body, and the upper arms and neckline are carefully shaped for a refined, wearable fit.

Construction and Techniques

Sidney is constructed bottom-up and worked flat in separate pieces that are subsequently seamed together. This traditional construction method gives knitters full control over shaping and produces clean, structured seams. Key construction steps include:

• Ribbed welts: The back begins with 29 rows of k1, p1 rib worked on smaller needles, creating a neat, elasticated lower edge.
• Increase row: Stitches are increased using the m1 (make one) technique before the cable pattern begins, building the stitch count needed to accommodate the cable panels.
• Cap sleeve shaping: Stitches are cast on at the beginning of rows to form the cap sleeves, integrating them seamlessly into the body of the garment.
• Upper arm and neck shaping: The upper arms and neckline are shaped simultaneously, with stitches cast off and worked separately for each side of the neck.

Stitches Used

Sidney draws on a combination of classic knitting stitches and more complex cable constructions. Knitters working this pattern will use:

• Stocking stitch (st st): Used as the background fabric and for the tension swatch, providing a smooth, clean ground for the cable motifs.
• K1, P1 rib: Worked over 29 rows at the lower edge to create a firm, stretchy band.
• T8B (Twist 8 Back): Slip the next 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, then work k1, p2, k1 from the left needle before working k1, p2, k1 from the cable needle. This creates a right-leaning cable cross.
• T8F (Twist 8 Front): Slip the next 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, then work k1, p2, k1 from the left needle before working k1, p2, k1 from the cable needle. This creates a left-leaning cable cross.
• skpo (sl 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over): A left-leaning decrease used in shaping.
• m1 (make one): An increase worked by picking up and knitting into the back of the loop lying between stitches.

The cable pattern is worked over a 12-row repeat, with the cable crosses creating a bold, textured design that is the defining visual feature of Sidney. The interplay of knit and purl stitches within the cable columns — specifically the k1, p2, k1 arrangement — gives the cables a distinctive, refined character rather than a standard rope cable appearance.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Debbie Bliss Piper yarn in Flame 12, a DK-weight yarn sold in 100 g balls. Depending on the size being knitted, 4 to 6 balls are required. Two pairs of knitting needles are needed: