Tahki Yarns New Leaf Shell Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns New Leaf Shell: Knitted Lace Sweater Pattern

What is Being Made

The New Leaf Shell is a sleeveless knitted sweater designed by Lynn M. Wilson. This garment features a sophisticated lace panel construction with a fitted silhouette, available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X. The finished bust measurements span from 38 inches (96.5 cm) in the smallest size to 58 inches (147.5 cm) in the largest, with two length options: 23 inches (58.5 cm) for sizes Small through Large, and 26½ inches (67.5 cm) for sizes XL through 3X.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several essential knitting techniques to create its elegant design:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as they progress and easily adjust the length if needed.
• Worked Flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are joined together using the three-needle bind-off technique, which creates a secure, professional seam while simultaneously binding off the edges. This special technique involves placing stitches from two pieces on separate needles, holding them with right sides facing, and knitting them together with a third needle while binding off.
• Lace Patterning: The design incorporates charted lace panels that create decorative openwork sections, adding visual interest and a delicate aesthetic to the finished garment.

Stitches Used

The New Leaf Shell utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the majority of the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat front and textured back.
• Garter Stitch: Used for the initial 8 rows at the cast-on edge, providing a textured, reversible border that prevents curling and adds structural definition.
• Lace Stitches: Charted lace panels appear in three distinct sections—Left Panel, Center Panel, and Right Panel—each with specific stitch counts (15 stitches for side panels measuring 3¼ inches wide, and 23 stitches for the center panel measuring 5½ inches wide).
• Decreases: The pattern includes shaping decreases (ssk and k2tog) worked on designated rows to create a fitted silhouette.

Materials and Gauge

The New Leaf Shell is designed to be worked in Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Lite, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn. The yardage requirements range from 6 skeins for the smallest size to 11 skeins for the largest size. Each skein contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 146 yards (135 meters) of yarn.

The pattern requires two needle sizes: size 5 (3.75mm) needles for the main knitting and size 4 (3.5mm) needles for the ribbing and the three-needle bind-off. An additional spare size 4 needle is needed for the seaming technique. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch when worked on the larger needles. Knitters are advised to check their gauge carefully before beginning, as accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Pattern Construction Details

The garment begins with a cast-on of 101 to 161 stitches depending on size, worked on smaller needles. After establishing the garter stitch border, the pattern transitions to larger needles and introduces the charted lace panels. The body is divided into five distinct sections marked with stitch markers: two 15-stitch side panels, two stockinette sections, and a 23-stitch center lace panel. Shaping occurs through strategic decreases worked on right-side rows, reducing 2 stitches per decrease row to create the fitted shell silhouette. The pattern continues until the piece reaches the specified length before finishing with the three-needle bind-off seaming technique.