Looking for a nice openwork jacket...

[Isis]

Hi there! I'm wanting to find something sophisticated to wear over a shell - I'd like to use a mercerized cotton-type yarn but would like the jacket to have some substance and weight to it (without stretching!)

I found a very promising pattern booklet today - Leisure Arts Pretty Tops for All Seasons...but I'm plus size and am not sure if those will work for me. :blush Anyway, just something with the distinctive crochet look - flowery or lacy, just definitely a fine yarn.

Oh, and I'm an advanced knitter but not so good with crochet yet - I made lace collars years ago but haven't done a lot since, so...ulp....

Anyway, thanks so much for any help and/or pattern pointers! :hook

[carovan]

I made this top with #10 mercerized cotton. It was easy (mostly dc's and ch's). If you want longer sleeves, it wouldn't be hard to add them. There is a little bit of stretch to this, but it does hold its shape nicely. Be sure to check your gauge and maybe go one size larger. I love mine and wear it often.

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Apparel/LC1332+Summer+Breeze.htm

[MaryPat]

Since you're already a knitter, you might find you like the look of knitted cuffs and neckline. So you get the advantage or pretty crochet stitches in the body with the give-and-take a knitted cuff provides.

[Isis]

Thank you guys! Carolyn, that looks like it would be a really good one for a first garment project for me!

I came across this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320319350739&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching#ebayphotohosting and love the look of that...what would that kind of stitch be called? :think (and makes me cry - at the opening bid, that would come out to ... what, 5 cents an hour?)

[MaryPat]

Hmm. That looks like a motif jacket. Each motif beginning with a small loop. Looks like a couple rounds of DC's and then a round of TR's with spaces and then a round of DCs. Maybe the final round is TRTR to attach it to the adjacent motifs. Looks like the motifs are then filled in with a smaller filler motif circle that joins to 4 motifs with TRTR's. Just a quick assessment. It wouldn't be difficult but I don't think the entire pattern could be replicated from the photos they show. Not enough detail is shown (for me). If I really wanted to make it, I probably give it a try. I'd rather have more photo detail about what is happening at the shoulders.

[Isis]

Thank you MaryPat! I'm so not up to making something by eye yet :eek but I'm going to save the pic for reference and keep looking!

[Debbi-a1]

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=99&d_id=3&lang=us
Some have made this one, it's been on my wish list to make for ever. Very pretty.
Or the Simply soft one http://caron.com/projects/ss/ss_circle_jacket.html
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=94&d_id=11&lang=us this ones just a bolaro, but looks pretty easy. Or maybe you could use the idea with other motifs to create one.

Those were from Drops Designs (http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/category_oversikt.php?side=1&fra=0&kat=Heklet) (link) which has a lot of patterns. Some aren't in American, so you need to change the stitches.

[Zaraliz]

Caron natural has some lovely lace jackets by Doris Chan. One is Barcelo and one Barcelona. Both are goreous and have large size instructions. Zaraliz

[magiccrochetfan]

I'm not much help with patterns....just wanted to say that I'm constantly surprised by the difficulty of finding nice lacey and open patterns for jackets. It seems to me like that look is pretty popular but there just are very few patterns. Japanese books are good for such looks, if you love diagrams like I do, but they usually only show one size and you'd have to be able to make your own adjustments for a larger size.

There are several jackets in Doris Chan's book Everyday Crochet, and she does include plus sizes. the stitch pattern is mostly all shells. I think most of the patterns are written for light worsted, but you would get a more open look with smaller yarn and should still be able to meet gauge.

Welcome to Crochetville!:hook