Daphne Sweater

A new easy pullover knitting pattern – the Daphne Sweater – is now a free knitting pattern here on the blog. Read all about the inspiration, the soft yarn and easy trellis lace below, , scroll down to view the full free pattern or purchase an ad free PDF from my shop or Ravelry shop.

No time right now? Pin this pullover knitting pattern free for later!

Were you hoping to spend forever and a day creating delicate lace? I didn’t think so. This one is for all those that love the look of those intricate lace details, but don’t want to spend the rest of their life on that one piece.

The Daphne Sweater features a simple, 2 row repeat lace. It allows for a quick, easy to learn (and to replicate) lace texture that is sure to look gorgeous on ANYONE.

An Introduction to Lace Knitting

Lace knitting can be insanely intricate and give you the worst headaches, trust me, I know! Often lace patterns are worked with thin yarn which makes it even harder.

However, this is NOT the case with this easy women’s sweater knitting pattern!

This knitting pattern may look a bit daunting, but do NOT let it scare you! It is so much easier than it looks. There is very little shaping which allows you to really focus on the stitch pattern.

The lace pattern is formed by a simple 2 row repeat of combination of yarn overs (yo), knit 2 stitches together (k2tog) and slip-slip-knit (ssk) decreases.

The Yarn

The Daphne sweater knitting pattern is designed with Hobbii Divina yarn. It’s a gorgeous alpaca blend yarn. The fine fibers are held together by an ultra thin net made from durable polyamide. 

The fine-meshed tube of polyamide is the foundation of the yarn. The tube is either black or white, depending on the color of the fibers. With the help of a special spinning technique, the mix of cotton and wool are blown into the tube and creates a lovely full volume. The construction creates a beautiful play of colors when the natural color of the tube shows delicately through and creates Divina’s beautiful, slightly mottled look.

Downloadable PDF Daphne Sweater Knitting Pattern

Grab the printable PDF of the Daphne sweater knitting pattern is now on my shop and on Ravelry:

More Knit Sweater Patterns you'll love

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  Lily Easy Lace Knit Sweater Pattern

• 

  Katrina Sweater Knitting Pattern

• 

  Colienne Sweater Knitting Pattern

Before You Start the Daphne Pullover Knitting Pattern Free

Materials

• 5 mm / US 8 knitting needles
• Hobbii Divina (Worsted weight 4, 65% alpaca 25% polyamide, 10% wool, 150m/164yd, 50g/1.75oz): 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9) skeins in color Light Petrol (27)
• Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.

Sizes

The sweater knitting pattern is available in 9 sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).

The pictures illustrate the L size.

The sweater is designed with a normal fit, 4 – 8 cm / 1.5 – 3” ease at the bust.

Final garment measurements are:

• XS: 74 cm / 29” bust, 34 cm / 13.5” upper arm circumference, 62 cm / 24.5” length.
• S: 84 cm / 33” bust, 36 cm / 14” upper arm circumference, 63 cm / 24.75” length.
• M: 94 cm / 37” bust, 37 cm / 14.5” upper arm circumference, 63 cm / 24.75” length.
• L: 104 cm / 41” bust, 39 cm / 15.5” upper arm circumference, 65 cm / 25” length.
• XL: 114 cm / 45” bust, 43 cm / 17” upper arm circumference, 67 cm / 26.25” length.
• 2 XL: 134 cm / 52.5” bust, 48 cm / 19” upper arm circumference, 69 cm / 27” length.
• 3XL: 144 cm / 56.5” bust, 52 cm / 20.5” upper arm circumference 71 cm / 28” length.
• 4XL: 154 cm / 60.5” bust, 56 cm / 22” upper arm circumference 73 cm / 28.5” length.
• 5XL: 164 cm / 64.5” bust, 58 cm / 23” upper arm circumference 74 cm / 29” length.

You can adjust this length by following the notes given in italic.

Gauge

The gauge for this pattern, in lace pattern, is 16 st by 25 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).

Abbreviations & Instructions

• k = knit
• k2tog = knit 2 stitches together, single right-leaning decrease
• p = purl
• st = stitch
• sl1k = slip 1 stitch knitwise
• sl1p = slip 1 stitch purlwise
• ssk = slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
• yo = yarn over

Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.

The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.

Special Techniques

• Picking up stitches: You will need to pick up stitches around the neckline to form the collar. If you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial is very helpful.
• I recommend using the sloped bind-off technique for the collar shaping. If you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial is very helpful.

Special Stitches and Repeated Patterns

• The Daphne sweater knitting pattern features the ladder stitch (find a detailed stitch tutorial here).

• The Daphne sweater knitting pattern features folded collar. Find the detailed video tutorial here.

Construction

The sweater is worked in panels sewed together. The back and front panels are worked from the bottom up with a rounded neck shaping. The sleeves are worked from the cuff up. After assembling the panels, stitches are picked up for the neckline ribbing which is then folded and sewed back on the inside of the neckline.

The Actual Daphne Lace Sweater Knitting Pattern Free

Back Panel

With your 5 mm / US 8 needles cast on 59 (67, 75, 83, 91, 107, 115, 123, 131) st.

[k1, p1] across for 5 cm / 2”.

Ladder stitch pattern:

Row 1: Sl1k, k2, [ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3] across.

Row 2: Sl1p, purl across.

Work in ladder stitch pattern (repeating Rows 1 and 2) until you reach 45 cm / 17.75”.

Note: To adjust the sweater length, add or remove height here. Make sure to take note how many cm or inches you’ve modified to adjust accordingly in the next parts.

