Alla

Alla is how dear friends and family called Aðalbjörg Jónsdóttir, an Old Icelandic woman who made wonderful lace dresses inspired by the Icelandic knitted slip klukka, but much more intricate. While I was working on a book about the work of Aðalbjörg, I couldn’t help but being inspired.

My design however is quite different from the dresses made by Aðalbjörg: first, it is knitted from the top down. You can try it on as you knit and easily make adjustments in length or flare.The pattern gives directions for short sleeves but it’s really easy to make them longer by simply adding more rows. There is no seaming or grafting involved. The division of the yoke for body and sleeves is worked on a plain row, not in lace pattern, making the transition smooth and straightforward. Alla is not a dress but a little cardigan: the investment in time and yarn is similar to the one of a lace shawl and a perfect lacy project for maximum effect! Before blocking, the cardigan will look ridiculously small: don’t let this puzzle you but make sure the yarn you are using is suitable for lace and won’t spring back to original shape once stretched. Alla is light and versatile, you can dress it up or down, at work, at the beach or at a party, but be sure all the eyes will be on you!

Design: Hélène Magnússon

Sizes: XXXS,XXS,XS(S,M,L)1X,2X,3X
Short sleeves, green model is a size XXS, blue is a size S.
Long sleeves green model is a size M.

Finished measurements after blocking – when just 3 numbers are indicated , they are for first 3 sizes (3 middle sizes) last 3 sizes-.
A high bust: 72,78,84(90,96,102)108,114,120 cm/ 28¾,31¼,33 ½(36,38½,40¾)43¼,45½,48”
B bottom edge 120,130,140(150,160,170)180,190,200 cm/48,52,56(60,64,68)72,76,80”
C sleeve length: 14,14.5,14.5(15,15,15.5)15.5,16,16 cm/ 5½,5¾,5¾(6,6,6¼)6¼,6½,6½”
D yoke depth 14(14.5)15 cm/ 5½(5¾)6”
E length to underarm: 44(46)49cm/ 17½(18½)19¾

Wool: Love Story from Hélène Magnússon, pure new wool, 100% Icelandic lambswool, fine lace weight, 1 ply, 25 g skein = 225 m / 246 yds

4,4,4(5,5,5)6,6,6 skeins. You will need one more skein for long sleeves.

or Crewel wool/Lace weight yarn, natural dyes, from Renaissance Dyeing

Total yardage estimation: 742,797,855(953,1014,1072)1194,1256,1320 m / 808,869,932(1039,1105,1169)1302,1369,1439 yds

Other material: 7,7,7(7,7,8)8,8,8 little buttons or as many as you wish.

Needles: 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4mm / US 1, 2, 4 and 6 circular needles. Magic loop is used for the sleeves but you can also use DPN’s. Crochet hook nr 3 / US D/3

Gauge: 10 cm/4” = 30 sts and 42 rows in St st on needle 3 mm/US 2 and 24 sts and 30 rows on needle 3,5 mm/US 4. As much as gauge is not essential for a lace shawl, it is important for a garment.

Notions: markers, st holders or scrap yarn, rustproof pins, 4 blocking wires (2 straight and 2 flexible or 4 flexible) or laundry string.

Techniques: the cardigan is worked from the top down. The yoke is knitted back and forth then divided for sleeves and body. Body is worked back and forth and sleeves are knitted in the round. There is no seaming at all. The cardigan is heavily stretched and blocked, just like a lace shawl would be.

Top-down, Knitting back and forth and in the round, Magic loop (but you can use DPN’s), easy lace.

Pattern: once you’ve made your paiement, you will receive an email with a link to download the pattern PDF. We don’t send patterns by snailmail.

Errata: no mistake was found in this pattern