THE AURORA LACE SWEATER

 THE AURORA LACE SWEATERA Vintage-Inspired Scoop-Neck Feather & Fan Lace Pullover

Skill Level: Intermediate Sizing: S (M, L, XL, 2XL) — Pictured in Size M with ~2" / 5 cm of positive easeConstruction: Knit flat in piece panels (Back, Front, Sleeves) from the bottom up and seamed together, finished with a picked-up ribbed scoop neckline.

1. SIZING & FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

• Bust Circumference: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) inches / 86 (96, 106, 117, 127) cm
• Total Length: 20 (20.5, 21, 21.5, 22) inches / 51 (52, 53, 54.5, 56) cm
• Sleeve Length to Underarm: 18 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 19) inches / 46 (46, 47, 47, 48) cm

2. MATERIALS & TOOLS

• Yarn:
• DK / Light Worsted Weight yarn (preferably a soft cotton, bamboo, or silk blend for crisp lace definition).
• Yardage: Approx. 950 (1050, 1180, 1300, 1450) yards / 870 (960, 1080, 1190, 1325) meters.
• Needles:
• US 6 (4.0 mm) straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge).
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle (16" / 40 cm length) for neckband.
• Notions:
• Tapestry needle for seaming (Mattress Stitch)
• Removable stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn

3. GAUGE & KEY ABBREVIATIONS

Gauge

• 20 sts x 26 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in Lace Pattern Chart using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, lightly blocked.

Abbreviations

• K: Knit | P: Purl
• YO: Yarn over
• K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together (Right-leaning decrease)
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit 2 slipped stitches together (Left-leaning decrease)
• P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
• st(s): Stitch(es) | RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side
• PM / SM: Place Marker / Slip Marker

4. LACE PATTERN CHART KEY & INSTRUCTIONS

(18-stitch repeat repeat width x 16-row vertical repeat)

Symbol Legend:

[ | ]  = Knit on RS, Purl on WS

[ - ]  = Purl on RS, Knit on WS

[ o ]  = Yarn Over (YO)

[ / ]  = K2tog (Right-leaning decrease)

[ \ ]  = SSK (Left-leaning decrease)

[ Ψ ]  = Centered Double Decrease (S2KP / Central 3-st decrease)

Written Chart Repeat (18 sts):

• Row 1 (RS): [K1, YO, K1, SSK, K3, YO, P1, YO, K3, K2tog, K1, YO, K1] (18 sts)
• Row 2 & all WS rows: Purl across (or knit purled stitches as indicated).
• Row 3: [K1, YO, K2, SSK, K2, YO, P1, YO, K2, K2tog, K2, YO, K1]
• Row 5: [K1, YO, K3, SSK, K1, YO, P1, YO, K1, K2tog, K3, YO, K1]
• Row 7: [K1, YO, K4, SSK, YO, P1, YO, K2tog, K4, YO, K1]
• Row 9: [K1, YO, K1, SSK, K3, YO, P1, YO, K3, K2tog, K1, YO, K1]
• Row 11–15: Continue following chart shaping lines.
• Row 16 (WS): Purl all sts.

5. INSTRUCTIONS

BACK PANEL

1. Ribbed Hem

1. Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 88 (98, 108, 118, 128) sts using the Long-Tail Cast-On method.
2. Rows 1–10: Work in 2x2 Ribbing [K2, P2] across for 1.5 inches / 4 cm, ending on a WS row.

2. Main Body (Lace Work)

1. Row 1 (RS): K4 (4, 4, 4, 4) edge sts, PM, work Row 1 of Lace Chart across 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) repeats, PM, K4 (4, 9, 5, 10) edge sts.
2. Continue working in established lace pattern for 80 (82, 84, 86, 88) rows (approx. 13.5" / 34 cm from cast-on edge), ending on a WS row.

3. Armhole Shaping

1. Bind off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows — 80 (88, 96, 104, 112) sts remaining.
2. Decrease Row (RS): K1, SSK, work in pattern to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 (2 sts decreased).
3. Repeat decrease row every RS row 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) times total — 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sts remaining.
4. Continue even in lace pattern until armhole measures 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5) inches / 19 (20, 21.5, 23, 24) cm.

4. Back Neck & Shoulder Shaping

1. Next Row (RS): Work 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts in pattern, join a second ball of yarn and bind off center 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts, work in pattern to end.
2. Working both sides at once, bind off 2 sts at each neck edge once.
3. Bind off remaining 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) sts for each shoulder.

FRONT PANEL

1. Work exactly as for Back Panel through Armhole Shaping.

Scoop Neck Shaping

1. When armhole measures 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5) inches / 9 (10, 11.5, 13, 14) cm (ending on a WS row):
2. Next Row (RS): Work 26 (29, 32, 35, 38) sts, join a second ball of yarn and bind off center 20 (20, 20, 20, 20) sts, work to end.
3. Working both sides at once, decrease 1 st at each neck edge every RS row 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) times until 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) sts remain on each shoulder.
4. Continue straight until Front armhole matches Back armhole length.
5. Bind off shoulder sts.

SLEEVES (Make 2)

1. Cuff

1. Cast on 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts.
2. Work 10 rows in 2x2 Ribbing [K2, P2].

2. Sleeve Body & Increases

1. Switch to Lace Chart pattern, placing edge stitches evenly at sides.
2. Increase Row (RS): K1, M1L, work pattern to last st, M1R, K1 (2 sts increased).
3. Repeat Increase Row every 6th row 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) times, incorporating new sts into lace pattern as available — 66 (74, 82, 88, 96) sts.
4. Work even until sleeve measures 18 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 19) inches / 46 (46, 47, 47, 48) cm from cast-on edge.

3. Sleeve Cap Shaping

1. Bind off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at the start of next 2 rows — 58 (64, 70, 74, 80) sts.
2. Decrease Row (RS): K1, SSK, work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
3. Repeat decrease every RS row 14 (16, 18, 19, 21) times — 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts remaining.
4. Bind off 3 sts at the start of the next 4 rows.
5. Bind off remaining 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts.

6. FINISHING & ASSEMBLY

1. Blocking: Lightly steam or wet-block all pieces to open up the lace pattern to finished schematic measurements.
2. Seaming: Using Mattress Stitch, join front and back at shoulders.
3. Neckband:
• With US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle and RS facing, pick up and knit 120 (124, 128, 132, 136) sts evenly around the scoop neckline.
• Join in the round and work 6 rounds in [K1, P1] ribbing or garter stitch edge as shown in the garment photo.
• Bind off loosely in pattern.
4. Assembly: Set in sleeves and sew side and sleeve seams using Mattress Stitch. Weave in all loose ends!