WHAT IS THIS GOODNESS:
This is a lacy modified dropped shoulder cropped sweater, and an all-seasons great layering piece!

This pattern is for those who usually miss the gauge. Not that you don’t have to check the gauge :smile:, please check the gauge, always! but if you are a bit off, this pattern will still come out perfectly!
I have worked this pattern in fingering, sport, DK, and Aran weight yarn and not always making the gauge, and found out that it’s very hard to screw it up. It will fit perfectly!
AND… you can use almost any yarn - sparkly, linen, cotton, silk, heavier and warmer yarn - hopefully with some silk or alpaca, it is that versatile!

The sweater is worked top down so you can adjust the length by working a few more (or fewer) lace pattern repeats.
The neckline trim is worked in the round at double fabric, and with the permanent fold, that will provide a good structure to the trim and will never gape or stretch. A new technique is used to create a neckline seam. The seam will help the neckline to keep its original shape and will not stretch.
The Provisional Cast On method using two cables is used to cast on stitches for the sleeves. My own method of shaping the neckline while working on the full length of sleeves makes this kint a fun project!
You will indulge in a lot of short rows here! We shape the front neckline, the back neckline drop, and the sleeves using German Short rows.
Three-needle bind-off is used to create a sleeve seam. After that, the back and front are joined to work in the round, and worked until the desired length of the sweater is reached and stitches are bound off. I am using another unusual method to bind off stitches, so if you got bored by this point, it gets exciting again!

A step-by-step video tutorial is available to guide you thru. If you want to enjoy working with provisional CO, Three-needle bind-off, and lots of short rows - this sweater is for you!
As always, the pattern has 21 sizes from a bust circumference of 30 inches to 70 inches. I provide patterns here for 30 thru 68 inches busts, if you need the 70 inches bust circumference instructions, e-mail me.
This sweater is a very fast knit, the lace pattern just flows and it is challenging enough every 2nd and 6th row (where you have to make a double yarnover and reduce one stitch out of three) and then it’s just St st. On larger needles!

TO STYLE AND WEAR IT:
This sweater is easy to wear all year round. Made out of heavier yarn it will be good for colder months thrown over a turtleneck, crewneck, a fitted t-shirt. It will keep you warm.
If linen, cotton, bamboo, silk, and other lighter blends are used, it will look good over a cami during warmer months, or maybe in some sparkly yarn as a layering piece for any season holidays, etc. It will be a good layering piece without all that warm and fuzzy feeling of wool or alpaca blends.

YARN:
The suggested yarns listed are just the ones I worked my test knits in, but the sky is the limit here. I would go with yarns with a drape and a slip. Any blend with Tencel or silk, if using wool will be good. Alpaca,linnen, silk, cotton, bamboo… You would want to make one in different yarn weights, different blends, and different colors! I want to make a few more in marled, variegated, and gradient yarns! Maybe even Suri alpaca… (no slip yarn, but I really want to try it).

A little note here - if you are not a fan of cropped sweaters, just work a few more repeats of the lace pattern before finishing it with the garter stitch. BUT make sure you have some extra yarn for that!

I write my patterns with the end user in mind. I try to make them intuitive and easy to read. For example, instructions for sizes are given in columns (as in an Excel spreadsheet) not in brackets.

#sassysweater on Instagram to show off your Sassy!
Let’s create better-fitting knits together!
XOXO Lena (purLZknitting)