Beautiful Cables, Cozy Comfort: The Donna Jenna Sweater

Looking for a relatively quick sweater project that shows off gorgeous cables? A beautiful layer that elevates any outfit the moment you pull it over your head? We found a great pullover that fits the bill, and then some. Meet the Donna Jenna sweater!

AN ENGAGING START + RELAXING KNIT

We’ve long admired Joanna Ang’s pattern collection and love how the rich texture of her garments shows off the yarns used to knit them. The Donna Jenna pullover immediately caught our eye as an approachable project perfect for those who may be new to knitting cables.

The knitting begins with a beautiful cabled yoke, followed by a simple stockinette body and sleeves. It’s a lovely combination: an engaging start, then hours of relaxing plain knitting where you can enjoy the yarn moving through your fingers. The large gauge makes the project move along faster than seems possible.

SOFT COLOUR, STANDOUT CABLES

From the fabulous range of colours available in our new SweetGeorgia Trifecta Worsted yarn, we chose the colourway Sage. It’s a calming green that brings a soft touch of colour to any grey winter day. The sheen of the Bluefaced Leicester wool, silk, and mohair fibre blend comes through in the fabric while still letting the cables stand out.

Try SweetGeorgia Trifecta Worsted in Moonlight, Old Letters, or Black Truffle for your Donna Jenna project

Our test knitter found that SweetGeorgia Trifecta Worsted, knit at a gauge of 16 stitches and 26 rows over 4 in / 10 cm, produces a beautiful, light sweater fabric. We knit one size larger than our intended finished size to account for the difference in gauge. The finished sweater is light and soft, and the shiny, strong fibres make it a sweater you’ll reach for again and again, whether you’re cozying up with a hot drink or heading out on a winter hike.

A relaxed gauge creates a fabulously cozy sweater that is warm yet still feels light

The cables require some concentration and a cable needle, but the large gauge makes for a quick knit with beautiful results. We chose the balloon sleeve option for our sample, though the pattern also includes instructions for straight sleeves with slight shaping.

EXPLORE CABLE KNITTING AT THE SCHOOL

Looking to expand your knitting skills and find inspiration for other projects? Visit the School of SweetGeorgia (SOS) to explore our growing library of knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and dyeing courses. There you can learn more about cable knitting in the Cables 101 course taught by Tabetha Hedrick and Advanced Cables taught by Linda Marveng.

Explore cable knitting with the Donna Jenna sweater design

Print

Donna Jenna Sweater in SweetGeorgia Trifecta Worsted

A cozy, light sweater in a relaxed gauge — a classic piece you'll reach for again and again.

Craft Knitting

Maker Niki Jalali

Designer Joanna Ang

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size US 8 / 5 mm, 24 in / 60 cm long, for hem and cuffs
• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size US 10.5 / 7 mm, 24 in / 60 cm long or longer, for neckband, body, and sleeves *see notes below
• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size US 11 / 8 mm, 24 in / 60 cm long, for yoke
• 1 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN) set in size US 10.5* / 7 mm, or a longer circular needle for working sleeves in the round
• Additional tools: spare circular needle cord, cable needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle

Materials

• 5 skeins SweetGeorgia Trifecta Worsted in Sage

Instructions

• Download a copy of the Donna Jenna pattern from Joanna Ang on Ravelry.
• Knit a gauge swatch in the round with the suggested needles. Adjust needles if necessary until you get gauge.
• With the medium needle and the long-tail method, cast on for your size and work the folded neckband as instructed.
• Switch to the larger needle and work the increase rounds. Work the yoke from the chart or written instructions.
• Switch back to the medium needle and work the back shaping. Then divide for body and sleeves.
  
• Work the body in stockinette stitch to the desired length or as instructed.
• Work the body hem on the smaller needle and bind off using your preferred stretchy bind-off.
• Work balloon or straight sleeves to the desired length, with decreases as described in the pattern. Work sleeve cuffs in 1×1 rib and bind off using your preferred stretchy bind-off.
• Weave in ends and wet block sweater to finished measurements. Let dry fully and enjoy!

Notes

*Needle sizes: There’s no exact US equivalent for 7 mm (it falls between US 10.5 and 11), so choose the size that gets you gauge.

Pattern information from the designer Joanna Ang:

“The sweater is worked from the top down, beginning with 1×1 rib for the double folded neckband. The yoke is then worked in the round, followed by back shaping using German short rows. Depending on your chosen size, you may/may not work raglan increases to the underarm. The sleeve stitches are set aside, and the body is worked in the round to the hem. Instructions are written for 2 sleeve options that are worked in the round: balloon sleeves and straight sleeves with slight shaping.”

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more.
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings. School of SweetGeorgia members have full access to the community and SOS courses at this fun fibre arts space.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

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