Gondor Lace Jumper — Top-Down Raglan (inspired)

Elegant, slightly-fitted top-down raglan jumper with vertical "Gondor"-inspired lace panels down the front and along the sleeves. Worked in DK weight yarn; written for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). Includes needle conversions (US — UK old — Metric) and imperial/metric yarn amounts.

Finished measurements

• Chest (measured 1"/2.5cm below armhole): 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) in / 86 (97, 107, 117, 127, 137, 147, 157, 167) cm
• Length from underarm to hem: 14 (14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16, 16.5, 16.5, 17) in / 36 (37, 38, 39, 40.5, 40.5, 42, 42, 43) cm
• Sleeve length (from underarm): 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 20, 20, 20.5) in / 43 (44, 45.5, 47, 48, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm

Yarn

DK / 8-ply smooth wool or wool blend, approx 230 yd / 210 m per 100 g.

• Yardage (approx): XS 900 yd (823 m) — 400 g; S 1100 yd (1006 m) — 480 g; M 1250 yd (1143 m) — 540 g; L 1450 yd (1326 m) — 630 g; XL 1650 yd (1509 m) — 720 g; 2XL 1850 yd (1692 m) — 800 g; 3XL 2050 yd (1875 m) — 890 g; 4XL 2250 yd (2058 m) — 980 g; 5XL 2450 yd (2241 m) — 1060 g.

Needles & notions

• Needles (working in the round where indicated): Main: US 6 — UK 8 — 4.0 mm. Ribbing: US 5 — UK 9 — 3.75 mm. Optional for an airier lace: US 8 — UK 6 — 5.0 mm (use only if you need to match gauge).
• Stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, set of double-pointed needles or small circulars for sleeves, 4 stitch markers (contrasting), cable needle (if preferred), tape measure.

Gauge

Pattern gauge (blocked): 22 sts x 28 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette on 4.0 mm (US 6) needles. Lace panel gauge: match stitch count and row gauge; blocking will open the lace.

Techniques used & abbreviations

• K: knit. P: purl. YO: yarn over. k2tog: knit 2 together. ssk: slip, slip, knit. sk2p: slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (centered double decrease). M1L/M1R: left/right-leaning make-one increases.
• PM: place marker. SM: slip marker. CO: cast on. BO: bind off. RS: right side. WS: wrong side.

Notes

• Top-down raglan: yoke is worked in the round up to the underarm, then separated for sleeves and body. Raglan increases are worked every RS row (or round) as written below.
• There are four raglan seams. Markers separate front, sleeve, back, sleeve. The front section will contain the central lace panel(s).
• Front lace: two vertical panels flanking a central motif produce a Gondor-inspired stone column effect. The chart below is written as a 24-stitch repeat for the central motif; adjust repeats to match your front stitch count as directed.

Stitch patterns

1x1 rib

(worked in the round) Round 1: *K1, P1; rep from * to end.

Gondor Lace Panel — 24-st rep (RS rows shown; odd rows RS, even rows WS knit the pattern as given)

Multiple of 24 sts + edge sts
Row 1 (RS): *K2, YO, K2tog, K6, ssk, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K2, ssk, K2; rep from *
Row 2 (WS): Purl all sts
Row 3: *K2, YO, K2tog, K4, ssk, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K4, ssk, K2; rep from *
Row 4: Purl all sts
Row 5: *K2, YO, K2tog, K2, ssk, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K6, ssk, K2; rep from *
Row 6: Purl all sts
Row 7: *K2, YO, K2tog, ssk, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K8, ssk, K2; rep from *
Row 8: Purl all sts

Repeat rows 1–8 for pattern. Notes: the arrangement of YOs and decreases creates elongated vertical eyelet columns separated by solid knit "stone" sections. If you prefer a single wider central panel, use a 48-stitch repeat (2x the 24-st rep) centered on front.

Sizes & initial cast-on

Cast on with smaller needles (3.75 mm) and join for working in the round.

