Chinese Lace Pullover

  I toyed with the idea of giving this sweater a better name.  After much consideration, I almost chose "Suzhou," a town in China famous for its beautiful gardens and beautiful women, because that's where my grandmother is from (and she is certainly more beautiful than I'll ever be--here's proof).  My other top choice was "Meihua," Chinese for plum blossom, a symbol of China.  In the end I decided to keep the name practical and descriptive, and Chinese Lace Pullover it remains.  Worked in DK weight cotton yarn, this sweater would also be lovely in a cotton/silk blend, or all silk, or wool/silk, or cashmere--any yarn with good stitch definition that will show off the lace pattern, a modified version of "Chinese Lace" from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  The fit is not overly close, but the ribs create a flattering, body-skimming line, and the raglan sleeves are also flattering for most body types.  The pattern is written for sizes S, M, L, 1X, 2X & 3X; for garment bust measurements of 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, and 55 inches.  Click here to purchase pattern!  (If using a direct payment from your Paypal account, or a credit card, make sure you click the "continue to download" button immediately after purchase.) Edited on 10/23/07 to add:  the pattern has been updated and now includes directions for working both flat, in pieces, AND in the round to the armholes; in addition, the upper body shaping has been altered slightly to allow simpler and clearer directions for continuing the 7 knit/ 2 purl body ribbing into the neckband.  IF you purchased the pattern before the above date, and want the updated version, please contact me at knititude@gmail.com, and I will email you the new version free of charge. Edited on 3/28/08 to add:   Please make the following correction to patterns purchased before today:  under "Sleeves:  Raglan Shaping,"  the first sentence should read "Dec 2 sts each side (k1, SSSK...)" etc., NOT "(k1, sl1, SSSK...)."