Twist Collective Inachis PDF

Inachis Knitting Pattern by Susanna IC – Lace Butterfly Tunic with Raglan Construction

The Inachis pattern by Susanna IC, published by Twist Collective, is a beautifully detailed knitting pattern for a lace-adorned top with bracelet-length sleeves. Available as a downloadable PDF, this design combines interestingly textured lace panels with subtle cable accents worked against a classic stockinette background, resulting in a garment that is both elegant and wearable. The name Inachis evokes the butterfly genus, and this inspiration is woven directly into the design: the center lace panel is described as evocative of fluttering butterflies, while the lace side panels suggest the movement of wings through the air.

Garment Overview

Inachis is a tunic-style sweater with bracelet-length sleeves, designed to be worn with 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) of positive ease. It is offered in seven sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 33½ to 58¼ inches (85–148 cm), making it an inclusive pattern suitable for a wide range of body types. The garment length ranges from approximately 24¼ to 29¼ inches (61.5–74.5 cm) depending on size. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 37¾ inches / 96 cm.

The tunic features vents at the bottom hem, the length of which can be easily customized by the knitter. The open neckline is finished with k1, p1 ribbing, which also anchors all bottom edges, giving the garment a tidy, polished finish.

Construction and Techniques

Inachis is constructed from the top down using a simple raglan shaping method. This top-down approach is a popular choice among knitters because it allows for easy length adjustments as you go, both for the body and the sleeve vents, without the need to seam or guess at fit. The raglan increases are worked using RLI (right-leaning lifted increase) and LLI (left-leaning lifted increase) techniques, which create clean, nearly invisible increases along the raglan lines.

The pattern is worked using a combination of knitting in the round and working flat (back and forth), making it a hybrid construction. The lace chart panels are worked both in the round and back and forth at different stages of the pattern, requiring the knitter to read chart rows in the appropriate direction depending on the method in use. This technique is well within reach of an intermediate knitter comfortable with chart reading.

• Seamless construction: The top-down raglan method means the garment is worked with minimal seaming, creating a smooth, comfortable finish.
• Worked in the round: The yoke and body are primarily worked in the round on circular needles.
• Worked flat: Certain sections of the lace chart are worked back and forth, requiring the knitter to read wrong-side rows from left to right.
• Lace knitting: Multiple named lace panels (Panels A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) are distributed across the front and sleeves of the garment.
• Cable accents: A few cables complement the lace, adding subtle textural contrast against the stockinette background.
• Raglan shaping: Classic top-down raglan construction with lifted increases for a neat, customizable fit.

Lace Panel Design

The lace in Inachis is the heart of the design. The full lace panel is worked across the Front of the tunic, while stripes of the side lace panels are centered on the Sleeves. The Back of the garment is worked entirely in stockinette stitch, keeping it simple and smooth while allowing the front lace work to take center stage. This thoughtful distribution of patterning means the garment is visually striking from the front while remaining comfortable and straightforward to wear and construct from behind.

Lace knitting as a technique involves working deliberate yarn-overs paired with decreases to create decorative openwork fabric. The resulting fabric is lightweight and airy, making Inachis particularly well-suited to the suggested yarn fiber