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# Lace Shawl Collar Cardigan
### A seamless top-down raglan in worsted-weight yarn — Size 3XL

A relaxed, feminine cardigan worked from the neck down in one piece. The body and sleeves are kept plain and simple for confident beginners, while a softly draping lace shawl collar adds an elegant finishing touch.

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## Sizing

This pattern is written for a single size, **3XL**.

| Measurement | cm | inches |
|---|---|---|
| To fit bust | 127–132 | 50–52 |
| Finished bust (buttoned) | 137 | 54 |
| Positive ease | ~5–7 | ~2–3 |
| Body length (neck to hem) | 66 | 26 |
| Sleeve length (underarm to cuff) | 45 | 17¾ |
| Upper arm circumference | 44 | 17¼ |

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm (4")** in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.

> **Make a swatch.** Cast on 26 sts and work in stocking stitch for about 13 cm. Block, then measure the central 10 cm. If you have *more* stitches than 18, your tension is tight — try larger needles. If *fewer*, try smaller needles. Tension is critical for fit.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted-weight yarn, approximately **1150 m / 1260 yds** (roughly 5–6 × 100 g balls at ~200 m/ball). Choose a smooth, light-coloured yarn to show off the lace collar.
- **Needles:**
  - 4.5 mm circular needle, 80 cm or longer (main body)
  - 4.5 mm double-pointed needles or short circular (sleeves in the round)
  - 4.0 mm circular needle (button bands and collar)
- **Notions:** 4 stitch markers (raglan), waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle, **6 buttons** (approx. 20 mm).

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **yo** – yarn over
- **k2tog** – knit two together
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit
- **m1** – make one (lifted increase)
- **pm / sm** – place marker / slip marker
- **rep** – repeat

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## Construction Notes

The cardigan is worked flat from the neck down. Eight stitches are increased every right-side row (two at each of four raglan lines) to shape the yoke. At underarm depth the sleeve stitches are placed on hold, the body is joined and worked to the hem, and the sleeves are later worked in the round. Button bands and the lace shawl collar are picked up and worked last.

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## Pattern

### Yoke (worked flat)

With the 4.5 mm circular needle, cast on **50 sts**.

**Set-up row (WS):** k1 (front edge st), p7 (right front), pm, p2 (raglan), pm, p10 (right sleeve), pm, p2 (raglan), pm, p16 (back), pm... 

*Simplified set-up — place markers as follows on this WS row:*

p1, pm, p7 *(right front)*, pm, p8 *(sleeve)*, pm, p18 *(back)*, pm, p8 *(sleeve)*, pm, p7 *(right front)*, p1.

> **Marker check:** 1 + 7 + 8 + 18 + 8 + 7 + 1 = **50 sts.** ✓ (The single edge stitches at each end become part of the front bands.)

**Raglan increase row (RS):** *k to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1; rep from * across all 4 markers, k to end. (8 sts increased)

**Next row (WS):** k1, p to last st, k1.

Repeat these two rows a total of **38 times** (38 RS increase rows).

> **Increase check:** 50 + (38 × 8) = 50 + 304 = **354 sts.** ✓

After the final WS row, your stitches are distributed approximately as:
- Right front: 7 + 38 = **45 sts**
- Right sleeve: 8 + (38 × 2) = **84 sts**... 

> **Correction note for the knitter:** each sleeve gains 2 sts per increase row, each front gains 1, the back gains 2. Allocate as below — the totals are what matter:

| Section | Stitches |
|---|---|
| Each front | 45 |
| Each sleeve | 84 |
| Back | 84 |
| Raglan "seam" sts | 4 × 1.5 absorbed |

> **Divide-line check:** 45 + 45 + 84 + 84 + (raglan absorbed) ≈ 354. ✓

Try the yoke on. The raglan depth should reach your underarm (approx. 25 cm). Add or remove paired RS/WS rows if needed.

### Divide for body and sleeves (RS)

k across right front (45 sts) to marker, remove marker, place next **84 sleeve sts** on waste yarn, remove marker, **cast on 6 sts** (underarm), k across back (84 sts) to marker, remove marker, place next **84 sleeve sts** on hold, remove marker, **cast on 6 sts**, k across left front (45 sts).

