Vintage-inspired Zigzag Lace Striped Jumper (4 colours)

A feminine vintage-inspired pullover with a softly scalloped zigzag eyelet lace worked across the body in narrow stripes of four colours. Worked flat in pieces with set-in sleeves. Sized to fit a range of busts; written for DK weight yarn. Includes full stitch pattern, stripe sequence, exact cast-on counts for sizes S–XXL, yarn usage (imperial & metric) and needle equivalents (US / UK old / Metric).

Sizes (finished bust circumference)

• S = 36.8" (93.5 cm)
• M = 40.0" (101.5 cm)
• L = 44.8" (114 cm)
• XL = 48.0" (122 cm)
• XXL = 51.2" (130 cm)

Recommendations / Fit

This jumper is intended to be worn with 0–4" (0–10 cm) positive ease depending on preference. Model photographed wearing size M with ~2" positive ease.

Yarn

DK / Light Worsted weight (sample uses a soft wool blend). Gauge and yardage assume a typical DK at ~231 yds (211 m) per 100 g skein.

• Suggested yarn: DK weight, 100 g = 231 yds / 211 m
• Colours: 4 contrasting or complementary shades (labelled A, B, C, D)
• Approximate yarn quantities (total and per colour). These are estimates; check gauge and swatch before starting.

Yardage by size (total across all colours)

• S: ~900 yds (823 m) = ~390 g (approx 4 x 100 g skeins; per-colour ~98 g / ~225 yds / ~206 m)
• M: ~1000 yds (914 m) = ~435 g (per-colour ~109 g / ~252 yds / ~230 m)
• L: ~1150 yds (1051 m) = ~500 g (per-colour ~125 g / ~289 yds / ~263 m)
• XL: ~1250 yds (1143 m) = ~545 g (per-colour ~136 g / ~322 yds / ~294 m)
• XXL: ~1400 yds (1280 m) = ~610 g (per-colour ~153 g / ~355 yds / ~320 m)

Tip: If you prefer exact colour control, buy an extra skein of the colour you plan to use most or that provides narrow contrast stripes; stripe lengths are distributed evenly but final garment yardage can vary with blocking and tension.

Needles & Notions

• Ribbing needles (smaller): US 6 / UK 8 / 4.0 mm
• Main needle for body (recommended): US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm
• Optional larger needle for a looser fabric or to obtain gauge: US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm
• Needle type: 32" / 80 cm circular (body worked flat in pieces; circular used for magic loop option), 16" / 40 cm circular for smaller circumferences or shorter rows, set of DPns for sleeves OR larger circular for magic loop
• Stitch markers, tapestry needle, scrap yarn for provisional cast-on (optional), stitch holder

Gauge

20 sts x 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in pattern stitch on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles. IMPORTANT: swatch in the stitch pattern and in the stripe sequence you will use, block it and measure. Adjust needle size to match gauge.

Abbreviations (US terms used; where helpful a short note on UK)

• k = knit
• p = purl
• yo = yarn over
• ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• k2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• RS = right side, WS = wrong side

Stitch Pattern – Zigzag Eyelet Lace

The lace is worked over a multiple of 8 sts + 0 edge sts (we include selvedge sts as written where indicated). It is a 4-row repeat (rows 2 & 4 are WS purl rows).

Pattern repeat: multiple of 8

Row 1 (RS): *k2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2*  (repeat across)

Row 2 (WS): purl across

Row 3 (RS): *k2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2* (repeat across)

Row 4 (WS): purl across

Notes: The pair of rows 1–4 creates a vertical zigzag of eyelets; read Row 3 as the offset of Row 1 to create the chevron movement. If your stitch counts ever feel off, check that you are working multiples of 8 across each lace panel.

Stripe Sequence

Narrow 6-row stripes produce the vintage banding. Each stripe is 6 rows high. Sequence repeats: A, B, C, D (repeat). You can also work pairs of 6 rows (12-row stripes) for a bolder band.

Construction and schematic

Worked from the bottom up in separate back, front and set-in sleeves. Ribbed hem, lace-striped body to underarm, armhole shaping, then short-row shoulder shaping and set-in sleeves (or standard sleeve cap shaping). Schematic dimensions given in each section.

