Introductory discount to celebrate the launch of the Summer Dawn Cardigan! Enjoy 25% off with code DAWNCARD25, valid through Monday, 5 October 2026 at midnight CET.

The Summer Dawn Cardigan is a lightweight lace cardigan designed for warm days and cool summer evenings. Featuring an elegant all-over lace body paired with smooth stockinette sleeves, it combines delicate texture with timeless simplicity.

Worked in fingering-weight yarn, Summer Dawn is a versatile wardrobe piece that can be worn open as a lightweight layering cardigan or buttoned up as a beautiful summer top. The pattern includes three sleeve options - short, ¾-length, and long sleeves - making it easy to adapt for different seasons and personal styles.

The lace pattern is intuitive and quickly becomes rhythmic, using only basic lace techniques such as yarn overs, k2tog, and ssk decreases. Thoughtful finishing details, including fully twisted 1x1 ribbing at the hem, collar, and button bands, create crisp edges and an elegant, polished finish.

CONSTRUCTION

The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down. The back is worked first, beginning at the neckline, with European shoulder shaping followed by armhole shaping. Stitches are then picked up along each shoulder to work the fronts separately. After the shoulders, neckline, and armholes have been shaped, the fronts and back are joined, and the body is worked flat and finished with 1x1 fully twisted ribbing. The collar and button bands are then worked flat in matching 1x1 fully twisted ribbing. Stitches are picked up around the armholes to work the sleeves in the round. German Short Rows shape the sleeve caps, and the sleeves are worked with gradual decreases to the selected sleeve length. All sleeve options are finished with a neat I-cord edging.

The pattern was tech-edited by Marie-Eve Wedge and test- knitted by a wonderful group of knitters.

Sizes 6, 7 and 8 have not been test knitted. If you would like to knit one of these sizes, please contact me for a complimentary pattern copy in exchange for feedback on fit and overall sizing experience.

SIZING AND MEASUREMENTS

Sizes 1 (2; 3; 4) (5; 6; 7; 8) detailed below are designed to be worn with 5-10 cm / 2-4” positive ease at the full bust.

The samples are shown in size 2 with 5 cm / 2” positive ease at the full bust.

To fit bust: 78-83 (86-91; 99-104; 108-113) (117-122; 130-135; 139-144; 147-152) cm / 31.25-33.25 (34.5-36.5; 39.5-41.5; 43.25-45.25) (46.75-48.75; 52-54; 55.5-57.5; 58.75-60.75) inches. If you are between sizes, choose the smaller size for a closer fit, or the larger size for a more relaxed fit, depending on your preference.

Finished bust circumference: 88 (96; 109; 118) (127; 140; 149; 157) cm / 35.25 (38.5; 43.5; 47.25) (50.75; 56; 59.5; 62.75) inches.

Cross back at shoulders: 34 (36.5; 37.5; 38.5) (38.5; 39; 41; 42.5) cm / 13.5 (14.5; 15; 15.5) (15.5; 15.5; 16.5; 17) inches.

Armhole depth: 20 (20.5; 22; 23) (23.5; 24.5; 25; 26) cm / 8 (8.25; 8.75; 9.25) (9.5; 9.75; 10; 10.5) inches.

Body length from underarm to hem: 29 (28.5; 29.5; 28.5) (28; 26.5; 26; 25) cm / 11.5 (11.5; 11.75; 11.5) (11.25; 10.5; 10.5; 10) inches.

Upper sleeve circumference: 31 (34; 37.5; 40) (43; 47; 51; 54.5) cm / 12.5 (13.5; 15; 16) (17.25; 18.75; 20.5; 21.75) inches.

Sleeve length from underarm - short sleeve version: 4 cm / 1.5 inches.

Sleeve length from underarm - 3/4-length sleeve version: 30 cm / 12 inches.

Sleeve length from underarm - long sleeve version: 42 cm / 16.75 inches.

GAUGE

23 stitches and 37 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” in lace pattern worked flat, after blocking, using 3 mm / US 2.5 needles.

26 stitches and 38 rounds = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” in stockinette stich worked flat and in the round, after blocking, using 3 mm / US 2.5 needles.

YARN

For my short-sleeved sample, I used Knitting for Olive Pure Silk (100% bourette silk, 50 g = 250 m / 273 yards), in the Deep Petroleum Blue shade.

For my ¾-length sleeve sample, I used BC Garn Bio Balance (55% wool, 45% cotton, 50 g = 225 m / 246 yards), in the 21- Red Currant shade.

You will need approximately:

• for the short sleeve version: 705 (770; 875; 925) (970; 1035; 1095; 1145) m / 770 (840; 955; 1010) (1060; 1130; 1200; 1250) yards;
• for the 3/4-length sleeve version: 930 (1010; 1135; 1205) (1270; 1350; 1430; 1495) m / 1015 (1105; 1240; 1320) (1390; 1475; 1565; 1635) yards;
• for the long sleeve version: 1005 (1085; 1215; 1280) (1345; 1435; 1525; 1595) m / 1100 (1185; 1330; 1400) (1470; 1570; 1670; 1745) yards;

of fingering weight yarn.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS

• 3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles of 80 or 100 cm / 32” or 40” for the main body, collar and button band, and 40 cm / 16” for the sleeves. Or needle size needed to reach gauge.
• 10 buttons, approx. 12 mm / ½“ in diameter. If you make the cardigan longer than the length specified in the pattern, you may need more buttons.
• Stitch markers
• Try-it-on tubing or waste yarn to place stitches on hold
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

TECHNIQUES

• Long tail cast-on
• Backwards loop cast-on
• Working flat and in the round
• German short rows
• Picking up stitches
• Right- and left leaning increases and decreases
• Working lace from charts
• Fully twisted ribbing
• I-cord bind-off

PATTERN OVERVIEW VIDEO
Watch the Summer Dawn Cardigan Pattern Spotlight on Youtube.