Julissa

Woman in a woodland setting wearing the Julissa sweater in deep blue, featuring a central cable and lace panel and elegant wide neckline. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
View of the wide neckline and lace yoke detail on the deep blue Julissa sweater, showcasing its delicate features. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detail shot of the three-quarter length sleeve and cuff finishing on the deep blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
The deep blue Julissa sweater showcasing the beautiful texture and drape of the knitted fabric from the cable and lace stitches. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Cover page for the Julissa sweater PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs, listing finished bust circumferences, yarn requirements, suggested needles, gauge information, and necessary notions.
An alternative styled view of the elegant deep blue Julissa sweater, featuring a central cable and lace panel and elegant wide neckline. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Back view of the hand-knitted Julissa sweater in deep blue, showing its seamless construction and comfortable fit. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detailed close-up of the intricate cable and lace panel that is the centerpiece of the deep blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Close-up, side profile view of the fabric in the hand-knitted Julissa sweater in deep blue, featuring cables, lace, and stockinette stitch. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
An alternative styled view of the elegant deep blue Julissa sweater, a timeless addition to any handmade wardrobe. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Side profile view of the deep blue Julissa sweater, highlighting its fit and how it drapes on the body. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Close-up showing the rich texture of the cabled sleeves and body of the royal blue Julissa sweater, highlighting the fabric and fit. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Back view of the Julissa sweater with cabled sleeves, knitted in a vibrant royal blue, showing the fit of this pattern. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Woman wearing a royal blue variation of the Julissa sweater, featuring fully cabled sleeves and a textured front panel. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
A styled view of the royal blue Julissa sweater, pairing the detailed cabled sleeves and front cable and lace panel with a pair of jeans. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detailed close-up of the intricate cable pattern on the sleeve of the royal blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Woman in a woodland setting wearing the Julissa sweater in deep blue, featuring a central cable and lace panel and elegant wide neckline. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
View of the wide neckline and lace yoke detail on the deep blue Julissa sweater, showcasing its delicate features. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detail shot of the three-quarter length sleeve and cuff finishing on the deep blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
The deep blue Julissa sweater showcasing the beautiful texture and drape of the knitted fabric from the cable and lace stitches. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Cover page for the Julissa sweater PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs, listing finished bust circumferences, yarn requirements, suggested needles, gauge information, and necessary notions.
An alternative styled view of the elegant deep blue Julissa sweater, featuring a central cable and lace panel and elegant wide neckline. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Back view of the hand-knitted Julissa sweater in deep blue, showing its seamless construction and comfortable fit. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detailed close-up of the intricate cable and lace panel that is the centerpiece of the deep blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Close-up, side profile view of the fabric in the hand-knitted Julissa sweater in deep blue, featuring cables, lace, and stockinette stitch. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
An alternative styled view of the elegant deep blue Julissa sweater, a timeless addition to any handmade wardrobe. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Side profile view of the deep blue Julissa sweater, highlighting its fit and how it drapes on the body. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Close-up showing the rich texture of the cabled sleeves and body of the royal blue Julissa sweater, highlighting the fabric and fit. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Back view of the Julissa sweater with cabled sleeves, knitted in a vibrant royal blue, showing the fit of this pattern. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Woman wearing a royal blue variation of the Julissa sweater, featuring fully cabled sleeves and a textured front panel. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
A styled view of the royal blue Julissa sweater, pairing the detailed cabled sleeves and front cable and lace panel with a pair of jeans. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.
Detailed close-up of the intricate cable pattern on the sleeve of the royal blue Julissa sweater. PDF knitting pattern by Vanessa Smith Designs.

Julissa

$10.00

Have you ever looked at a beautifully cabled sweater and thought, "I wish I could make that"?

Meet Julissa—the sweater pattern that proves you can.

🔹 A Sweater With History

Back in 2011, I set out to design the sweater I wished I had when I first started knitting garments. I wanted something stunning but approachable, something that looked intricate but was secretly easy to make. A pattern that could help knitters take that big, scary leap into sweater-making without frustration or feeling in the dark.

That’s how Julissa was born—my very first garment pattern—a top-down, beautifully detailed raglan sweater that quickly became the first-ever sweater for so many knitters. But just like every knitter evolves, so do patterns.

Fast forward ten years to 2021, and I knew Julissa deserved more. In that decade, I had learned so much—about fit, shaping, finishing techniques, and how to make knitting patterns more intuitive for everyone. I cared about this design too much to leave it in the past, so I completely updated it with everything I’d learned:

✔ Expanded size range to meet today's size inclusivity standards

✔ More refined shaping for the neckline and larger busts

✔ Extra guidance on customization for different body types and fit preferences

✔ Detailed explanations and links to video tutorials for professional shaping and finishing techniques

✔ More printer-friendly and interactive

This isn’t just an old pattern—it’s a legacy piece that has grown and improved right alongside me and the knitters who’ve made it. And now, it’s yours to create.

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🔹 Why Knitters Love Julissa (And Why You Will Too):

🔥 Looks Impressive, Knits Like a Dream – Cables? Lace? Sounds fancy, but I walk you through every step so you actually enjoy the process.

🔥 Designed to Work for Your Body – Size-inclusive with detailed bust shaping and customization tips, this sweater isn’t a “hope for the best” situation—you’re in control.

