Valley Yarns Bennington Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Bennington Cardigan - Classic Open-Front Knit Design

What Is Being Made

The Bennington is a classic open-front cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman as part of the Valley Yarns Fall in New England Collection. This intermediate-level knitting project features a tunic-length silhouette with long sleeves, making it an ideal layering piece for three-season wear. The cardigan is distinguished by its clean lines, elegant high neckline at the back of the neck, and allover ribbed texture throughout the body. The open front overlaps with knitted-in ribbed front bands, and the design includes a raised back neck created through short-row shaping to block fall chills. Available in sizes XS through 5XL, the cardigan is designed with 6 to 8 inches of positive ease for comfortable layering and reaches the upper thighs in length.

Techniques Used

The Bennington employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its refined construction. The cardigan is worked flat in one piece from the hem to the underarms, which minimizes seaming and creates a seamless foundation. The body features faux side seams that add visual interest and structure without requiring additional seaming. Short-row shaping is used to lift and enhance the back neck fit, a technique that creates a custom contour for improved comfort and style. The long sleeves are worked down from the drop shoulders in the round, allowing for efficient construction and consistent ribbing at the cuffs. Seaming is minimal, occurring only at the shoulders and the back of the neckband, which reduces bulk and creates a polished finish. The front bands are knitted in rather than picked up and worked separately, streamlining the construction process.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Bennington is the thermal stitch, which creates the allover ribbed texture characteristic of this design. This textured stitch is worked across the entire body and provides both visual interest and functional warmth. The front bands feature ribbed texture that complements the body and provides structure to the open front. The sleeves are finished with ribbed cuffs that create a neat, finished edge and help the sleeves sit securely at the wrists. The combination of thermal stitch and ribbing throughout the cardigan creates a cohesive, sophisticated appearance with excellent drape and elasticity.

Materials and Tools

The Bennington is designed to be worked with Valley Yarns Hardwick, a premium blend consisting of 50% baby alpaca, 35% wool, and 15% silk. This luxurious fiber combination makes the cardigan ideal for three-season wear, offering softness, warmth, and breathability. The yarn is available in the color Lavender as shown in the sample. Yarn requirements range from 6 hanks for the smallest size (XS) to 14 hanks for the largest size (5XL), with each hank weighing 100 grams and providing 164 yards of yardage.

Construction requires US size 8 (5.0 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32 to 40-inch lengths, along with double-pointed needles (dpns) in the same size for working the sleeves in the round. Needle size may be adjusted as needed to achieve the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches when working the thermal stitch pattern on US 8 needles and measuring after blocking. Additional materials include stitch markers, including locking stitch markers, for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming the shoulders and neckband.

Construction Summary

• Body worked flat in one piece to the underarms using thermal stitch
• Faux side seams incorporated into the body for visual definition
• Front and back divided at the underarms for continued flat working
• Knitted-in ribbed front bands eliminate the need for pickup and separate band construction
• Back neck lifted using short-row shaping for enhanced fit and raised collar
• Sleeves worked down from drop shoulders in the round with ribbed cuffs
• Minimal seaming at shoulders and back neckband only
• Open front overlaps by 2 inches, the width of the front bands
• Tunic length hits at the upper thighs with option to extend body length with additional yarn