Lace Edge Cardigan

Lace Edge Cardigan by Sian Brown

What is Being Made

The Lace Edge Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Sian Brown, featuring delicate lace patterning along the edges. This downloadable PDF pattern offers eight size options to fit bust measurements ranging from 82 cm (32 inches) to 117 cm (48 inches), with finished bust measurements between 87 cm (34¼ inches) and 125 cm (49¼ inches). The cardigan includes a single button closure and is designed with short sleeves measuring 15 cm (6 inches) in length, making it suitable as a lightweight layering piece or warm-weather garment.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several intermediate-level techniques that create visual interest and texture. The primary technique featured throughout the design is lace knitting, which uses strategic yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns. The pattern utilizes stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) as the base fabric, providing a smooth, classic foundation that allows the lace details to stand out prominently. Shaping is accomplished through standard knitting methods including increases and decreases positioned to create a well-fitted silhouette across multiple size ranges.

Stitches Used

The Lace Edge Cardigan pattern incorporates the following essential knitting stitches:

• Knit stitch (k) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (p) – used primarily in reverse rows to create stocking stitch
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the openwork holes characteristic of lace patterns
• Yarn forward (yf) – positions yarn to create decorative increases
• Slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, k2tog, psso) – a double decrease that removes two stitches while maintaining stitch count and creating the distinctive lace motif
• Slip one stitch (sl 1) – used in conjunction with other decreases
• Stitch holder – used to hold stitches temporarily during construction

Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked in Rico Essentials Cotton Lurex 4 ply yarn in the shade Pale Blue. The 4 ply weight (also known as fingering weight) creates a delicate, refined fabric suitable for the lace detailing. Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 4 balls of 50g (200g total) for the smallest size up to 7 balls of 50g (350g total) for the largest size.

The pattern requires two pairs of knitting needles: size 2.75 mm needles for the initial cast-on and foundation rows, and size 3 mm needles for the main pattern work. This two-needle approach allows for proper tension control and helps create crisp stitch definition in the lace pattern. The finished fabric is worked to a tension of 24 stitches and 32 rows over a 10 cm (4 inch) square in stocking stitch on the 3 mm needles. One button is required for the cardigan closure, and a stitch holder is necessary for managing stitches during construction.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with casting on between 137 and 193 stitches (depending on size) using the smaller 2.75 mm needles, followed by a single knit row. The needles are then changed to 3 mm for the main pattern work. The lace pattern is established through a repeating sequence that alternates between pattern rows and purl rows, creating the characteristic openwork design. The back panel is constructed first, with the lace motif created through the combination of yarn overs and the sl 1, k2tog, psso decrease sequence, which produces the distinctive eyelet holes and textured appearance typical of lace-edge designs.