Valley Yarns Glacial Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Glacial Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Glacial is a graceful, lightweight cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman. This drape front cardigan is crafted to dress up holiday outfits or layer casually over a tee for winter weekend wear. The design features an elegant silhouette with a luxurious drape, available in sizes XS through 5XL with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 inches to 64 inches. The cardigan is shown in the rich colorway Royal Pine and is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease.

Techniques Used

The Glacial cardigan is worked using several key construction techniques that create its graceful structure and drape:

• Top-Down Construction: The cardigan is worked from the top down, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and seamless integration of shaping as you progress.
• Worked Flat: Rather than in the round, this cardigan is worked flat on circular needles, creating traditional front and back pieces with side seams.
• Double-Stranded Yarn: The yarn is held double throughout the project, which adds extra warmth, structure, and density to the final garment while maintaining the airy quality of the silk and mohair blend.
• Hem Double Technique: A turning ridge creates a finished hem, adding a polished, professional edge to the cardigan.

Stitches Used

The Glacial cardigan is primarily constructed using fundamental knitting stitches suitable for an advanced beginner skill level:

• Stockinette Stitch: The main fabric stitch throughout the cardigan, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This classic stitch produces a smooth, elegant surface that showcases the luxurious sheen of the silk and kid mohair blend.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases are used to shape the garment and create the fitted silhouette.
• Increases: M1L (make 1 left) increases are incorporated for shaping and construction.
• Garter Stitch: A turning ridge row worked in garter stitch (knit on the wrong side) creates the finished hem edge.

Materials and Specifications

The Glacial cardigan is designed to be worked with specific materials that contribute to its lightweight, luxurious drape:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Southampton, a blend of 72% Kid Mohair and 28% Mulberry Silk. Each ball contains 25 grams and 230 yards. Yarn requirements range from 12 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 20 balls for the largest size (5XL).
• Needles: US 6 (4mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a size F/5 crochet hook for finishing details.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch with 2 strands held together, blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the cardigan to fit correctly across all sizes.

Skill Level and Construction Notes

The Glacial is rated as an Advanced Beginner project, making it accessible to knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle garment shaping and construction. The straightforward stockinette stitch base combined with the top-down, worked-flat method provides a manageable learning experience for garment knitting. The use of yarn held double creates a more forgiving fabric that is easier to work with than single-strand knitting, while still producing a sophisticated, professional-looking finished cardigan.