The Heather Shells Women’s Sweater Knitting Pattern

 

The Heather Shells Women’s Sweater Knitting Pattern📌 OVERVIEW & SKILL LEVEL

• Skill Level: Intermediate / Advanced
• Construction: Worked piece by piece (Back, Front, Sleeves) from the bottom up and seamed together, with a picked-up 2x2 rib crewneck collar.
• Sizes Available: S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
• Finished Chest Measurement: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) inches / 91 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm
• Fit: Designed with ~2–4 inches (5–10 cm) of positive ease.

🧵 MATERIALS & TOOLS

• Yarn: Sport / DK weight yarn (Category 3) or lightweight Worsted (Category 4)
• Estimated Yardage: 1,200 (1,350, 1,500, 1,650, 1,820) yards / 1,100 (1,230, 1,370, 1,510, 1,665) meters
• Sample shown in: Heathered pink wool/acrylic blend.
• Needles:
• US 6 (4.0 mm) — 24” / 60 cm circular or straight needles for Ribbing
• US 7 (4.5 mm) — 24” / 60 cm circular or straight needles for Main Body & Sleeves
• US 6 (4.0 mm) — 16” / 40 cm circular needle for Neckband
• Notions:
• Tapestry needle / Darning needle
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn

📏 GAUGE & TENSION

• Pattern Panel Gauge (US 7 / 4.5 mm): 24-sts chart repeat = approx. 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
• Stockinette / Ribbed background (US 7 / 4.5 mm): 20 sts x 28 rows = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm).

🔤 ABBREVIATIONS & STITCH KEY

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side
• PM / SM: Place Marker / Slip Marker
• K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together (1 st decreased, slant right)
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit (1 st decreased, slant left)
• YO: Yarn over (1 st increased)

📊 LACE CHART WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS (24-Stitch Repeat) Based on the chart (Photo 1), the pattern repeat is 24 stitches wide and 32 rows high. Blank squares on the chart represent knit stitches (on RS), horizontal dashes represent purl stitches, and "checkmarks/arcs" represent decreases and yarn overs (forming the lace shell motif).

• Row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (RS): Follow chart: [Knit and purl background stitches forming vertical ribs].
• Row 2 & all WS rows: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they present themselves; work YOs as purls or knits according to the chart instructions.
• Row 11: Beginning of the lace shell motif according to the chart: execute decreases (K2tog / SSK) and yarn overs (YO) with central knit stitches.
• Row 13, 16, 27–29: Continue the lace shell expansion and staggered repeat bind-offs as shown in the graphic chart in Photo 1.

📝 STEP-BY-STEP PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

1. BACK PANEL

• Hem Ribbing: Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 98 (106, 114, 122, 130) sts.
• Row 1 (RS): *K2, P2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2.
• Row 2 (WS): *P2, K2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, P2. Repeat Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 2.5 inches (6.5 cm), ending on a WS row.
• Main Body: Switch to US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Setup row to establish lace panels:
• Setup Row (RS): K1 (5, 3, 7, 5), Work 24-st Lace Chart, repeat from * across to last 1 (5, 3, 7, 5) sts, K1 (5, 3, 7, 5). Continue in pattern as established, repeating Rows 1–32 of the Lace Chart, until Back measures 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18) inches from cast-on edge, ending on a WS row.
• Armhole Shaping: Bind off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows — 90 (96, 102, 108, 114) sts. Work straight in pattern until armhole measures 8.0 (8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0) inches.
• Shoulder & Back Neck Shaping: Bind off shoulder and back neck stitches following standard sweater shaping rules.

2. FRONT PANEL

• Work as for Back until piece measures 2.5 inches (6 cm) less than Back to shoulder shaping, ending on a WS row.
• Front Neck Shaping: Bind off center stitches and decrease 1 st at neck edge every RS row until reaching the required shoulder height. Shape shoulders as for Back.

3. SLEEVES (Make 2)

• Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 42 (46, 46, 50, 50) sts.
• Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 2.5 inches (6.5 cm), ending on a WS row.
• Switch to US 7 (4.5 mm) needles.
• Sleeve Body & Increases: Center the lace shell pattern along the middle of the sleeve, working side stitches in Stockinette st. Increase 1 st at each end every 6th row until there are 66 (72, 78, 84, 90) sts. Work straight until Sleeve measures 19 inches from cast-on edge.
• Sleeve Cap Shaping: Bind off sleeve cap stitches following standard sweater shaping.

4. FINISHING & COLLAR

• Blocking: Lightly steam or wet block pieces to measurements.
• Seams: Sew shoulder seams using mattress stitch.
• Crewneck Collar: With US 6 (4.0 mm) 16” circular needle, RS facing, pick up and knit stitches evenly around the neck opening. Work in K2, P2 ribbing in the round for 2 inches (5 cm). Bind off loosely in pattern or use a tubular bind-off.
• Assembly: Sew sleeve seams and side seams. Weave in all loose ends.