🔥 Your First Sweater? Absolutely. – Lots of knitters have made Julissa their very first sweater. They survived. They thrived. They wore it everywhere.

🔥 Try It On As You Knit – Thanks to the top-down design, you won't have any surprises. Adjust as you knit for the perfect fit.

🔥 Teaches New Skills Without the Stress – By the time you finish, you’ll have new techniques under your belt—without needing a PhD in knitting.

 

🔹 Who’s This For?

✨ The ambitious beginner ready to graduate from hats and take on their first sweater.

✨ The experienced knitter who wants an engaging, beautiful project.

✨ Anyone who loves a cozy, beautifully detailed sweater that actually works for them.

 

Testermonials

“This is the best fitting sweater I’ve ever made. I seriously almost cried when I tried it on because it feels amazing and I felt beautiful in it.”
— Jaedyn
“This is the BEST fitting sweater I’ve ever made or worn. I was so thoroughly impressed with all the work it must have taken for you to figure out all that shaping info and to articulate it for your pattern. Seriously, well done!”
— Cassie
“The pattern is incredibly thoughtful in its detail and explanations! I really appreciated the color diagram for yoke marker placement and thought the lace/cable chart page was clear and not too busy. Some of the pages can look a bit intimidating at first glance, but the info included is helpful and concise - just fantastically thorough, which helped decrease that intimidation immediately!”
— Jessie
“It’s not as difficult as it looks, especially the cables. The well-written pattern is helpful. It’s a great design even for the beginners. ”
— Jennifer
 

🔹 What You’re Getting (Besides the Secret to Knitting Confidence):

✔ Instant PDF Download – No waiting, no shipping, no reason not to cast on today.

✔ Step-by-Step Instructions – Written to make sense, not to confuse. No guesswork here.

✔ 18 Sizes & Two Sleeve Lengths to Choose From – You’re not one-size-fits-all, and your sweater shouldn’t be either. Customize the look and fit, your way.

✔ Bonus Knitting Wisdom – Tips on fit adjustments, polished finishing techniques, and video tutorials for visual learners.

✔ A Sweater That’ll Make You Look Like a Total Pro – Even if this is your first time knitting anything with sleeves.

 

Your Next Favorite Sweater Is Waiting.

Julissa isn’t just a pattern—it’s an invitation. A challenge that you’re more than ready for. And when you bind off that last stitch, you won’t just have a sweater—you’ll have proof of just how far you’ve come.

So, are you ready to take the leap?

Click that 'Add to Cart' button and let’s start your sweater history!

 

Pattern Details

Description

Julissa is a modern raglan pullover knit seamlessly from the top down using a worsted weight yarn. A wide neckline, striking cable and lace details, three‑quarter length or full-length sleeves (your choice!), and a bit of waist shaping all together create this feminine, easy-to‑knit top. Short rows are used to lower the front neckline for a comfortable fit, and instructions are also provided for adding bust darts, if necessary. Wear this beautifully fitted sweater with your favorite pair of jeans and a complementary colored tee or tank top underneath.

Originally published as my first sweater pattern in 2011, this pattern was revised in 2021 to be size inclusive and to improve the fit of preexisting sizes while staying true to the original sweater’s look and feel.

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) [8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13] {14, 15, 16, 17, 18}

Finished Bust Circumferences

In Inches: 30.5 (32, 34.5, 36, 38.5, 40, 42.5) [44, 46.5, 48, 50.5, 52, 54.5] {56, 58.5, 60, 62.5, 64}”

In Centimeters: 76 (80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106) [110, 116, 120, 126, 130, 136] {140, 146, 150, 156, 160} cm

Pullover is intended to fit with 1–3” (2.5–7.5 cm) of negative ease and no positive ease at the full bust. Sample shown in size 3 with 1.5” (4 cm) of negative ease and no bust darts. 

Yarn

Plied, worsted weight yarn in the following amount(s):

With 3/4 Length Sleeves: 856 (896, 961, 1011, 1077, 1128, 1194) [1244, 1314, 1365, 1441, 1504, 1572] {1637, 1716, 1768, 1844, 1911} yards / 782 (820, 879, 924, 985, 1031, 1092) [1138, 1202, 1248, 1318, 1375, 1438] {1497, 1569, 1616, 1686, 1747} meters

For Long Sleeves, Add: 136 (141, 146, 155, 160, 164, 169) [179, 183, 192, 202, 211, 221] {230, 239, 249, 253, 263} yards / 125 (129, 133, 142, 146, 151, 154) [163, 167, 176, 184, 193, 202] {210, 219, 228, 232, 241} meters

Sample shown in Malabrigo Rios [worsted weight, 100% superwash merino wool] in colorway ‘Azul Profundo.’

Needles

  • US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge

  • US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size .75 mm smaller than gauge needle

  • Circular needles in the same two sizes, 32” (80 cm) or longer, as appropriate for the sweater size chosen

  • Appropriate needle(s) in both sizes for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round

Gauge

20 sts and 29 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round using larger needles, blocked

Notions

  • (1) Stitch marker, unique, for beginning of round 

  • (3) Stitch markers, color A, for raglan lines

  • (6) Stitch markers, color B, for cable panels

  • (2) Removable markers, to mark centers of underarms

  • Cable needle

  • Tapestry needle

  • Waste yarn or two spare circular needles/cords, for placing sleeve stitches on hold

 

💪 Say yes to the challenge—you’ve got this.

 

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