Woman's Sweater in Sirdar Cotton DK - 7354 - Downloadable PDF

Woman's Sweater in Sirdar Cotton DK – Pattern 7354: Complete Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Sirdar provides full instructions for knitting a classic women's pullover sweater in Sirdar Cotton DK. The design is an elegant, wearable everyday sweater featuring a beautiful lace panel combined with smooth stocking stitch, making it a rewarding project for knitters with some experience who want to explore decorative stitch work. The pattern is size-inclusive, covering six sizes from a 32/34 inch to a 52/54 inch bust, with actual finished measurements ranging from 96 cm to 148 cm around the chest.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's pullover sweater with set-in or shaped sleeves. It is knitted in separate pieces — a back, a front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together. The sweater has a relaxed but fitted silhouette, with a full length ranging from approximately 55 cm to 68 cm depending on the size chosen, and a sleeve length of approximately 42 cm to 44 cm, noted as adjustable to suit individual preference. The combination of lace detailing and stocking stitch gives the sweater a feminine, textured appearance that is well suited to the lightweight drape of a cotton yarn.

Sizes and Fit

• To fit bust: 81/86, 91/97, 102/107, 112/117, 122/127, and 132/137 cm (32/34 to 52/54 in)
• Actual chest measurement: 96, 106, 117, 128, 137, and 148 cm
• Full length (approximate): 55 to 68 cm
• Sleeve length (adjustable): 42 to 44 cm

Knitters are encouraged to circle the size they wish to make before beginning, as instructions for multiple sizes are written together throughout the pattern. The generous range of sizes makes this pattern particularly versatile and accessible to a wide range of knitters.

Techniques Used

This pattern draws on several core and intermediate knitting techniques:

• Lace knitting: A repeating 8-row lace pattern forms a key decorative element of the sweater. Lace knitting involves strategic use of yarn-overs and decreases to create open, eyelet-style holes in the fabric, producing a delicate, airy texture without reducing the overall stitch count.
• Stocking stitch: The main body fabric uses classic stocking stitch — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows — which creates a smooth, flat surface that contrasts beautifully with the lace sections.
• Thumb cast-on method: The pattern specifies the thumb method for casting on stitches, a popular and stretchy cast-on technique well suited to garment knitting.
• Shaping: The pattern includes instructions for increasing and decreasing stitches to shape the body and sleeves, including shoulder shaping with cast-off sequences.
• Stitch holders: Stitches are placed on holders at certain points, a standard technique used when working necklines and shoulder joins.
• Tension/gauge checking: The pattern strongly emphasises working to the stated tension before beginning, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st): Knit on right side, purl on wrong side — the primary background fabric of the sweater.
• Lace pattern: An 8-row repeating sequence incorporating yarn forward (yfwd), slip 1 knitways (s1), knit 2 together (k2tog), and pass slipped stitch over (psso) to form decorative eyelets and directional decreases.
• Knit (k) and Purl (p): The two fundamental stitches of knitting, used throughout in various combinations.
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Used within the lace pattern to create deliberate yarn-over increases that form the open eyelet holes characteristic of lace fabric.