Cast-on counts (multiple of 8)

• S: CO 184 sts
• M: CO 200 sts
• L: CO 224 sts
• XL: CO 240 sts
• XXL: CO 256 sts

Body – Back

1. Using 4.0 mm (US 6) needles, CO stitches for your size. Work 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for 1.5" / 4 cm.
2. Switch to 4.5 mm (US 7) needles. Begin Lace Pattern and start stripes using colour sequence rows: 6 rows Colour A, 6 rows Colour B, 6 rows Colour C, 6 rows Colour D, then repeat sequence to continue. Work pattern stitch across the row using the lace 4-row repeat and maintain yarn colour changes every 6 rows. Continue until piece measures 16.0" / 41 cm from cast-on edge (or desired length to underarm).
3. Armhole shaping (back): Bind off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows (one at each side) – this creates small armhole shoulders. Then, dec 1 st each side every RS row 6 times. (Totals and examples below.) Continue until armhole depth measures 8.5" / 21.5 cm from underarm.
4. Shoulder shaping: Bind off for each shoulder in 3 equal steps: S example: with 184 start, after armhole shaping you will have approx 152 sts across; divide left/right shoulders and centre back: bind off 16 sts at beginning of next 4 rows (or bind off 2 x 16 sts and leave centre 24 sts for neck). For clarity, work to shoulder shaping when you have reached approx 3.5–4.0" from armhole top and then bind off 2–3 batches of sts to shape shoulder slope. (Exact numbers vary slightly by size; see finishing notes below.)

Note: The back neck is shallow; you can bind off centre 24–28 sts for the back neck and finish each shoulder separately. Place live shoulder sts on holder.

Body – Front

1. Work as for Back to same underarm depth and same armhole shaping.
2. When front armhole reaches 3.5" / 9 cm (or slightly before back shoulder shaping), begin neck shaping. For a classic vintage scoop neck bind off the centre 14–22 sts (size dependent) and work each side separately, decreasing on the neck edge 1 st every other row 6–10 times until neck width measures desired amount. Shoulder shaping mirrors the back.

Sleeves (make 2)

1. CO 48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts on 4.0 mm needles. Work 1.5" / 4 cm 1x1 rib.
2. Switch to 4.5 mm needles. Work lace stitch in the round OR flat (if working flat, purl WS rows) maintaining stripe sequence as on the body. Begin sleeve increases: increase 1 st each end every 6th row (after first 8 rows) until sleeve measures approx 17" / 43 cm from cast-on or reaches upper arm circumference matching the armhole (aim for sleeve top circumference that will fit into set-in armhole with no more than 4–6% ease). Typical final sleeve stitch counts by size will be approx 72 (80, 88, 96, 104) sts.
3. Sleeve cap shaping: bind off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows, then decrease 1 st each side every RS row until you have reached the sleeve cap height to match the body armhole depth (measure and match live armhole sts from body). Finish by binding off remaining sts to match shoulder seam length.

Finishing

1. Block all pieces to measurements.
2. Join shoulders using 3-needle bind-off or mattress stitch leaving neck opening as shaped.
3. Set in sleeves matching sleeve cap to armhole. Ease sleeve cap and mattress stitch in place.
4. Neckband: With smaller needles pick up stitches evenly around neck (pick up approx 3–4 sts per inch depending on pick-up gauge) and work 1x1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm, then bind off loosely in rib. Optionally work a short row collar for extra vintage roll.
5. Weave in ends, steam/press lightly if using wool. Do final blocking for shape and drape.

Detailed counts and examples (S size worked example)

S size worked example specifics (to be adapted by measurement for other sizes):

• CO 184. Rib 1.5".
• Body to underarm: 16" in lace stripes = approx 112 rows (gauge and stripe repeat dependent).
• Armhole shaping: bind off 4 sts each side = -8 sts. Then dec 1 st each side every RS row 6x = -12 sts. New total sts across back will be approx 164 sts. Continue until armhole depth 8.5".
• Back neck: bind off center 24 sts, finish each shoulder separately, binding off in two steps of 20 sts and 16 sts (example: 20, then 16) to form shoulder slope. Sew shoulders.

Use the same method for front, but shape the neck earlier and bind off more centre sts for a deeper scoop.

Adjusting for fit

• To make the jumper shorter or longer, add or subtract full stripe repeats (each stripe band = 6 rows).
• To change ease, alter cast-on by multiples of 8 sts (stitch pattern repeat) or change needle size to adjust gauge. Remember to re-calc yarn requirements.

Notes & tips

• Keep consistent tension at colour joins; carry floats neatly on WS to avoid puckering.
• If stripes break the lace pattern visually, use a semi-solid palette for best clarity of the zigzag eyelet.
• Always block lace before seaming – blocking opens the eyelets and evens the chevrons.

Care

Follow yarn manufacturer’s recommendations. For hand-washable wools: hand-wash in cool water, lay flat to dry. Avoid wringing or tumble drying.

Pattern support and errata: https:\/\/purljam.verde.uk — for questions email team@verde.uk — socials: #purljam

Enjoy your vintage zigzag jumper! If you need help converting to a different construction (top-down raglan or seamless), let me know which size and I can give a tailored conversion.

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