Julia Lace Top & Cardigan in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 Ply - DBP0009 - Downloadable PDF

Julia Lace Top & Cardigan in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 Ply – Pattern Summary

The Julia Lace Top & Cardigan is an elegant knitting pattern designed by Chloe Elizabeth Birch (also credited as Chloe Birch). Published as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level pattern offers knitters two distinct garment options from a single design: a delicate all-over lace top and a refined all-over lace cardigan. Both versions are worked in the luxurious West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 Ply yarn, making this pattern an ideal choice for knitters who appreciate fine-weight lace knitting with a sophisticated finish.

Garment Designs

Julia All-Over Lace Top

The Julia Lace Top is a beautifully constructed sweater that works equally well dressed up with a skirt or styled casually with jeans. One of the most distinctive features of this design is its clever construction method: the back and front are knitted as a single continuous piece, working from the back through to the front with the two sections separated at the shoulders. This seamless shoulder approach means the all-over lace pattern flows uninterrupted from back to front, creating a cohesive and elegant fabric without the visual break that traditional shoulder seams would introduce.

The top is worked in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 Ply in the colourway Bordeaux (558), requiring 3 [3:3:3:4:4] x 100g skeins depending on size. The pattern is sized to fit a bust measurement of 71–76 cm up to 122–127 cm (28–30 in to 48–50 in), with an actual finished size ranging from approximately 94 cm to 142 cm in circumference. The full length, measured from the back of the neck, ranges from 54 cm to 64 cm across the six sizes, and the sleeve length is a consistent 19 cm across all sizes.

Julia All-Over Lace Cardigan

The Julia Lace Cardigan shares the same elegant construction and all-over lace patterning as the top but is finished as an open-front cardigan — a garment that, as the designer notes, would look gorgeous paired with a classic evening dress. The cardigan version is worked in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 Ply in the colourway Baroque (177), also requiring 3 [3:3:3:4:4] x 100g skeins. The sizing, finished measurements, and construction method mirror those of the top, making it straightforward for knitters to switch between the two versions.

The cardigan features a garter stitch edge at the centre front opening, which provides a neat, stable border that complements the delicate lace fabric without overwhelming it. Garter stitch — produced by knitting every row — is a classic edging technique in lace knitting, as it lies flat naturally and creates a firm, tidy finish.

Techniques Used

The Julia pattern employs several knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill level:

• All-over lace patterning — the primary design feature, worked across the entire fabric of both garments. Lace knitting involves a series of deliberate yarn overs and decreases that create decorative holes and a lightweight, openwork fabric.
• One-piece construction — the back and front are knitted as a single continuous piece, eliminating shoulder seams and allowing the lace pattern to run uninterrupted through the garment. This is a more advanced construction technique that requires careful attention to shaping and stitch counts.
• Garter stitch edging — used at the centre front of the cardigan version to create a clean, flat border.
• Stitch holder usage — stitches are placed on holders when the work is separated at the shoulders, a standard technique in seamless and minimal-seam garment construction.
• Tension/gauge swatching — the pattern emphasises that achieving the stated tension is essential to the success of the garment, as is typical with fine lace knitting where small deviations in gauge can significantly affect the finished size and drape.