Brocken Spectre is half price with coupon code BROCKEN50 valid until midnight (GMT) on 7th October.

A luxuriously soft cardigan with a stunning stitch pattern at the shoulders. Holding a strand of merino and silk 4ply yarn together with alpaca and silk blend laceweight yarn gives unsurpassed softness and a subtle shine. This works perfectly with both the open, airy lace pattern and simple stocking stitch.

We cast on stitches at the shoulders and work the lace pattern down the upper back before increasing for a little armhole shaping. Stitches are picked up at each shoulder for the fronts where we continue with the lace pattern and work armhole shaping to match the back. We then join all stitches at the underarms and work down to the hem, after making a zig-zag transition from lace to stocking stitch. Increases are worked at the inner edge of both fronts for a little extra cosiness! We pick up stitches around both armholes and work sleeves down to the cuffs. Cuffs, hem and front edges are finished with neat twisted 1x1 ribbing.

A Brocken Spectre is an optical illusion that you sometimes see on foggy mountaintops – your own enormous shadow in the mist with a rainbow halo. I’ve only seen one once! The zigzag of the lace pattern over the stocking stitch reminded me of misty mountaintops.

Suggested Yarns:
Eden Cottage Yarn Titus Fingering (75% superwash extrafine merino wool, 25% mulberry silk) 400 m/436 yds per 100g skein, colourway: Penine Mist held together with Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace (75% Baby Suri Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk) 300 m/328 yds per 50g skein, colourway: Ink.

We recommend substituting any 4ply yarn (especially if it has a bit of a sheen) and a fluffy laceweight yarn such as a mohair/silk or alpaca/silk blend. Please check both gauges and adjust needle size as required.

Please note meterage and yardage are for both yarns, e.g. size 1 requires 470 m of fingering weight and 470 m of laceweight yarn.

Meterage: 470 (490, 525, 600) [680, 720, 760] {920, 975, 1015} m.

Yardage: 515 (535, 575, 655) [745, 785, 830] {1000, 1060, 1105} yds.

Dimensions (Metric):
Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}.
To fit Chest Circumference approx: 70 (75, 80, 90) [100, 110, 120] {130, 140, 150} cm.
Garment Chest Circumference: 86 (89, 96, 109) [114, 121, 128] {143, 152, 158} cm
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 33 (36, 38, 42) [42, 46, 48] {53, 57, 61} cm
Front width level with Underarm: 26 (26, 29, 34) [36, 38, 40] {45, 48, 49} cm
Length Underarm to Hem: 30 (30, 30, 30) [33, 33, 33] {35, 35, 35} cm.
Upper Sleeve Circumference: 26 (26, 30, 35) [39, 44, 48] {53, 56, 61} cm.
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 40 cm.

Dimensions (Imperial):
Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}.
To fit Chest Circumference approx: 28 (30, 32, 36) [40, 44, 48] {52, 56, 60}”
Garment Chest Circumference: 34 (35½, 38, 43½) [45½, 48, 51] {57½, 60½, 63½}”
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 13 (14½, 15, 17) [17, 18, 19] {21, 23, 24}”
Front Width Level with Underarm: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}”
Length Underarm to Hem: 12 (12, 12, 12) [13, 13, 13] {14, 14, 14}”
Upper Sleeve Circumference: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}”
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 16”.

Needles: 5.5 mm/US 9 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge.

Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm/4” in stocking stitch after blocking, 13 sts and 18 rows = 10 cm/4” in lace pattern (Chart/Written Instructions A) after blocking.

Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, clip type stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful.

Pattern Difficulty: Moderate

Skills Needed: Work flat and in the round; knit and purl; knit into back loops, cast on and bind off; knitted and purled increases and decreases, yo’s, pick up and knit.

Many thanks to my amazing tech editor Alittlebitsheepish and to fabulous test knitters ritahopes, tobymacdougal, connief, helsbelsclarke, maxik and miatkic.