Hi everyone, I’m at the joining stage of a multi stitch jumper but find that the shoulder seam , cable on the back and textured rib on the front doesn’t sit well. How do I join these two together smoothly as the cables and decrease of the shoulder make it quite lumpy? The pattern is Debbie Bliss Alina cable sweater. Thank you
It helps joining cable patterns if you decrease the cable sts as you bind off. Just a single decrease in the cable usually works. (I’m assuming that you’re working the join a few rows past the cable cross row.) It prevents flare at the shoulder cables and may make them easier to join to the textured rib. It’s also easier and neater to replace a stepped shoulder shaping with a sloped bind off.
If it’s a straight bind off across the shoulders you might try 3 needle bind off.
If you’ve already bound off and don’t want to undo the bind off you could try a faux graft which is a bit softer than mattress stitch seaming and doesn’t add bulk to an already bulky area.
There is also a way to seam with a crochet hook making a slip stitch seam on the inside instead of the outside, this method allows full alignment of a stitch pattern rather than the slightly misaligned result of mattress stitch. It’s good for aligning rib patterns and may be useful for rib the cable if you have reverse stockinette either side of the cable.
That’s such an interesting pattern. Nice choice.
Thankyou for your reply, I had a feeling that I could reduce the cable or to perhaps try some kind of graft to minimise the bulk, I must say the jumper has been a challenge especially as I couldn’t for the life of me work out how it all went together! I need to look up the various methods you’ve advised in your message , thankyou again ![]()
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Hi , I’m again wanting your advice please about the Alina cable sweater by Debbie Bliss, after finishing the main body of the second panel it goes on to shape the neck working the first (22) stitches. When you get to the last 2 stitches it says to work 6 rows straight so forming a chain. How do I incorporate this into the neckline adding more bulk, is it absolutely necessary? As you can tell I’m looking for an easy way out!!
Somehow the chain will be incorporated into the neck. You might check under Finishing to see exactly where this chain fits in. Is this the panel on the left or right front?
Debbie Bliss patterns are usually detailed and explicit which is a way of saying there’s likely not a short cut for these 6 rows.
Hi salmonmac, I’ve looked at the instructions but can’t find anything that explains what to do with the chain , I shall try to incorporate it as best I can when I get to the collar. Thank you again.
Thankyou creations, as I’ve been picking up stitches to form the base of the collar I’ve managed to pick up the chain but how successful this is I’m not sure until I’ve done a bit more !!!
Thank you both for your help.
It’s interesting that it’s a fairly short length, 6 rows. Not enough to form a half collar around the neck. Would posting a photo of your work so far help?
Hi salmonmac, thank you for your message unfortunately I had already started the collar by the time I’d read it!!
See how it goes and maybe it’ll become clear at the seaming and finishing. Let us know how it’s going. It’s a unique and very attractive design.
Thankyou salmonmac, I’m knitting this for my daughter-in-law, as she has two small children I’ve chosen to use a grey wool for practical reasons. She likes oversized jumpers so thought this looked on trend and right up her street! I only hope I do it justice as I’m not a very confident knitter but will take on a challenge!!!
Challenges keep it interesting and before you realize it, build confidence. You’ve got this!
Interested and delighted. Your sweater is so nicely done, beautiful knitting and embroidery. Enjoy wearing it!
Your daughter-in-law is going to be thrilled! Such an intricate and interesting design with lots of different areas to admire. You’ve done a great job of it, it looks complicated!
Thank you to salmonmac and creations for your kind remarks, I know there are many mistakes and only completed after a lot of undoing and misreading instructions, but I’m quite pleased with the end result. I’ve now to give it to my daughter-in- law , just hope she likes it and that it fits !!! thank you again to you both for your continued help and advice.
So beautiful ![]()
Thank you, it was worth it in the end after a lot of unravelling!!!


