Idun lace sweater

Idun Lace Sweater by Natalie Totska

What is Being Made

The Idun lace sweater is a women's pullover knit garment designed to fit bust sizes 80-88 cm [31-34 inches], corresponding to size S. This intermediate-level knitting project features decorative lace patterning integrated into the body of the sweater, combining both solid stocking stitch sections and intricate lace motifs for visual interest and a refined aesthetic.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Idun lace sweater is constructed using the bottom-up method, beginning with the body and progressing upward to complete the garment. The pattern employs circular knitting throughout, utilizing circular needles of varying lengths to accommodate different sections of the project.

Key construction techniques include:

• I-cord casting on method for the initial stitches, creating a refined edge suitable for a lace garment
• Ribbed edging worked in a knit 2 / purl 2 pattern for 10 rows to create elasticity and structure at the hem
• Marker placement to organize stitch sections and maintain pattern alignment across the front, back, and sleeve portions
• Lace pattern repeats integrated into the front panel, with 5 repeats across the body and continuing for 6 rapports (approximately 37 cm in length)

Stitches Used

The Idun lace sweater employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Knit stitch and purl stitch for the ribbed cuff and body structure
• Stocking stitch (knit on right-side rounds, purl on wrong-side rounds) for the solid sections, worked with a gauge of 17 stitches and 22 rows per 10 x 10 cm
• Lace pattern stitches featuring yarn overs and decreases to create openwork motifs across the front panel

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Idun lace sweater is designed to be knitted with DROPS Kid-Silk yarn, a 3-ply lace-weight yarn. The pattern requires 75 grams of yarn, equivalent to 3 skeins of DROPS Kid-Silk, providing a lightweight and delicate fabric suitable for the lace design.

Needle Requirements:

• Circular needles size 4 mm [US 6], 40 cm length for the ribbed neckline and cuff sections
• Circular needles size 4.5 mm [US 7], available in both 40 cm and 80 cm lengths for working stocking stitch across the body
• Short circular needles size 4.5 mm [US 7], 40 cm length, or double-pointed needles size 4.5 mm for sleeve construction

The recommended knitting tension is 17 stitches in width and 22 rows in height when working stocking stitch with a single strand of yarn, measured over a 10 x 10 cm gauge swatch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the sweater to fit the intended dimensions.