Veronica

Veronica Lacy Crochet Cardigan by Simon Henry

What is Being Made

The Veronica is a lacy crochet cardigan designed by Simon Henry as an intermediate-level project. This garment is a wearable piece featuring an open, decorative stitch pattern that creates a lightweight, breathable fabric suitable for layering. The cardigan is available in three sizes to fit UK sizes 12/14, 16/18, and 20/22, with corresponding bust measurements of 38 inches (96.5 cm), 42 inches (106 cm), and 45 inches (114 cm).

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created entirely using the crochet technique. Crochet is a fiber craft that uses a single hook to create interlocking loops of yarn, building fabric from the ground up. The Veronica cardigan employs foundational crochet methods including chain stitches for structure, slip stitches for joining, and various crochet stitches to form the body and decorative elements of the garment.

Stitches Used

The Veronica cardigan utilizes several essential crochet stitches to construct the garment:

• Chain stitch (Ch): The foundation stitch used to create the base of the cardigan and establish stitch counts for each section
• Slip stitch (Sl st): Used for joining rounds and shaping armholes by securing stitches without adding height
• Double crochet (Dc): A medium-height stitch that forms the primary fabric structure (note: this pattern uses UK abbreviations, so "dc" refers to what US crocheters call a single crochet)
• Treble crochet (Tr): A taller stitch that creates the signature lacy pattern throughout the cardigan (equivalent to US double crochet)
• Increases (Inc): Techniques for adding stitches to expand the fabric width where needed
• Decreases (Dec): Methods for reducing stitches to shape the garment, particularly at armholes and edges

The main pattern repeat features a distinctive lacy construction: 1 treble into first stitch, skip next stitch, 1 treble into following stitch, 1 treble into the skipped stitch. This creates an openwork effect that repeats across each row, giving the cardigan its characteristic lacy appearance while maintaining structural integrity.

Materials and Specifications

The Veronica cardigan pattern specifies the following materials:

• Yarn: Wendy Supreme 100% luxury cotton DK weight yarn in shade 1005. Yardage requirements vary by size: 1095 yards (1005 meters) for size 12/14, 1314 yards (1206 meters) for size 16/18, and 1533 yards (1407 meters) for size 20/22. This equates to 5, 6, or 7 balls of 100g yarn respectively
• Hook: 4mm crochet hook for working the main fabric
• Notions: 11¾ inch diamante buttons for fastening the cardigan front

Tension and Gauge

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern specifies a tension of 15 stitches and 8.5 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working in the lacy pattern stitch with the recommended yarn and hook size. Achieving this gauge ensures the cardigan will fit as intended across all three size options.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is written using UK crochet abbreviations. Crocheters accustomed to US terminology should note the following substitutions: UK "dc" (double crochet) equals US "sc" (single crochet), and UK "tr" (treble crochet) equals US "dc" (double crochet). The pattern construction begins with a foundation chain row worked in double crochet, followed by pattern rows featuring the signature lacy treble stitch repeat. Shaping occurs at the armholes through slip stitch decreases and pattern continuation, creating a fitted silhouette suitable for intermediate-level crocheters.