Skeleton Lace Cardigan

Elegant, lightweight cardigan with vertical "skeleton" lace panels—worked flat from the bottom up with raglan shaping and a neat ribbed button band. This pattern includes six sizes and clear row-by-row instructions. Gauge and yarn recommendations are given so you can swap yarn weights if you adjust needles.

Sizes (Finished Bust)

• XS: 34" (86.5 cm)
• S: 38" (96.5 cm)
• M: 42" (107 cm)
• L: 46" (117 cm)
• XL: 50" (127 cm)
• 2X: 54" (137 cm)

Yarn

DK / Light Worsted weight (category: DK). Sample used: 100% superwash merino DK, 225 yd / 100 g (206 m / 100 g).

• Yardage (approx): XS 1000 yd (915 m); S 1150 yd (1052 m); M 1300 yd (1189 m); L 1500 yd (1371 m); XL 1650 yd (1509 m); 2X 1800 yd (1646 m).
• Skein guidance (based on 225 yd / 100 g): XS ~5 skeins (500 g); S ~6 skeins (600 g); M ~6-7 skeins (650-700 g); L ~7-8 skeins (750-800 g); XL ~8 skeins (800 g); 2X ~8 skeins (800 g).

Needles

Use needles to obtain gauge. Suggested:

• Body & lace: US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm (circulars: 32" / 80 cm and 16" / 40 cm for small circumference work)
• Ribbing and button band: US 6 / UK 8 / 4.0 mm (for firmer edge)
• Double-pointed needles or small-circ for sleeves as needed in same sizes above.

Notions

• 6 matching buttons (size 12–18 mm depending on desired look)
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Tapestry needle for weaving ends
• Blocking tools

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Skeleton Lace pattern on US 7 / 4.5 mm after blocking. IMPORTANT: check your gauge in lace pattern, not stockinette.

Abbreviations

k = knit; p = purl; yo = yarn over; k2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease); ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease); st(s) = stitch(es); RS = right side; WS = wrong side; rep = repeat; CO = cast on; BO = bind off; PM = place marker; SM = slip marker; RS = right side.

Skeleton Lace Pattern (Panel)

Multiple of 6 sts. This is a 4-row repeat. Work edge sts as specified in garment instructions.

Row 1 (RS): *k2, yo, k2tog, k2*  (rep across panel)
Row 2 (WS): purl
Row 3 (RS): *k1, yo, ssk, k3*  (rep across panel)
Row 4 (WS): purl
Repeat Rows 1–4 for pattern.

Notes: The lace is a shifting eyelet ladder: Rows 1 and 3 each have one yo and one decrease per 6-stitch repeat; across the two RS rows the increases and decreases balance.

Construction Overview

Bottom-up body, worked flat to underarms. Sleeves picked up and worked in the round or flat and seamed. Raglan yoke shaped with increases; shoulders bound off and neck finishing with picked-up stitches and ribbed band. Button band worked along right front; buttonholes are created within the band on the left front.

Set-up

Work all pattern pieces with 2 edge sts at each side in Garter-edge (sl 1 pwise on RS) to stabilize edges. When counts are given, they include edge sts unless otherwise noted.

Cast On & Beginning Rib

Using smaller needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm), CO number of sts given below for each size. Join to work flat.

• XS: CO 200 sts
• S: CO 216 sts
• M: CO 232 sts
• L: CO 252 sts
• XL: CO 272 sts
• 2X: CO 292 sts

Work 2" / 5 cm in K2, P2 rib (or 10 rounds) ending with RS ready to begin lace/body needles (switch to US 7 / 4.5 mm).

Body Setup — Lace Panel Placement

Divide stitches across the body as: Left Front / Left Sleeve Seam Area / Back / Right Sleeve Seam Area / Right Front. The skeleton-lace panels are placed on fronts and back as vertical columns. Example layout for S (adjust for your size proportionally):

Schematic (example - S):
Left Front: 54 sts (includes 2 edge sts, lace panel(s) across center of front)
Left Underarm/Side: 6 sts
Back: 84 sts (central lace panels spaced evenly)
Right Underarm/Side: 6 sts
Right Front: 66 sts

Exact distribution: Place 1 lace panel (6-st repeat + 2 edge sts) near each front edge (centered visually) and 2–3 panels across back spaced by stockinette columns. Adjust by multiples of 6 sts to keep lace repeats intact.

