Light and Lines celebrates the beauty of lace in an easy-to-wear pullover. The Gothic Arches stitch pattern creates repeating columns of eyelets and decreases, reminiscent of light filtering through cathedral windows. Once you become familiar with the repeat, the lace offers a satisfying rhythm as the pattern develops.
The front and back feature lace framed by reverse stockinette stitch, while the sleeves are worked entirely in reverse stockinette. Generous ribbing at the hem and cuffs, together with a ribbed neckline, gives the sweater a balanced finish.
Worked flat from the bottom up in separate pieces, Light and Lines is seamed during finishing. German short rows shape the shoulders, and stitches are picked up around the neckline for the ribbed neckband. Sizes XS through L include increases above the underarm to create additional width across the upper body; sizes 1X through 4X continue straight.
My sample uses Berroco Aurelia in Blush Petal, a cotton and merino wool blend. Choose a yarn that allows the lace to open with blocking while giving you a fabric you enjoy wearing.
The pattern includes eight sizes, XS through 4X, with finished chest circumferences from 30 to 58 inches.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How to work the Gothic Arches lace pattern from a chart
How yarn overs and decreases create an architectural lace motif
How to combine lace with reverse stockinette stitch
How to maintain the lace pattern while shaping the neckline
How to shape shoulders using German short rows
How to use stockinette selvedges to make seaming easier
How to assemble a sweater worked in separate pieces
How to pick up stitches for a ribbed neckband
Light and Lines was originally published in the Spring 2026 issue of Cast On, The Knitting Guild Association’s magazine. The pattern rights have since returned to designer Joy Friedman, and the pullover is now available directly from Top of the World Knits.
SIZES
XS (S, M, L) [1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]
Finished chest circumference: 30 (34, 38, 42) [46, 50, 54, 58] inches
Finished length: 23 (23, 23, 23) [24, 24, 24, 25] inches
Measurements are for the finished garment. Choose a size by comparing the finished measurements with your own measurements and the amount of ease you prefer.
YARN
Worsted-weight yarn.
Sample yarn: Berroco Aurelia, 74% Cotton / 26% Merino Wool, 267 yds / 244 m per 100 g ball.
Color: Blush Petal, #11709
Amounts listed for XS (S, M, L) [1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]:
4 (4, 5, 5) [5, 6, 6, 7] balls
These are the yarn purchase quantities listed in the original pattern, rather than exact yardage used.
When substituting yarn, check both gauges and consider how the blocked fabric drapes. A different fiber blend may change the appearance and feel of the lace.
NEEDLES
US 7 / 4.5 mm sharp-tipped needles for the body and sleeves, and US 5 / 3.75 mm needles for the ribbing, or sizes needed to obtain gauge.
A short circular needle in the ribbing size is also needed for the neckband.
GAUGE
Gothic Arches lace: 17 sts and 25 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm
Reverse stockinette stitch: 16 sts and 23 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm
SKILLS NEEDED
Knitting and purling, working flat, reading a lace chart, yarn overs, increasing and decreasing, German short rows, seaming, picking up stitches, and working knit-three, purl-two ribbing flat and in the round.
Please Note
Digital knitting pattern only. No physical item will be shipped.
After purchasing this pattern, feel free to email me at joy@topoftheworldknits.com if you’d like a copy added to your Ravelry library. Just include your Ravelry username, and I’ll take care of the rest.