Pattern Description from A Gathering of Lace: /“The name, Ljace-Kofte, is a play-on-words. The lusekofte is a traditional Norwegian sweater, worked in two- or three-colored stranded patterns. The lower body and sleeves often have a simple dotted design, hence theluse* (translates as lice). The yoke and upper sleeves are made of horizontal bands of x’s and o’s (actually, diamonds), zig-zags, and/or smaller diamonds. I took it as a personal challenge to come up with a lace version. I modified the drop-shoulder by indenting the armholes somewhat. I also chose not to cut the armholes but work the front and yoke separately, and then knitted the sleeves down from the armholes.“ There is no seaming since the shoulders are joined by a 3 ndl BO.

I have come to learn that I mistakenly spoke re the origin of the Norwegian title for these sweaters. It’s Lusekofte, no “j” in the word at all. Now there is the Swedish word ljus which does have a “j” and means light which the dots of color could likewise represent, but then I gave credit to the wrong nationality. So my apologies to Norwegians AND Swedes everywhere for not doing more diligence on that first to get it right one way or another. Unfortunately the book is long out of print so there’s nothing I can do about the spelling in it but at least want to include that correction here.

Skill Level; Intermediate

Sizes: P (S, M, L, XL, XXL) Shown in size M.

Finished Measurements:

• Underarm 41½ (45, 48, 51, 54½, 57½)“
• Length 26 (27½, 28, 28, 29½, 30)“

Yarn: Schoolhouse Press Québécoise (3½oz/100g; 210 yds/190m; wool) 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) skeins Aqua #42

Needles:

• Sizes 6 and 7 (4 and 4.5mm) circular needles, 16” and 29” (40 and 72 cm), or size to obtain gauge
• One set each sizes 5 and 7 (3.75 and 4.5mm) double-pointed needles (dpn)

Extras:

• Stitch markers
• 4 stitch holders
• 4-5 yds waste yarn
• Tapestry needle

Blocked Gauge:

• 5 sts and 7 rnds to 1”/2.5cm in Simple Eyelet pat using size 7 (4.5mm) needles
• 5 sts and 7 rnds to 1”/2.5cm in OXO and Zig-Zag pat for yoke using size 6 (4mm) needles

Notes:

1. All charts show #’s on right edge for working in rnds. These charts may also be worked back and forth in rows.
2. The st in the second row/rnd above each yo (except for the yo’s in Beaded Eyelet) is a k1b. When the st that will need the k1b will also be involved in a dec, twist the st before completing the dec.
3. Make a chain selvedge at the side edges of armhole and neck by slipping the first st of each row purlwise.
4. Yoke chart shows body sts on one edge for smallest size only. There will be 8 additional sts at underarm for each size, and the eyelet positions on rows 1-18 may not match chart.
5. See Techniques, p. 162, for invisible cast-on, 3-needle bind-off, grafting, and ssp.