• XS: CO 152 sts
• S: CO 168 sts
• M: CO 184 sts
• L: CO 200 sts
• XL: CO 216 sts
• 2XL: CO 232 sts
• 3XL: CO 248 sts
• 4XL: CO 264 sts
• 5XL: CO 280 sts

Yoke (top-down raglan with lace on front)

1. Join in round, place marker for beginning of round. Work 1–2 in rib for lower neck band (optional): CO 152–280 sts, work 1x1 rib for 6 rounds (or 1.25 in / 3 cm). Switch to 4.0 mm needles and continue.
2. Set-up round (RS): *K to marker 1 (beginning of front), PM, work front section as follows: if using two vertical panels, place them symmetrically with plain knit stitches between. Count your front sts: divide as Front panels / Sleeve / Back / Sleeve. For example, for size M CO 184, you might have Front 52 sts (including lace repeats), Sleeve 40, Back 52, Sleeve 40.
3. Raglan increase round (RS) and every following RS round: Work to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, K to 1 st before next marker, M1R, K1, SM; repeat at each raglan marker. This increases 8 sts every 2 rounds (if you increase on alternating RS rounds) or 8 sts every round depending on method. Use the following schedule: increase on every RS round for a faster increase, or every other round for subtler shaping. (Pattern sample uses every RS round until reaching yoke measurement.)
4. Work raglan increases while maintaining lace pattern on front. When increasing through lace area, insert the new stitch as a knit stitch at the appropriate spot so the lace repeats remain balanced. Aim for the front section to contain an integer number of 24-st repeats. If necessary, add plain knit stitches at edges of the front to balance.
5. Work increases until the yoke depth measures approx 8.5 (9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 11.5, 12) in / 22 (23, 24, 25, 26.5, 28, 29, 29.5, 30.5) cm from cast-on edge, or until sleeve stitches reach desired underarm circumference (see schematic). End on a WS row.

Separate sleeves

1. On an RS round, when yoke depth is reached: K to first raglan marker, slip the sleeve sts (marker to marker) onto waste yarn or stitch holder, remove markers for raglan there and place a new marker at split. Work across front to next sleeve marker, slip sleeve sts to holder; continue across back. You will now have body sts on the needles only.
2. Body: Join round and continue down in pattern. On the first round after separation, decrease one additional stitch at each underarm join if preferred for shaping (k2tog or ssk opposite sides) to reduce bulk. Continue body in stockinette with front lace panels maintained: work lace pattern across the front stitch area using the 24-st rep; on WS rounds purl across lace.
3. Work until body measures 14–16.5 in / 36–42 cm from underarm (adjust to taste). Finish with 1x1 rib, 1.25 in / 3 cm, on 3.75 mm needles and BO loosely. Block to measurements.

Sleeves

1. Transfer sleeve sts to needles, pick up 1 additional st at each underarm join if you decreased when separating. Join in the round and continue in stockinette, placing lace panels down the centre front of each sleeve by centering a 24-stitch lace repeat on the sleeve's front. If sleeves are too narrow for a full panel, use a single narrower lace column: take the central 12 sts of the 24-st rep or follow a reduced eyelet pattern described below.
2. Decrease for sleeve shaping: Work decreases every 6th round (or every 8th) depending on how full you want the sleeve. Example: decrease 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14) total sts evenly spaced over the length to underarm to achieve fitted sleeve. Maintain lace pattern alignment; when decreasing through lace, omit one full 24-st repeat if needed and redistribute extra decreases into plain knit areas to keep lace intact.
3. When sleeve measures desired length from underarm (17–20.5 in / 43–52 cm), switch to 3.75 mm needles and work 1x1 rib for 1.25 in / 3 cm. BO loosely.

Finishing

1. Weave in ends. Block jumper flat or on a dress form to open the lace pattern and set measurements. Gently steam or wet block following yarn care instructions.
2. Neckband (optional): Pick up sts around neckline on 3.75 mm needles, approximately 1 st per 1 knit across the cast-on edge. Work 1x1 rib for 10 rounds, BO loosely. Alternatively, work a short rolled neck by switching to larger needles and knitting stockinette for 1.25 in then BO.

Modifications & fit tips

• Make the jumper more relaxed by switching to 5.0 mm needles for the body after the yoke (adjust yardage and gauge accordingly) and expect a drapier fabric and opened lace.
• To center the lace motif: always count and position lace so the central column(s) align with the front center from collar to hem rather than drifting as increases occur; use a removable marker to track the center stitch(s).
• For a subtler "stonework" look, substitute the 24-st rep with every-other-round lace (fewer eyelets) by knitting the WS rounds instead of purling the lace rows; this keeps texture but reduces openness.

Abbreviated schematic

Top-down yoke: cast-on > rib > yoke increases (raglan) including lace on front > separate sleeves > body and sleeve lengths > rib hems.

Care

Follow yarn label. Hand wash cool and lay flat to dry for wool; or machine-wash on wool cycle if yarn permits. Block gently to open lace.

Support & credits

Pattern by PurlJam (inspired by Gondor architectural motifs). Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. Support: team@verde.uk. Socials: #purljam

Notes: This pattern is fan-inspired. Adjust stitch counts and lace repeat placement to suit your gauge and preferred motif placement. Enjoy your knitting!

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