The Crescendo Blouse is a light-weight sweater with a lace yoke based around a repeating diamond motif. It has 4 different options for sleeves (3/4 puffy, t-shirt, long and fitted, long and balloon) and the body has a boxy fit. The pattern includes a chart for the lace and a large amount of technical guidance, as I use a fairly idiosyncratic increase method through the yoke.

Materials & Fit

Notions: 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm circular needles. You may find a 40 cm needle useful for the collar and sleeves, a 60 cm needle for the yoke, and an 80 or 100 cm needle for the body. However, if you are comfortable with the Magic Loop technique, you could also just use the 80 or 100 cm needle for the whole project. Whatever works best for you!

You will also need a couple of stitch markers, one of which should be in a contrasting colour to indicate the beginning of the round, a darning needle, and some spare needles/scrap yarn/stitch holders where the stitches of the sleeves will rest.

Yarn: Approximately 4 (5) 4-5 (5) 6 (6) 6 (6-7) 6-7 (7) skeins of Sandnes Garn Sunday (50 g = 235 m) and 4 (4) 4-5 (5) 5-6 (5-6) 6 (6-7) 6-7 (7) skeins of Sandnes Garn or Tynn Silk Mohair (25 g = 212 m) held together throughout (i.e., you hold the two yarns together as you knit with them). Please note that some of the sleeve options will use more yarn than others. If in doubt, buy more than you need to avoid issues with dye lots.

Yarn alternatives: Any DK yarn/combination of yarns suitable for 3.5-4.5 mm needles should work.

Tension: 23 sts x 26 rows in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles. Make sure to wash and block your swatch for the most accurate results. My gauge was a bit looser for the lace (17 sts in pattern = approx. 8 cm for me), but aim for 23 stitches in stocking stitch. If you need to, feel free to go up or down a needle size to tighten or loosen your gauge until you are happy. Based on observations from test knitters, continental-style needles may prefer to start with a 4 mm needle and work adjust as needed. If you do change needle size, you may also want to go down to a 3 mm needle for the rib.

Sizing and ease: The Crescendo Blouse has about 5-10 cm positive ease for sizes A-G, and 5-15 cm positive ease for sizes H-J. If you would like a closer fitting or looser garment, size up or down accordingly.

SIZE: A (B) C (D) E (F) G (H) I (J)
Chest measurement (cm): 80-85 (85-90) 90-95 (95-100) 100-105 (105-110) 110-115 (115-125) 125-135 (135-145)
Actual circumference of garment (cm): 90 (95) 100 (105) 110 (115) 120 (130) 140 (150)

A word on formatting
Please note that there are 3 pattern pdfs in this listing as well as 2 downloadable knitting charts. The first file has the ‘standard’ formatting suitable for printing and use on a computer/laptop monitor; the second file has a bolder font which will be clearer on a mobile device of tablet; the third has been formatted to be dyslexia-friendly by a graphic designer familiar with accessibility in writing.