Valley Yarns Sanibel Island Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Sanibel Island Cardigan - Gulf Coast Collection

What is Being Made

The Sanibel Island is an open-front cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a clean-lined silhouette perfect for layering on cool mornings. This garment showcases a high V-neck opening, wide front bands, and A-line shaping that creates a flattering, flowing fit. The longer hip length provides excellent drape and makes it an ideal top layer for casual weekend activities. Available in sizes XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 34 to 66 inches (with 2-4 inches of positive ease), this cardigan is designed as an advanced beginner project suitable for those learning basic sweater construction techniques.

Techniques Used

The Sanibel Island cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its polished construction and excellent fit. The garment body is worked flat in pieces using the back-and-forth row method, rather than being worked in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and seaming. Seaming joins the individual pieces together, creating clean, professional seams throughout the garment. A-line decreasing is strategically placed at the side seams to create the signature tapered waist and flared hip silhouette. Short-row shoulder shaping enhances both the drape and overall fit of the cardigan, ensuring proper shoulder alignment and a flattering neckline. The wide front bands are picked up and worked from the finished edges of the front panels, eliminating the need for additional seaming in this visible area. Set-in, top-down sleeves are worked downward from the armholes, a classic construction method that provides excellent fit and shape retention.

Stitches Used

The Sanibel Island features two primary stitch patterns that work together to create visual interest and structural integrity. Stockinette stitch forms the main body of the cardigan, providing a smooth, classic fabric that showcases the yarn's texture and color. Textured Rib stitch is used for both the deep hem at the lower edge and the sleeve cuffs, creating a coordinated, finished appearance. This ribbed pattern also appears in the wide front bands that frame the V-neck opening, adding visual definition to the cardigan's front edges. The combination of these two stitches creates a balanced design with textural variety while maintaining the garment's elegant, understated aesthetic.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Sanibel Island is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Hawley, a premium blended yarn that contributes significantly to the cardigan's quality and wearability. Hawley features a 50% cotton, 30% silk, and 20% nylon/polyamide blend, creating a tweedy texture with excellent drape and durability. Each ball contains 135 yards and weighs 50 grams. Yarn requirements range from 9 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 20 balls for the largest size (5XL), with the sample shown in size S requiring 10 balls in the color Ash.

The pattern calls for US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 24-40 inch lengths for the main body and sleeves worked at gauge. US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in the same length options are used for the ribbed hem, cuffs, and front bands, which are worked at a tighter gauge to create definition and prevent stretching. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked, ensuring proper fit and fabric drape.

Additional materials needed include stitch markers (with at least 3 locking stitch markers recommended), stitch holders or scrap yarn for holding stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends. These basic notions are essential for successful completion of this intermediate-level cardigan project.