Adora - a lace knit sweater pattern designed by Natalie in Stitches

The Adora sweater, designed by Natalie in Stitches in collaboration with RiverKnits, an independent family-owned yarn dyer in Northamptonshire, UK.

Adora | Lace Knit Sweater Pattern

Name: Adora | Lace Knit Sweater Pattern
SKU: 25750
Price: 12.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

£12.50

Are you longing to create a sweater that feels like a warm embrace – soft, beautiful, and effortlessly elegant, without a hint of fussiness? We all want those timeless pieces in our wardrobe that make us feel cherished and comfortable in our own skin.

The Adora Lace Knit Sweater pattern is designed to be exactly that: your next beloved, versatile garment that celebrates your femininity with quiet confidence.

Imagine casting on for a project where every stitch builds towards something truly special. The Adora is brimming with romantic design details that speak to a refined aesthetic. Delicate lace hearts cascade down the body, creating a gentle, flowing motif that is both eye-catching and surprisingly easy to knit.

You’ll find a beautiful waist darts for shaping exactly where you need it, adding a touch of sophisticated charm without being overly elaborate. These details combine to create a sweater that feels deeply feminine, yet perfectly relaxed – no frills, just pure elegance.

This is a sweater built for comfort, designed to become that go-to piece you reach for season after season. Its relaxed fit and shapely silhouette ensures ease of wear, making it perfect for layering or simply enjoying on its own. The cropped version of Adora can be your top layer over a full-skirted dress, as modelled by Becci; high-waisted trousers and skirts are another ideal styling option if your goal is waist definition and a touch of glamour.

The regular length lends itself to all kinds of denim for an understated look that elevates the everyday casual option of jeans and a T-shirt. Adora looks great layered over a plain shirt with the collar, cuffs and curved hem peeking out underneath the ribbing. The slight A-line cut means you can run for a bus or reach the top shelf without worrying about the hem riding up or looking untidy.

The Adora isn’t about fleeting trends; it’s about crafting a timeless wardrobe staple that genuinely serves you, adapts to your life, and makes you feel put-together without any effort.

This design showcased yarn from RiverKnits, a family business which was owned and run by Becci and Markus Pamely-Bast of Northampton. Becci beautifully models the cropped version of Adora in Nene DK, 100% next-to-skin-soft Bluefaced Leicester wool spun in Yorkshire. I’m wearing the regular length in Lyn DK, a warm and lightweight blend of 50% Exmoor Blueface, 30% Bluefaced Leicester, and 20% Wensleydale wool.

With a classic crew neck and set-in sleeves, Adora is easy to style and cosy to wear. I hope you adore her as much as we do 🙂

Categories: Knitwear Collection | Contemporary Knitting Patterns, Lace Knitting Patterns, Sweaters and Jumpers

Adora is a lace knit sweater pattern with heart motifs and a choice of two silhouettes to give your curves the right kind of hug. The cropped version features my signature waist darts to stop you from looking boxy and shapeless (also seen on Bonnie and Aneeta). The classic version has a slightly A-line shape for a sleek and comfortable fit over your belly and hips.

Both versions of Adora are knitted flat and bottom-up with seams for a tailored fit.

Please see the schematic and sizing tab for more details about finished measurements.

Yarn used for the Adora samples

Becci’s cropped Adora lace sweater is knitted in Nene DK, 100% British Bluefaced Leicester yarn. She chose Autoschussel, a golden khaki hue.
Nene DK has 233m/254yds per 100g skein.

Natalie’s (my) regular length Adora lace sweater is knitted in Lyn DK, a blend of 50% Exmoor Blueface, 30% Bluefaced Leicester, and 20% Wensleydale wools. Rosehip is the colourway you see here. Lyn also has 233m/254yds per 100g skein.

Yarn quantities for the Adora sweater pattern

Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Cropped	4	4	5	5	5	6	6	7	7	8	8	9
Regular	5	5	5	5	6	6	7	8	8	9	9	10

Needles

1 pair 3.25mm needles
1 pair 4mm needles
3.25mm circular needle, approximately 40cm long, or a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) so that you can work the neckband in the round

Also required to knit the Adora lace knit sweater

Locking stitch markers
Stitch holders or lengths of waste yarn
Knitter’s sewing needle

Special knit techniques for the Adora lace sweater pattern

lace increases and decreases (yo, ssk, k2tog, sl1-k2tog, psso), central double decrease (CDD)
‘make 1’ style increases

Sizing, Fit, & Schematic Information

Natalie-in-Stitches_Adora-schematic_combined

Yarn Selection, Fibre, & Fabrication

The Adora sweater combines lace chevron stripes with waist dart tailoring, requiring a yarn that balances stitch definition with gentle flow.

Fibre Composition & Behaviour

Protein Fibres (Wool, Silk, Alpaca): Wool or wool/silk blends preserve elasticity through the waist shaping and provide crisp openwork across the lace chevrons.
Cellulosic Fibres (Cotton, Linen, Tencel): Cellulosic blends accentuate the chevron pattern with a fluid, liquid drape. Ensure you swatch a 20cm x 20cm sample to monitor length growth, especially if you are working custom waist or nape-to-waist fitting alterations.

Yarn Weight & Meterage

DK or Sport weight. Match yarn requirements by total meterage.

Yarn Construction

A smooth, well-plied construction provides maximum contrast between the lace eyelets and surrounding stitches. Blown yarns can also be used for a soft, romantically blurred vintage effect.

Testimonials & Inspiration

Pattern Support

After checking out, you’ll be emailed a link to download a digital PDF file of your chosen pattern(s), plus any separate fitting guides as appropriate. These will also be PDF files. You’ll also receive further tutorials, inspiration, and general guidance via email after purchase, so please keep an eye on your inbox.

If you also choose to create an account – you can do this at checkout OR by clicking on the avatar in the top right-hand corner – your purchases will be stored in your account area for safekeeping. I also recommend downloading all files immediately and saving them to your preferred computer or device so that you have a local copy.

You then have the option of either printing out the pattern or reading it from your mobile device – whichever suits you best. And if you get stuck along the way or have any constructive feedback to share, you can email me anytime. I’m always glad to hear from my community and see their interpretations of my patterns!

New to Natalie in Stitches knitting patterns? If you’re not ready to cast on or need a little more time to decide, I’ve created a worksheet especially for getting you settled with my designs. Download it here.