The Lottie sweater has an open lacy stitch pattern that’s simple to crochet yet looks elegant and stylish. Suitable for wearing in formal and informal settings and from day-to-night, this pattern’s versatility makes it the perfect garment to add to your wardrobe year-round.
The delicate, open stitch pattern adds a touch of sophistication to this top and allows for a beautiful, airy feel. Perfect for layering, the lacy design is both breathable and chic and just so comfortable to wear!
Suitable for all skill levels (including advanced beginners), my pattern will show you how to crochet your own sweater for sizes S through to 5X.
Free to view here on the blog today in US crochet terms, you can also upgrade to a PDF in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.
Why you’ll Love this Easy Crochet Sweater
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Skill Level
Easy
Supplies and Materials
These are the supplies and materials you need to be able to crochet this sweater:
- DROPS Cotton Light, color 14 (dark turquoise): 1166, (1265, 1387, 1586, 1722, 1829, 2004, 2187) yds
- 5mm / H-8 crochet hook (I use these hooks)
- 6mm / J-10 crochet hook (foundation chain and row 1)
- Stitch markers (these are my favourites)
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Yarn Choices
DROPS Cotton Light is a DK yarn I bought in a sale earlier this year from Wool Warehouse. It’s been in the back of my mind so when I’d chosen the stitch and designed the style for this sweater pattern, I knew it would be just right! I’m so pleased with the finished weight of the garment and love the drape.
Brand | DROPS Cotton Light |
Yarn Weight | DK |
Fibre Blend | 50% Polyester 50% Cotton |
Length | 105 metres / 115 yds |
Ball Weight | 50g |
Care Instructions | Machine wash 40°C Dry flat Do not tumble dry |
I do recommend you use DK and if possible, a similar blended yarn to achieve the same drape. However, you can substitute the Cotton Light and adjust your stitch count using the stitch gauge converter tool.
Note: I’ve used a larger hook than recommended with the yarn to open up the lacy stitches.
Gauge
16 stitches and 8 rows with a 5mm/H-8 hook = 10cm/4” X 10cm/4”
Glossary
Stitches
You will need to be familiar with these stitches for the ascending shells stitch pattern.
US crochet terms
Single crochet (sc)
Single crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) – used for decreases to shape the sleeves
Double Crochet (dc)
V-Stitch (V-st): double crochet, chain 2, double crochet worked into chain spaces / double crochet, chain 1, double crochet worked into chain spaces (both variations are used)
For my UK crocheters, the table below is a conversion of basic crochet stitches from US to UK.
US Crochet Terms | UK Crochet Terms |
---|---|
single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) |
half double crochet (hdc) | half treble crochet (htr) |
double crochet (dc) | treble crochet (tr) |
treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) |
double treble (dtr) | triple treble (trtr) |
Abbreviations
in the order of when they appear in the pattern
- Chain = ch
- Right Side = RS
- Skip = sk
- Repeat = rep
- Chain 1 Space = ch1-sp
- Chain 2 Space = ch2-sp
- Wrong Side = WS
- Stitch Marker = st marker
Measurements
(including yarn amounts)
These are the measurements for your loose-fitting sweater top.
Guidance is used from the Craft Yarn Council standard body measurements.
To Fit (inches) | Width (inches) | Length (inches) | Amount of Yarn in both yards and DROPS grams (approx.) |
S 32 – 34 | 40 | 22 | 1166 / 11X50g |
M 36 – 38 | 44 | 22.75 | 1265 / 11X50g |
L 40 – 42 | 48 | 23.5 | 1387 / 13X50g |
XL 44 – 46 | 52 | 24.5 | 1586 / 14X50g |
2X 48 – 50 | 56 | 24.5 | 1722 / 16X50g |
3X 52 – 54 | 60 | 24.5 | 1829 / 16X50g |
4X 56 – 58 | 64 | 25 | 2004 / 18X50g |
5X 60 – 62 | 68 | 25 | 2187 / 20X50g |
How the sweater pattern is worked
The Lottie sweater uses the ascending shells stitch pattern throughout the body and sleeves. This is made up of double crochet, V-stitches and chains and is worked in a 4-row repeat. The open stitches give a gorgeous lacy fabric and drape!
An easy construction, you’ll crochet two rectangular panels first (for front and back). There is no shaping for these panels.
The sleeves are crocheted next and use minimal decreases for shaping. Decreases are made working stitches together and single crochet in chain spaces.
Next, you’ll start to assemble the sweater starting with the shoulder seams. The front and back are placed together with the wrong side facing outwards. Stitch markers are used for the middle of the neckline and where the seam starts on right and left.
Once you’ve done this, the sleeves are set in place and seams are sewn for the sleeve and side seams.
The sleeves are set in place by lining up the shoulder edge of the sleeve with the shoulder edge of the right and left fronts, pinning into place and sewing along the shoulder edge.
The sleeve is then folded in half and you can either sew the seam from the cuff and continue the side seam (recommended) or if you prefer, you can sew from the body to the cuff then the side seam separately.
Sewing one seam to close the sleeves and the side of the sweater with one length of yarn is better as it gives a stronger seam. However, if you don’t like working with a longer length of yarn (that can get easily tangled) you can work the seams separately.