Continue in ladder stitch pattern while decreasing on the sides to shape the armholes as follow:

• Cast off 8 st, knit in pattern until end of the row. <51 (59, 67, 75, 83, 99, 107, 115, 123)>
• Cast off 8 st, purl across. <43 (51, 59, 67, 75, 91, 99, 107, 115)>

Continue in ladder stitch pattern until total length is 60.5 (61.5, 62, 63, 65, 67.5, 69.5, 71.5, 72.5) cm / 23.75 (24.25, 24.5, 24.75, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5, 28.25, 28.5)”

Note: If you’ve chosen to modify your sweater length, you will need to adjust this measure accordingly.

Neck Shaping

Cast off middle 31 st: Sl1k, k5 (9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 33, 37, 41) in pattern, cast off 31 st, k6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 30, 34, 38, 42) in pattern.

Work both sides separately for 3 rows in pattern then cast off. Join yarn at the neckline and start with a purl row for the 2nd side.

Front panel

With your 5 mm / US 8 needles cast on 59 (67, 75, 83, 91, 107, 115, 123, 131) st.

[k1, p1] across for 5 cm / 2”.

Ladder stitch pattern:

Row 1: Sl1k, k2, [ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3] across.

Row 2: Sl1p, purl across.

Work in ladder stitch pattern (repeating Rows 1 and 2) until you reach 45 cm / 17.75”.

Note: To adjust the sweater length, add or remove height here. Make sure to take note how many cm or inches you’ve modified to adjust accordingly in the next parts.

Continue in ladder stitch pattern while decreasing on the sides to shape the armholes as follow:

• Cast off 8 st, knit in pattern until end of the row. <51 (59, 67, 75, 83, 99, 107, 115, 123)>
• Cast off 8 st, purl across. <43 (51, 59, 67, 75, 91, 99, 107, 115)>

Continue in ladder stitch pattern until total length is 53.5 (54.5, 55, 56, 58, 60.5, 62.5, 64.5, 65.5) cm / 21 (21.5, 21.75, 22, 22.75, 23.75, 24.5, 25.5, 25.75)”

Note: If you’ve chosen to modify your sweater length, you will need to adjust this measure accordingly.

Neck Shaping

Cast off the middle 13 st: Sl1k, k14 (18, 22, 26, 30, 38, 42, 46, 50) in pattern, cast off 13 st, k15 (19, 23, 27, 31, 39, 43, 47, 51) in pattern.

You will work each side separately from here onwards. Start working with the first set of stitches to form the right shoulder (when wearing the sweater):

• Purl across.
• [Cast off 2 st, knit in pattern across.

Purl across] 3 times. <9 (13, 17, 21, 25, 33, 37, 41, 45) st>

• [Cast off 1 st, knit in pattern across.

Purl across] 3 times. <5 (7, 11, 15, 21, 29, 33, 37, 41) st>

• Knit straight in pattern until total length reaches 62 (63, 63.5, 64.5, 66.5, 69, 71, 73, 74) cm / 24.5 (24.75, 25, 25.5, 26.25, 27.25, 28, 28.5, 29.25).

      Note: If you’ve chosen to modify your sweater length, you will need to adjust this measure accordingly.

Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Go back to the stitches you left and the side and join yarn at the neckline to work the right shoulder (when wearing the sweater):

• [Cast off 2 st, purl across.

Knit 1 row in pattern] 3 times. <8 (10, 14, 18, 24, 32, 36, 40, 44) st>

• [Cast off 1 st, purl across.

Knit 1 row in pattern] 3 times. <5 (7, 11, 15, 21, 29, 33, 37, 41) st>

• Knit straight in pattern until total length reaches 62 (63, 63.5, 64.5, 66.5, 69, 71, 73, 74) cm / 24.5 (24.75, 5, 25.5, 26.25, 27.25, 28, 28.5, 29.25).

Note: If you’ve chosen to modify your sweater length, you will need to adjust this measure accordingly.

Sleeves

Make 2.

With your 5 mm / US 8 needles, cast on 55 (57, 59, 63, 69, 77, 83, 89, 93) st.

Sleeve pattern:

Row 1: Sl1k, k16 (17, 18, 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 35), [ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3] three times, k14 (15, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31, 33).

Row 2: Sl1p, purl across.

Repeat Row 1 to 2 until you reach 15 (15, 15, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8, 8) cm / 6 (6, 6, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3)”.

Start decreasing to shape the sleeve. You will keep working in pattern and decrease on both sides of the sleeve (always on RS) as follows:

Decrease Row: Sl1k, k1, ssk, knit in pattern until last 4 st, k2tog, k2.

[Work a decrease row followed by a purl row. Then work 2 rows in sleeve pattern without decreases] 13 (13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 10, 9, 8) times. <29 (31, 33, 37, 45, 53, 63, 71, 77) st>

[Work a decrease row followed by a purl row.] 1 (2, 3, 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 23) times. <27 (27, 27, 31, 31, 29, 31, 29, 31) st>

Work in sleeve pattern without decreases until you reach 47 cm / 18.5”.

[k1, p1] across for 5 cm / 2”.

Cast off and leave a long end for sewing.

Assembly

Assemble the front and back panels by sewing the shoulder seams.

Attach the sleeves to the body panels. Fold the sleeve in half and start by sewing the middle to the shoulder seam. Sew down on both sides.

Be careful to sew the sleeve to the shoulder shaping indent in the body correctly.

Finish sewing the sides together and close the sleeves all the way to the end of the cuffs.

Collar

With your 5 mm / US 8 needles, pick up 62 stitches around the neckline and join in the round.

[k1, p1] around for 10 cm / 4”.

Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Fold the collar in half and sew the cast-off edge to the inside of the picked-up stitches.

Blocking

You’re done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends (except for sewing).

To make your lace sweater even prettier, help even your stitches and puff up the flower motifs, wet block your project with the right side outermost.

Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.

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