Theme with Variations by Joan Dyer

Theme with Variations

Knitting
December 2015
Sport (12 wpi) ?
11 stitches and 14 rows = 2 inches
in Petite scroll stitch
US 5 - 3.75 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
1330 - 2660 yards (1216 - 2432 m)
38 (44, 50)" or 96 (112, 127) cm chest, but easily adjusted.
English
This pattern is available for $6.50 USD buy it now

Theme with Variations is a lacy pullover offering several different silhouettes, knitter’s choice, which determine shape, ease, and size. It can be cropped or long or anywhere in between, boxy or fitted. The sweater was designed using Tess’ Designer Yarns Superwash Merino Petite.

The sleeves and upper bodice are knit sideways in one piece, with lengthened lacy ribbed cuffs and sleeves that drape over the cuffs affording easy arm movement. The upper bodice’s depth is determined by the number of stitches cast on at the underarm. It is knit in one piece for the ease and width selected, divided front and back for the head opening then rejoined. This section is finished to the end of the second sleeve, blocked, and seamed.

Additional choices now include:

  • Picking up and adding neckline edging, raising the neckline and/or drawing in the neck.
  • Picking up and adding a lower bodice (fitted or boxy), or a bottom edging.

These portions are knit circularly.

The photo of the sweater in minty green shows an upper bodice that ends midway between bust and waist, slight waist shaping on the lower section that does not draw in the upper bodice, and neckline edging.

The taupe all over lace version has long sleeve cuffs but no neck or lower edging, and slight negative ease.

The collage of four sketches suggests the variety of silhouettes that can be made from this pattern.

Thank you to ravelers sondomn and nscollins for their help with this pattern.