Swans Island Diana Sweater Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Diana Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Diana Sweater is an elegant, modern cardigan designed by Michele Rose Orne for experienced knitters. This garment features an allover lace pattern and is constructed to hang open at the front without closures, creating a gentle sweeping drape. The piece can be styled as an elegant alternative to a shrug for special occasions or worn casually with jeans and a white tee. Available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, with finished bust measurements from 29½" to 49½" and length from 38" to 41¼".

Techniques Used

The Diana Sweater employs several advanced knitting techniques suited for experienced crafters. The garment is worked flat on straight needles and constructed using the bottom-up method, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edges upward. Seaming is used to join the individual pieces together. The most distinctive technical element is the allover lace pattern, which creates an intricate, openwork design throughout the sweater. The unusual shaping combined with the lace pattern adds complexity and visual interest to the finished piece.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates several fundamental and decorative stitches. Stockinette stitch forms the base fabric structure. The allover lace pattern is the primary decorative element, created through yarn overs and decreases that form openwork designs. Specific decrease techniques include k2tog (knit 2 stitches together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and sl2-k1-p2sso (slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over). M1 (make 1) increases are used for shaping. The pattern also uses knit and purl stitches as foundational elements.

Materials

The Diana Sweater is knitted with Swans Island Natural Colors 100% Organic Merino Wool in fingering weight. The yardage requirement is 4 to 6 skeins depending on size, with each skein containing 100 grams and 525 yards. The photographed sample is worked in the colorway Vintage Lilac (YF117). Needles required include US size 5 (3.5 mm) circular needles measuring 21 inches for the main fabric and US size 5 (2.5 mm) straight needles for sections requiring smaller gauge work or for obtaining proper tension. Additional supplies include stitch markers and a yarn needle for seaming and finishing.

Gauge and Fit Notes

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 7 stitches by 8½ rows per 1 inch in the lace pattern. The Diana Sweater is intentionally designed to fit snugly through the sleeves. Knitters who prefer a looser sleeve fit are advised to select one size larger than their typical size. The open front design and sweeping drape are key design features that distinguish this cardigan from traditional fitted sweaters.