Thistle is a cardigan / wrap worked sideways with an allover thistle lace pattern. The two ends of the cardigan are worked separately and then grafted together, as if working a lace stole. While working each of the two ends of the cardigan, stitches are placed on waste yarn for the sleeves. The sleeves are worked separately and then grafted to those stitches from the waste yarn. A self-striping yarn with long color changes is recommended to highlight the contours of the thistle lace. Pattern is sized from 30” / 76 cm bust to 60” / 152 cm bust, with sizing increments every 2” / 5 cm to ensure a flattering fit.

Pattern Difficulty: Adventurous Beginner. Pattern requires following a lace stitch pattern over a large number of stitches, a Provisional cast on, and grafting using Kitchener Stitch.

Yarn used for sample pictured:
Knit Picks Chroma Fingering (fingering weight, 70% wool, 30% nylon, 396 yards per 100 gram ball), Fossil 25244 colorway.
* 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls.

Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) or size to achieve gauge, circular needle at least 29” / 74 cm long and set of double pointed needles (DPNs) for sleeves or a long circular needle for Magic Loop. Spare circular needle in same size for grafting.

Gauge: 16 stitches by 21 rows = 4” x 4” / 10 x 10 cm in thistle lace pattern after blocking. Take time to check gauge.

Notions: Waste yarn, tapestry needle, stitch marker, crochet hook (for Provisional cast on), T-pins (for blocking)