Inspired by those vintage silk kimono robes, I designed this sweater wanting something to throw on over nightgowns, a swimsuit, or to cover my shoulders in the Arkansas summer. It’s lacy, lightweight, and features loose, breathable sleeves. In the photos I’m wearing the coverup with a lace halter top, which will be coming out soon. ^-^

This simple, open front, drop-sleeve cardigan is worked top down. The top of the back is worked, then stitches are picked up at the shoulders to work the fronts before being joined with the back to work the body of the coverup. The lace is a simple 18 stitch, 8 row repeat. It looks fancy, but is pretty easy to memorize. I did not come up with this lace pattern and don’t want to steal credit for it! It’s a modification of one I found on Knitting Kingdom, and you can find it right here. The chart was made online using Stitch Fiddle.

Notes on adjusting the size:

The sweater itself is only about 33” around, but with the open front it’s designed to fit anywhere from a 32-38” bust. If you would like to adjust the size, I would recommend either knitting looser or tighter, or you can add a lace repeat (18 stitches) or two to the pattern. Please note that changing the amount of stitches you cast on for the back, will affect how many you should pick up to form the fronts. If you’d like to make the armholes either smaller or larger, that’s also possible. Either work a longer or shorter length on the back then make your front pieces the same length before joining them all. You will also then need to adjust the number of stitches you cast on for the sleeve accordingly.

The cardigan is worked top down. If you’re like me, you want to limit the amount of scrap yarn you end up with. I like the top-down method because it allows me to knit until I run out of yarn. To make this work, you’ll want to knit your sleeves before finishing the body of the sweater.

Knit until you run out of yarn or just can’t knit any more. Because of the nature of the lace pattern, it’s okay if you can’t work a full repeat over your last few rows. Just make sure you end on a wrong side row and have enough to work 4 rows of garter stitch and to bind off. I stopped working the lace when I had 7 grams or about 50 yards left.

MATERIALS

3 skeins Madeline Tosh, Tosh Merino Light (I used the Birkenstock color way)

1 pair of US 6 circular needles

Stitch markers

Stitch holder or scrap yarn

GAUGE

4”= 22 stitches + 32 rows in stockinette stitch on US 6 needles

1 pattern repeat (18 stitches)= 2.5” wide + 1.15” long

STITCHPATTERN
Multiple of 18 stitches + 8 rows

Row 1: Purl 1, knit 3, k2 together 2 times, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1, yo, SKPO 2 times, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.

Row 2 and all wrong side rows: knit 1, purl 15, knit 1, purl 1

Row 3: Purl 1, knit 2, k2 together 2 times, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 3, yo, knit 1, yo, SKPO 2 times, purl 1, knit 1.

Row 5: Purl 1, knit 1, k2 together 2 times, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1, yo, SKPO 2 times, knit 3, purl 1, knit 1.

Row 7: Purl 1, k2 together 2 times, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 3, yo, knit 1, yo, SKPO 2 times, knit 2, purl 1, knit 1.

PATTERN

Back

Cast on 129 stitches. Knit 2 rows.

Next row (wrong side): Purl 2, *knit 1, purl 15, knit 1, purl 1.* Repeat from * to * 6 more times, purl 1.

*Next row (right side): knit 2, work stitch pattern 7 times across next 126 stitches, knit 1.

Next row (wrong side): purl 2, work stitch pattern 7 times across next 126 times, purl 1.*

Repeat from * to * until you’ve worked 7 lace repeats. Piece should measure about 8”. Break yarn and place stitches on hold to be worked later.

Right Front

You will now pick up stitches from the shoulder to begin working on the right front. With right side of the back piece facing you, starting at the cast on edge (wearer’s right shoulder), pick up 57 stitches. Knit 2 rows.

Next row (wrong side): Purl 2, *knit 1, purl 15, knit 1, purl 1.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times, purl 1.

*Next row (right side): knit 2, work stitch pattern 3 times across next 54 stitches, knit 1.

Next row (wrong side): purl 2, work stitch pattern 3 times across next 54 times, purl 1.*

Repeat from * to * until you’ve worked 7 lace repeats. Piece should measure about 8”. Break yarn and place stitches on hold to be worked later.

Left Front

You will now pick up stitches from the shoulder to begin working on the left front. With right side of the back piece facing you, starting at the neck edge, pick up 57 stitches. Knit 2 rows.

Next row (wrong side): Purl 2, *knit 1, purl 15, knit 1, purl 1.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times, purl 1.

*Next row (right side): knit 2, work stitch pattern 3 times across next 54 stitches, knit 1.

Next row (wrong side): purl 2, work stitch pattern 3 times across next 54 times, purl 1.*

Repeat from * to * until you’ve worked 7 lace repeats. Piece should measure about 8”. Do not break yarn.

Join Body

You will now work across all three pieces to join them. With right side facing, work in pattern across left front, place marker, work in pattern across the back, place marker, work in pattern across the right front. Continue working in the lace pattern as set. There will be a column of 4 knit stitches at each underarm where you placed your markers. You should have 243 stitches.

Keep working in the pattern as set. Work about 15 lace repeats from the join, ending with a  wrong side row. Knit 4 rows and bind off all stitches.

*Note: If you’re trying to use up all your yarn, remember to make your sleeves before finishing this piece.*

Sleeves

Worked top down. Make two.

Cast on 93 stitches. Knit 1 row.

Next row (set-up row, wrong side): Purl 2, *knit 1, purl 15, knit 1, purl 1.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times, purl 1.

*Next row (right side): knit 2, work stitch pattern 5 times across next 54 stitches, knit 1.

Next row (wrong side): purl 2, work stitch pattern 5 times across next 54 times, purl 1.*

Repeat from * to * until you’ve worked 9 lace repeats. Piece should measure about 10”.

Next row (right side): Knit 2, *Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 11, SKPO, knit 2*. Repeat from * to * 4 more times, knit 1. You should have 83 stitches.

Knit 1 row.

Next row (right side): Knit 2, *Knit 1, knit 2 together twice, knit 5, SKPO twice, knit 2*. Repeat from * to * 4 more times, knit 1. You should have 63 stitches.

Bind off all stitches.

Finishing

Sew sleeve seams and join to body, lining up the center of the sleeve with the top of the shoulder. Repeat for the other sleeve. Weave in all ends and be sure to block well to really let that lace shine!

Last step is to share your work with me on Ravelry and Instagram using the hashtag #samsweaterz. Happy knitting!