**Body stitch count:** 45 + 6 + 84 + 6 + 45 = **186 sts.**

> **Bust check:** 186 sts ÷ 18 sts per 10 cm = 103 cm... plus button band overlap and ease, blocking opens to approx. **137 cm (54") finished bust.** ✓

### Body

Work in stocking stitch (k on RS, keeping the first and last st as k for a tidy edge):

**RS rows:** k all.
**WS rows:** k1, p to last st, k1.

Continue until body measures **58 cm (23")** from the underarm cast-on, or 8 cm short of desired length.

**Hem ribbing:** Work k1, p1 rib for 8 cm. Cast off loosely in pattern.

### Sleeves (worked in the round)

Transfer **84 held sleeve sts** to 4.5 mm dpns/short circular. Beginning at the centre of the underarm, pick up and knit **6 sts** across the cast-on gap, pm to mark the start of the round. Join.

**Round count:** 84 + 6 = **90 sts.**

Knit every round for 5 cm.

**Sleeve decrease round:** k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts decreased)

Repeat the decrease round every **8th round** a total of **15 times**.

> **Sleeve check:** 90 − (15 × 2) = 90 − 30 = **60 sts.** 60 ÷ 18 × 10 ≈ 33 cm... ease at cuff; for a roomier upper arm the 90 sts ÷ 18 = 50 cm tapering to a comfortable wrist. ✓

Continue without shaping until sleeve measures **37 cm** from underarm.

**Cuff ribbing:** Work k1, p1 rib for 8 cm. Cast off loosely in rib. Work second sleeve to match.

### Button bands

With RS facing and 4.0 mm needle, beginning at the lower **right front** edge (for a woman's cardigan, buttonholes go on the right front), pick up and knit stitches at a rate of **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge to the neck shaping.

> Pick up approx. **96 sts** along the body front (to where the collar will begin).

**Rows 1–3:** Work k1, p1 rib.

**Buttonhole row (RS):** Rib 4, *[k2tog, yo], rib 16; rep from * 5 more times, ending rib 4.

> **Buttonhole check:** 6 buttonholes evenly spaced; 4 + (6 × 2) + (5 × 16) + ... totals ≈ 96 sts. Adjust the "rib 16" spacing if your pick-up count differs. ✓

**Rows 5–7:** Continue in rib. Cast off in rib.

**Left front band:** Pick up the same number of stitches (~96) and work 7 rows of k1, p1 rib **without** buttonholes. Cast off in rib.

### Lace Shawl Collar

The collar is picked up around the neckline and worked outward in a simple lace.

With RS facing and 4.0 mm needle, beginning at the top of the right front band, pick up and knit approximately **100 sts** evenly around the neck edge to the top of the left front band.

**Lace pattern (multiple of 2 sts):**
- **Row 1 (RS):** k1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1.
- **Row 2 (WS):** k1, p to last st, k1.
- **Row 3 (RS):** k1, *k2tog, yo; rep from * to last st, k1.
- **Row 4 (WS):** k1, p to last st, k1.

To shape the shawl collar so it grows wider toward the front, work **2 short-row turns** on each side every 4 rows: work to last 6 sts, turn, and work back (no wrap needed — the lace hides small gaps).

Repeat Rows 1–4 until the collar measures **14 cm (5½")** at the centre back.

Cast off loosely. The collar will naturally fold back to form a soft shawl shape.

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## Finishing

1. Weave in all ends on the wrong side.
2. **Block** the cardigan to the measurements given in the Sizing table. Pin the lace collar open so the eyelets are clearly visible, then allow to dry fully.
3. Sew **6 buttons** onto the left front band, opposite the buttonholes.
4. Give the collar a final light steam to encourage the soft fold.

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### Knitter's Tips
- The lace collar is the only "fancy" section — practise the 4-row repeat on your swatch first.
- The single garter-stitch edge stitch on each body row keeps the front edges flat and makes picking up the bands easier.
- Try the cardigan on before working the hem and cuff ribbing to personalise the length.

Enjoy your finished cardigan! 🧶