Work Body

1. With US 7 / 4.5 mm, work in Skeleton Lace pattern across panels and stockinette (k on RS, p on WS) elsewhere, maintaining 2 edge garter sts at each side (sl 1 at RS rows).
2. Continue until body length from cast-on hem to underarm measures: XS 16" (41 cm); S 16.5" (42 cm); M 17" (43 cm); L 17.5" (44.5 cm); XL 18" (46 cm); 2X 18.5" (47 cm), or desired length. End after WS row.

Begin Raglan & Divide for Sleeves

At underarm, split body: work to sleeve division stitch, place sleeve sts on waste yarn or stitch holder, CO small number (2 sts) underarm or use invisible join and continue. Classic raglan method: you will work flat with 4 raglan seams; to simplify, we provide a traditional bottom-up raglan increase method for flat knitting:

Row that sets division: Work to the first raglan marker (or counted position), bind off sleeve sts onto spare yarn: place the sleeve sts + 2 underarm stitches onto holder. Continue working body front/back separately while shaping raglan increases at the armhole edges as follows:

• On RS rows: at each raglan seam edge, increase 1 st by Make 1 Right (M1R) or bar increase; on WS rows mirror with M1L. Do these increases every RS row 12 times (or until total raglan increase row count reached). Exact increase counts depend on size—see raglan decrease table below. After raglan increases complete, join for yoke if pattern calls for circular yoke; otherwise continue to shoulder shaping.

Raglan Increase Counts (approx)

Increase pairs on each raglan line to shape yoke. Typical increase counts (per raglan line each RS row):

• XS: 12 increases
• S: 13 increases
• M: 14 increases
• L: 15 increases
• XL: 16 increases
• 2X: 17 increases

After increases, you will have the yoke sts ready; join in the round on circular needle if you prefer a circular yoke, or continue flat and bind off shoulder seams later.

Sleeves

1. Place sleeve sts from stitch holder onto DPNs or small circular. Pick up 2 underarm stitches (if you used a 2-st gap earlier) to close underarm. Total sleeve sts will be approximate and should be divisible by lace repeat if you want lace down the sleeve; otherwise work in stockinette.
2. Work in the round: rib 1" / 2.5 cm in K2,P2 on smaller needles if you want cuff; then switch to US7 / 4.5 mm and work skeleton lace down the sleeve if desired (adjust number of sts to maintain multiples of 6). Sleeve length to wrist typically: small 16" / 41 cm; adjust to taste. Bind off loosely in pattern.

Button Band & Neck

1. Right Front Band: With smaller needles (US6 / 4.0 mm), pick up and knit along right front edge including hem and neck edge approx 3 sts per 4 rows (adjust so band lies flat). Work K2,P2 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm. Create 6 buttonholes evenly spaced on the left front band as you work the band on the wrong side: Buttonhole = K2, yo, k2tog (or standard 2-st buttonhole) where appropriate sized for your buttons. On next RS row work buttonhole st normally.
2. Left Front Band: Work same but without buttonholes. If you prefer, you can pick up a single band around neckline to form a continuous collar. Block before sewing buttons.

Finishing

• Block pieces to measurements to open the lace and set gauge (pin gently to shape). Lace will benefit from a gentle, damp block.
• Sew sleeve seams (if worked flat) and side seams. Sew shoulder seams if yoke not worked in the round.
• Attach bands and weave in ends.
• Sew buttons onto right band aligned with buttonholes.

Adjustments & Tips

• If you want a looser drape, go up one needle size for the body while keeping rib smaller for the edge.
• To add more pronounced "skeleton" columns, add more lace panels (every 6 sts) and space with single-column stockinette ribs.
• To center lace repeats, always cast on a multiple that accommodates your chosen number of panels (6 sts per panel + edge sts + side spacing).
• For a cropped version, shorten the body length before dividing for sleeves.

Care

Hand wash or machine wash gentle (if yarn is superwash). Lay flat to dry to preserve lace openness and shape.

Support & Credits

Pattern created for PurlJam. For support email team@verde.uk. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. Socials: #purljam.

Enjoy knitting your Skeleton Lace Cardigan! If you have fit questions, send a note to team@verde.uk with your preferred measurements and I can suggest adjustments.

Created by purlJam with the help of magic AI dust. Shop Verde for patterns and yarn.

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