The image below shows how to lay out your lacy top ready for setting the sleeve in place and folding the sleeve.
And that’s it! Your lacy summer sweater is ready to be blocked and worn.
Pattern Notes
- Instructions are written in US crochet terms.
- Sizes are written thus: S, (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X).
- Repetitions are noted with * for example *sk 3 chs, [2dc, ch1, 2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next ch, sk 3 chs, [dc, ch1, dc] in next ch * rep to last ch, 2 dc in last ch. You will repeat the stitches from the first asterisk to the second
- Stitches worked into the same stitch/chain are noted with [ ] as in the example above
- Chain 3 counts as a double crochet.
- Chain 4 counts as a double crochet and chain one.
- The foundation chain and row 1 (for the body and sleeves) are worked using a 6mm/J-10 crochet hook which is then switched to a 5mm/H-8 hook.
- From row 2 onwards, double crochets are always worked into the chain spaces from the previous row.
- In row 3 and repeats of this row, when working into chain 4 (turning chain) at the end of the row, work 2 double crochets in the top of chain 4, then chain 1 and to end the row work 1 double crochet in the next chain down.
- Weave in ends as you go
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Included in the sweater pattern:
- stitch instructions
- how the pattern is worked
- pattern notes
- clear written instructions
Lottie Sweater Instructions US Crochet Terms
Front and Back Panels (make 2)
With a 6mm/J-10 hook
Ch 76, (84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132)
Row 1 (RS): dc in 4th ch from hook, *sk 3 chs, [2dc, ch1, 2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next ch, sk 3 chs, [dc, ch1, dc] in next ch * rep to last ch, 2 dc in last ch, ch4, turn
Change to 5mm/H-8 hook
Row 2: dc in base of ch4, *2 dc in ch1-sp, ch2, 2 dc in next ch1-sp, [dc, ch2, dc] in next ch1-sp, * rep to last st, [dc, ch1, dc] in last st, ch3, turn
Row 3: dc in base of ch3, ch1, 2 dc in ch1-sp, *[dc, ch1, dc] in next ch2-sp, [2dc, ch1, 2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next ch2-sp, *rep across to last st (turning-ch), 2 dc in top of ch, ch1, dc in next ch down, ch4, turn
Row 4: 2 dc in first ch1-sp, [dc, ch2, dc] in next ch1-sp, * 2 dc in next ch1-sp, ch2, 2 dc in next ch1-sp, [dc, ch2, dc] in next ch1-sp, *rep to last ch1-sp, 2dc in ch-sp, ch1, dc in last st, ch3, turn
Row 5: dc in base of ch3, *[2dc, ch1, 2dc, ch1, 2dc] in ch2-sp, [dc, ch1, dc] in next ch2-sp, * rep across to last st, 2dc in last st
Rows 2 to 5 for the ascending shells pattern
Row 6 to 38, (39, 40, 41, 41, 41, 42, 42) rep rows 2 to 5
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the shoulder seam
Sleeves (make 2)
With a 6mm/J-10 hook
Ch 44, (52, 60, 68, 76, 76, 84, 84)
Rep rows 1 – 5, changing to 5mm/H-8 hook from row 2
Row 6 to 13, (13, 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16) rep rows 2 to 5
Decreasing
Row 14, (14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 17, 17): sc2tog, ch4, rep row 2 to last 2 sts, ch4, sc2tog, ch1, turn
Row 15, (15, 16, 16, 17, 17, 18, 18) sc2tog, ch4, rep row 3 to last 2 sts, ch4, sc2tog, ch1, turn
Row 16, (16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 19, 19): sc in ch-sp, ch4, rep row 4 to last ch, sc in last ch, ch1, turn
Row 17, (17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20): sc in ch-sp, ch3, rep row 5 to last ch, sc in last ch, ch1, turn
Row 18, (18, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21, 21): sc in ch-sp, ch3, rep row 2 to last ch, sc in last ch, ch1, turn
Row 19, (19, 20, 20, 21, 21, 22, 22): sc in ch-sp, ch3, rep row 3 to last ch, sc in last ch, ch1, turn
S, M, L, XL ONLY
Continue working ascending shells pattern without decreasing for another 5 rows
Fasten off
2X, 3X, 4X, 5X ONLY
Continue working decrease rows in ascending shells pattern for another 5 rows
Fasten off
Assembly
Shoulder Seams
Place front and back together with WS facing outwards
Find the middle stitch and place a st marker in the loop
Measure 11.5 cm towards left edge and place a st marker
Measure 11.5 cm towards right edge and place a st marker
Remove middle st marker
Sew shoulder seam from neckline edge to outer edge on both left and right.
Remove st markers
Fasten off
Sleeve and Side Seams
Working on the WS, lay the cardigan out (see image in how the pattern is worked) and mark the centre st of the top of the sleeve.
Line centre st of the top of the sleeve with the centre of the shoulder seam along the shoulder edge. Pin sleeve in place. Sew seam. Fasten off
Fold sleeve over (still working on WS) and sew sleeve seam from cuff to underarm and continue the seam down the side of the sweater.
Fasten off
Congratulations! Your lacy sweater is finished.
Have you made this sweater? How did you get on? You can leave a comment below or share your photos on the Facebook page.
Copyright Notice
The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree. This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make. If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.