1152 Norfolk - Sweater Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southampton and Huntington

Pattern #1152 Norfolk: Lace Hoodie Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women by Julie Turjoman

Pattern #1152 Norfolk, designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns, is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for a luxurious lace hoodie jumper. Taking the familiar sweatshirt silhouette and elevating it with elegant lace textures, the Norfolk hoodie is designed to transition effortlessly from casual to evening wear. The interplay of sheer and opaque lace sections gives this garment a sophisticated, multi-dimensional appearance that sets it apart from conventional knitwear.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's lace hoodie jumper worked in nine sizes — XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL — with finished bust measurements ranging from 32½ inches to 64½ inches. The pattern is designed to be worn with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed, comfortable fit reminiscent of a classic sweatshirt. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size S. Key design features include a full hood worked in stockinette stitch, integrated sleeves, an optional kangaroo-style front pocket, and decorative I-cord threaded through lace eyelets at the sleeve edges — all of which contribute to the garment's polished, wearable aesthetic.

Construction and Techniques

The Norfolk hoodie is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat method, meaning the pieces are knitted back and forth in rows from the hem upward and then seamed together — a traditional approach that gives knitters precise control over shaping and finishing. This seamed construction is well-suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable with techniques such as picking up stitches, mattress stitch seaming, and working from a schematic.

• Lower body: The back and front are each begun at the hem and worked upward in the Lower Body Diamond Lace pattern, continuing to the armhole division. This larger-scale lace motif creates a more open, sheer quality in the lower portion of the jumper.
• Upper body and sleeves: Rather than knitting separate sleeve pieces, stitches for the sleeves are cast on at the armhole stage and worked simultaneously with the upper body stitches in the Upper Body Lace pattern — a different, more opaque lace texture that contrasts beautifully with the lower body. The sleeves are subsequently seamed at the underarms and along the tops of the arms.
• Hood: The hood is picked up from live stitches at the inner shoulders and back neck and worked in stockinette stitch, providing a smooth, cozy counterpoint to the lace body.
• Optional pocket: An optional sweatshirt-style front pocket is included, worked in the Lower Body Lace pattern and positioned on top of the Front Lower Body section, maintaining visual continuity with the rest of the garment.
• I-cord edging: Lengths of fine I-cord are threaded through lace eyelets at the sleeve edges, adding a refined, decorative finishing detail.

The two distinct lace patterns — one for the lower body and one for the upper body — are described in the pattern notes as easily memorized, making the knitting process surprisingly quick and enjoyable despite the intricate appearance of the finished fabric. The contrast between the sheer lower lace and the more opaque upper lace is a deliberate design choice that adds visual depth and elegance.

Stitches Used

• Diamond Lace stitch — used for the lower body and the optional pocket, creating an open, airy fabric with a classic geometric motif
• Upper Body Lace stitch — a distinct lace pattern used for the yoke and sleeve sections, offering a denser, more opaque texture
• Stockinette stitch — used for the hood, providing a smooth and stretchy fabric
• I-cord — a narrow, tubular knitted cord used as a decorative element threaded through sleeve eyelets

Yarn and Materials

The Norfolk hoodie is knitted using two yarns held together throughout, combining a delicate laceweight