The Lavender Lace V-Neck Cardigan Knitting Pattern

The Lavender Lace V-Neck Cardigan Knitting PatternOVERVIEW & SKILL LEVEL

Skill Level: Intermediate
Construction: Worked piece by piece (Back, Left Front, Right Front, Sleeves) from the bottom up and seamed together, with picked-up button bands and V-neck edging.
Sizes Available: S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
Finished Chest Measurement: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54) inches / 96 (106, 117, 127, 137) cm
Fit: Relaxed, comfortable fit with ~4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of positive ease and dropped shoulders.

🧵 MATERIALS & TOOLS

Yarn: DK / Worsted weight mohair or alpaca blend yarn (held single or double for a soft, fuzzy texture)
Estimated Yardage: 1,200 (1,350, 1,500, 1,680, 1,850) yards / 1,100 (1,235, 1,370, 1,535, 1,690) meters
Sample shown in lilac/lavender soft brushed mohair/alpaca blend.
Needles:

US 6 (4.0 mm) — 32” / 80 cm circular needle or straight needles for Ribbing & Button Band
US 8 (5.0 mm) — 32” / 80 cm circular needle or straight needles for Main Body & Sleeves

📏 GAUGE & TENSION

Lace Pattern Gauge (US 8 / 5.0 mm): 17 sts x 22 rows = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm) in chart pattern.
1x1 / 2x2 Ribbing (US 6 / 4.0 mm): 20 sts x 26 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
Yo: Yarn over (1 st increased)
K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together (right-slanting decrease, 1 st decreased)
SSK: Slip, slip, knit (left-slanting decrease, 1 st decreased)
K3tog / Central Double Decrease : Slip 2 sts together as if to K2tog, K1, pass 2 slipped sts over (2 sts decreased)
- (Dash symbol on chart): Purl on RS, Knit on WS
Blank Box: Knit on RS, Purl on WS

📊 LACE CHART WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS (Repeat Pattern) The pattern consists of vertical lace eyelet panels separated by purl columns.

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 & all WS rows: Work stitches as they present themselves (Knit the knits, Purl the purls; Purl all Yo's unless otherwise indicated).
Row 3 (RS): [P2, Yo, Yo, Yo, P2, K3] across.
Row 5 (RS): [P2, Yo, K3tog (or SSK, K1, K2tog), Yo, P2, K3] across.
Row 7 (RS): [P2, K2tog, Yo, P2, K3] across.
Row 8–12: Continue working even in pattern according to the chart repeat.

📝 STEP-BY-STEP PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

1. BACK PANEL

Hem Ribbing: Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 90 (98, 106, 114, 122) sts. Work in 1x1 or 2x2 Ribbing for 2 inches (5 cm), ending on a WS row.
Main Body: Switch to US 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Establish Lace Chart pattern across all stitches, leaving 1 edge stitch on each side for seaming. Continue in pattern until Back measures 21 (21.5, 22, 22.5, 23) inches / 53 (55, 56, 57, 58) cm from cast-on edge, ending on a WS row.
Shoulder & Back Neck Shaping: Bind off 25 (28, 31, 34, 37) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows for shoulders. Bind off remaining center 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts for back neck.

2. LEFT & RIGHT FRONT PANELS

Cast On & Hem: Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 46 (50, 54, 58, 62) sts. Work in ribbing for 2 inches (5 cm), ending on a WS row.
Main Body & V-Neck Shaping: Switch to US 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Work in Lace Chart pattern. When piece measures 12 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 14) inches from cast-on edge, begin V-Neck decreases at front edge:

Decrease Row (RS): Work in pattern to last 3 sts, K2tog (for Left Front) or SSK (for Right Front), K1.
Repeat decrease row every 4th row 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) times until 25 (28, 31, 34, 37) sts remain for shoulder. Work straight until Front matches Back length to shoulder. Bind off remaining shoulder sts.

3. SLEEVES (Make 2)

Using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, cast on 42 (46, 46, 50, 50) sts.
Work in ribbing for 2.5 inches (6.5 cm).
Switch to US 8 (5.0 mm) needles and establish Lace Chart pattern.
Increases: Increase 1 st at each end every 6th row 12 (14, 15, 16, 17) times — 66 (74, 76, 82, 84) sts.
Work straight in pattern until sleeve measures 18 (18.5, 19, 19, 19.5) inches.
Bind off all stitches loosely.

4. FINISHING, BUTTON BAND & COLLAR

Blocking: Lightly steam-block pieces to open up the lace motif.
Seams: Join shoulder seams using mattress stitch.
Button Band & V-Neck Edging: With US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle, pick up and knit sts along Right Front edge, up the V-neck, across Back neck, down Left V-neck, and down Left Front edge. Work in 1x1 or 2x2 Ribbing for 1.25 inches (3 cm), placing 4 to 5 buttonholes evenly along the Right Front band on Row 3. Bind off all stitches loosely in pattern.
Assembly: Sew buttons opposite buttonholes. Sew sleeve tops into dropped armholes, then seam side and sleeve seams. Weave in all ends.

Crochet and Knitting