Ladie's Jacket in Schachenmayr Catania - S7373 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies' Jacket in Schachenmayr Catania – Pattern S7373

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Schachenmayr (pattern reference S7373) provides instructions for a classic ladies' jacket worked in the popular Schachenmayr Catania sport-weight yarn. The design is elegant yet approachable, featuring delicate openwork lace panels that give the finished jacket a refined, feminine character. The pattern is available in three sizes — 34/36, 38/40, and 42 — making it suitable for a range of figures.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a ladies' jacket with a ribbed hem, structured lace body panels, and separate front and back sections that are divided at the armhole. The construction method is clever and efficient: the back and both front pieces are worked together as a single unit up to the armhole, at which point they are separated and completed individually. This reduces seaming and keeps the fabric consistent throughout the lower body.

Construction Technique

The jacket begins with a cast-on of 213 (233/253) stitches using the cross cast-on method (Kreuzanschlag), worked on a long circular needle to accommodate the large stitch count — though the piece is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This is a practical solution when a very wide piece would be awkward on straight needles.

The lower body is worked in one piece from the hem upward. At the armhole division, stitches are placed on hold and bound off strategically: 45 (49/53) stitches are set aside for the right front, 12 (14/16) stitches are bound off for the right armhole, 100 (108/116) stitches are set aside for the back, another 12 (14/16) stitches are bound off for the left armhole, and the remaining 44 (48/52) stitches continue as the left front. Each section is then completed separately.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Ribbing (Rippenmuster): The hem band is worked over 6 cm (approximately 20 rows) in a rib pattern, beginning with an edge stitch and one knit stitch on the first right-side row. Ribbing creates a stretchy, neat border that helps the jacket sit well at the hip.
• Openwork Pattern A (Ajourmuster A): The main body transitions into this lace pattern, worked from a charted stitch diagram. The repeat is 10 stitches wide, worked 20 (22/24) times across the row, with a specific beginning and ending sequence to balance the panel. In the vertical direction, the 4-row repeat is worked 14 (14/15) times before transitioning to Pattern B.
• Openwork Pattern B (Ajourmuster B): A second lace chart introduces variety and visual interest. This pattern is worked over 24 rows and uses a different arrangement of the 10-stitch repeat, again balanced with specific edge stitches from the chart. Pattern B appears twice in the body construction, alternating with sections of Pattern A, creating a rhythmic, layered lace effect across the jacket.

The alternating use of Ajourmuster A and Ajourmuster B gives the jacket its distinctive texture. Openwork or ajour knitting typically uses yarn-over increases paired with corresponding decreases to create decorative holes within the fabric, producing a lightweight, lacy appearance without sacrificing structure.

Materials

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania in colour 00249 Gold — 500 (550/600) g depending on size. Catania is a smooth, mercerised sport-weight cotton yarn well known for its stitch definition, subtle sheen, and wide colour palette, making it ideal for lace and openwork patterns where clarity of detail matters.
• Needles: A Milward circular needle, 80 cm long, size 3–4, used for the body. The long cable is essential for holding the full stitch count of the joined front and back sections