Cassiopeia Pullover in Adriafil Carezza - Downloadable PDF

Cassiopeia Pullover in Adriafil Carezza – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Cassiopeia Pullover is a beautifully crafted women's knitted pullover featuring an elegant lace panel design. This free downloadable PDF pattern from Adriafil is designed to be worked in Adriafil Carezza, an aran-weight yarn, making it a satisfying project for knitters with some lace experience. The finished garment is a classic pullover silhouette with set-in sleeves and a refined, feminine aesthetic created through a repeating lace motif across the body.

Sizes and Fit

The Cassiopeia Pullover is available in three sizes, offering a comfortable range of fits:

• Small: To fit 31½ inches / 80 cm actual chest measurement
• Medium: To fit 34½ inches / 88 cm actual chest measurement
• Large: To fit 37 inches / 96 cm actual chest measurement

The sleeve length is also graded across sizes, measuring 14¼ inches, 14¾ inches, and 15¼ inches respectively, ensuring a well-proportioned finish across all sizes. Side shaping is worked into the lace pattern itself, which requires careful attention to maintaining the stitch repeat while decreasing, making this a rewarding challenge for the intermediate knitter.

Design and Construction

The defining feature of the Cassiopeia Pullover is its intricate lace panel, which runs across the body of the garment. The lace pattern is worked over a ten-stitch repeat across eight pattern rows, creating a flowing, diamond-like or leaf-like motif that is both classic and contemporary. The pattern is symmetrical and rhythmic, making it easier to memorise once the repeat is established.

The construction follows a traditional flat-knitting approach, with pieces worked back and forth in rows. Side shaping is incorporated directly into the lace pattern rows, requiring the knitter to adjust stitch placement at the edges while keeping the central lace motif intact — a technique that produces a neat, professional finish without interrupting the visual flow of the design.

Techniques Used

This pattern draws on a range of lace knitting techniques that are well-suited to knitters progressing beyond beginner level. Key techniques include:

• Yarn forward (yfwd): Used to create decorative eyelets and increase stitches within the lace repeat
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease paired with yarn forwards to form the lace motif
• Slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, k1, psso): A left-leaning decrease used to balance the lace pattern symmetrically
• Slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, k2tog, psso): A central double decrease used at the apex of the lace repeat for a sharper, more defined point in the pattern
• Purling on wrong-side rows: All alternate (even-numbered) rows are purled, keeping the right side of the fabric clean and allowing the lace to read clearly
• Side shaping within pattern: Decreases at the edges are worked in conjunction with the lace repeat, requiring careful stitch counting and pattern awareness

Stitches Used

The Cassiopeia Pullover uses a combination of foundational and lace-specific stitches throughout:

• Knit stitch (k) – forms the fabric base and the plain sections flanking the lace panel
• Purl stitch (p) – worked on all wrong-side rows to create a smooth stocking stitch ground
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – creates the open eyelets characteristic of lace knitting
• k2tog – right-leaning paired decrease
• sl1, k1, psso – left-leaning single decrease
• sl1, k2tog, psso – central double decrease for the lace apex

The lace pattern is worked over eight rows