Schulterwärmer mit Spitze in Schachenmayr Mouliné Art - 6721 - Downloadable PDF

Schulterwärmer mit Spitze – Free Knitting Pattern Summary (Schachenmayr Design S6721)

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr provides instructions for knitting a Schulterwärmer mit Spitze — a decorative shoulder warmer with a lace-style pointed hem. This cosy, cape-like accessory sits across the shoulders and upper back, making it a stylish and practical layering piece. The finished piece measures approximately 74 cm in width, offering generous coverage across the shoulders. The design is classified as a bolero-style project and is worked in chunky weight yarn, making it a relatively quick knit.

What Is Being Made

The Schulterwärmer (shoulder warmer) is a wide, shawl-like knitted wrap that drapes over the shoulders. Its most distinctive feature is the pointed lace hem (Spitze), created through a clever staggered cast-off technique that produces a naturally jagged, decorative lower edge. A single decorative button (approximately 3 cm in diameter) fastens the piece at the front, adding an elegant finishing touch. The garment is knitted from the top down, beginning at the neckline and working outward toward the pointed hem.

Construction and Shaping Technique

One of the most interesting construction details of this pattern is the progressive needle size increase used to shape the piece. Rather than relying on traditional increase stitches to create a flared silhouette, the pattern instructs the knitter to begin with size 5 needles and then switch to progressively larger needle sizes every 4 cm — moving through sizes 6, 7, 8, and 10. This technique naturally widens the fabric as the larger needles create a more open, relaxed gauge, resulting in a smooth, gradual flare from the neckline downward without any visible increase rows.

The pointed hem is achieved through a staggered cast-off method. After working approximately 25 cm in height (following four rows on size 10 needles), the knitter begins casting off loosely on right-side rows only — first binding off 63 stitches, then casting off one additional stitch per subsequent right-side row until all stitches are consumed. This creates the characteristic stepped, pointed edge that gives the design its name.

Stitches Used

• Patentmuster (Fisherman's Rib / Patent Stitch): The entire body of the shoulder warmer is worked in Patentmuster, a deeply textured rib-like stitch pattern that produces a thick, squishy, double-sided fabric. This stitch is worked by knitting into the stitch of the row below, creating a lofty, elastic texture that is both warm and visually appealing.
• Buttonhole: A single buttonhole is worked in row 11 using a yarn-over and slip-stitch method — the stitch is slipped with a yarn-over, the next stitch is knitted, and the slipped stitch with its yarn-over is passed over. This creates a neat, reinforced eyelet suitable for a large decorative button.
• Loose cast-off (Abketten): A deliberately loose bind-off is used to form the pointed lower edge, ensuring the tips remain flexible and drape naturally.

Gauge

The stated gauge is approximately 12 stitches and 28 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm worked in Patentmuster on size 5 needles. Checking gauge is particularly important here since the pattern relies on needle-size changes rather than stitch increases for shaping — an accurate starting gauge ensures the proportions remain consistent.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Mouliné Art in shade 0085 Dschungel Color — 250 g total. This is a chunky weight yarn with a characteristic mouliné (multi-ply twisted) construction that blends multiple tones within a single strand, giving the finished fabric a rich, variegated appearance even when worked in a single colour reference.
• Knitting Needles: A set of straight or circular knitting needles in sizes 5,