Description

Overview of the pattern:

Cloud Dancer is a top-down sweater where classic lace meets a modern, understated style. With this knitting pattern, you can make the sweater either with long or short sleeves. Thanks to two material options, the design can easily be adapted into a light and airy mohair version or a classic lace sweater using DK-weight yarn.

The clean, repeating chevron lace pattern creates a beautifully undulating surface to the sweater. The rows of dropped stitches add rhythm and airiness to the design – making this sweater perfect for cool summer evenings as well as a refined addition to classic office wear. A relaxed fit, slightly balloon-shaped sleeves, and dropped shoulders give this favorite sweater a graceful yet stylish look.

This pattern is also an excellent choice for a first lace project: the clear, repetitive motif makes lace knitting easy yet still engaging.

You begin by knitting the back piece down to the underarms, after which stitches are picked up for the front pieces, worked separately before joining at the neckline. Once the front reaches the desired length, the work is joined at the underarms and knitted in the round. Decreases are made before knitting a folded hem in ribbing. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves, which are worked in the same lace pattern in the round, and finished with folded ribbed cuffs. Finally, stitches are picked up at the neckline for a ribbed collar.

Difficulty level: The sweater is perfect for a knitter who knows basic knitting techniques and is ready to try out something new

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9) – see measurements below

Recommended ease: approx. 10–20 cm / 4–8” of positive ease

Sample knitted with 15 cm / 6” of positive ease. 

Measurements for the finished sweater:

• Bust circumference approx:  90 (99, 108, 126, 135) (144, 153, 162, 171) cm / 35.5 (39, 42.5, 49.5, 53.25) (56.75, 60.25, 63.75, 67.25)”
• Length from armhole to hem: approx. 30 (36, 36, 36, 36) (42, 42, 42, 42) cm / 11.75 (14.25, 14.25, 14.25, 14.25) (16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5)” – this can be altered
• Armhole circumference: approx. 32 (32, 36, 41, 45) (45, 50, 54, 63) cm / 12.5 (12.5, 14.25, 16.25, 17.75) (17.75, 19.75, 21.25, 24.75)”

Yarn:

Long-sleeve version:

You need approx. 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) (1500, 1600, 1800, 2000) meters / 1000 (1100, 1200, 1300, 1400) (1650, 1750, 2000, 2200) yards of DK-weight yarn OR 1800 (2000, 2200, 2400, 2600) (3000, 3200, 3600, 4000) / 1970 (2190, 2410, 2630, 2840) (3280, 3500, 3940, 4370) yds of lace-weight mohair yarn.

Short sleeve version:

You need approx. 700 (750, 850, 900, 1000) (1150, 1200, 1400, 1500) meters / 770 (820, 930, 980, 1090) (1260, 1310, 1530, 1640) yds of DK-weight yarn OR 1400 (1500, 1700, 1800, 2000) (2300, 2400, 2800, 3000) meters / 1530 (1640, 1860, 1970, 2190) (2520, 2620, 3060, 3280) yds of lace-weight mohair yarn.

Long-sleeve sample knitted with: 8 (9, 10, 10, 11) (13, 14, 16, 18) balls of Sandnes Garn Duo (55 % merino, 45 % cotton, 115 m / 125 yds / 50 g), in colorway 1015. 

Short-sleeve sample knitted with 2 strands of silk mohair in 6 colors: yht. 9 (10, 10, 10, 14) (15, 16, 16, 16) balls of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (225 / 250 yds, 25 g, 70 % mohair, 30 % silk) in colorways Snowflake (main color, white) 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5) balls, Cherry Blossom (contrast color 1) 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) balls, Flamingo (contrast color  2) 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) balls, Dusty Rose (contrast color 3) 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) balls, Oatmeal (contrast color  4) 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) balls, Plum Rose (contrast color 5) 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) balls.

Needles:

• 3 mm / US 2.5: 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm /24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles (for ribbing)
• 3,5 mm / US 4: 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm /24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles (for body and sleeves)

Other materials: Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle, scrap yarn or stitch holding cables.

Gauge for BOTH yarn options:

20 sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4″ in lace pattern from the pattern with 3,5 mm / US 4 needles (after blocking). See the gauge swatch pattern under abbreviations. Change the needle size if needed to achieve the right gauge.