Ladies’ Lace Sweater in Schachenmayr Favorito - S8088A - Downloadable PDF

Ladies' Lace Sweater in Schachenmayr Favorito – Pattern S8088A

This free downloadable knitting pattern (S8088A) from Schachenmayr delivers a beautifully feminine ladies' lace sweater — known in the original German as a Damenpullover mit Lochmuster. The design combines an elegant openwork lace body with neat ribbed cuffs and edges, making it a rewarding project for knitters who want to explore lace techniques within a wearable, everyday garment. The pattern is graded across multiple sizes, with all size-specific stitch counts listed sequentially from smallest to largest, separated by dashes.

What Is Being Made

The pattern constructs a complete women's pullover sweater featuring a lace panel body. The sweater is worked in separate pieces — a back (Rückenteil), a front (Vorderteil), and sleeves (Ärmel) — which are then seamed together. The front is worked identically to the back. The design is intended to be a lightweight, elegant layering piece suitable for a range of occasions.

Techniques Used

• Knitting is the primary craft, with flat knitting used for the main body and sleeve pieces worked back and forth in rows (Hinreihe and Rückreihe).
• Crochet is used as a finishing technique, with a crochet hook employed for edging details including Krebsmaschen (crab stitch, also known as reverse single crochet), which creates a neat, decorative border.
• Kreuzanschlag (a cross or twisted cast-on method) is specified for casting on all pieces, providing a firm and tidy foundation edge.
• Shaping is worked throughout the sleeves, with increases distributed evenly across a row after the initial ribbed cuff section. The pattern includes specific instructions for managing yarn-overs and decreases at shaped edges to maintain the integrity of the lace pattern — if a yarn-over cannot be paired with its corresponding decrease, a plain knit stitch is substituted instead.
• A circular needle is used for the neckline or top finishing section, worked in the round (Runde).

Stitches Used

• Bündchenmuster (rib stitch): A 2×2 rib pattern alternating two knit stitches and two purl stitches, used for cuffs and welts to provide elasticity and a tidy finish.
• Glatt rechts (stockinette / stocking stitch): Knit stitches on right-side rows, purl stitches on wrong-side rows. Used as a transition fabric and as the base gauge swatch reference.
• Lochmuster (lace / openwork pattern): The signature stitch of this sweater, charted in a written stitch diagram (Strickschrift). The chart is read as the pattern appears on the right side of the work. Rows 1 through 32 are repeated throughout, creating a rhythmic, repeating lace motif. The lace is constructed using yarn-overs (Umschläge) paired with decreases, producing the characteristic holes and visual texture of openwork knitting.
• Feste Maschen (single crochet / double crochet in UK terms): Used in the crochet finishing elements.
• Kettmaschen (slip stitches): Used in crochet finishing and joining.
• Krebsmaschen (crab stitch / reverse single crochet): A decorative crochet edging technique worked from left to right (opposite to the normal direction), creating a twisted, rope-like border that frames the finished garment neatly.
• Luftmaschen (chain stitches): Used in crochet edging and finishing construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension / gauge swatch of 18–19 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm × 10 cm measured over both stockinette stitch and the lace pattern using the recommended needle size. Knitters are advised to note that within the lace pattern, the first