Valley Yarns Cambridge Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Cambridge Wrap-Front Knit Vest

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Cambridge is an advanced beginner wrap-front vest designed by Julie Turjoman. This layering piece features overlapping fronts that can be secured with a shawl pin or worn open, making it a versatile addition to any wardrobe. The vest is designed to hit at mid-hip and is available in sizes XS through 4XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 36¼" to 66¼" when fronts are overlapped. The garment is constructed to fit with 6 to 8 inches of positive ease.

Techniques Used

The Cambridge vest employs several key knitting techniques appropriate for an adventurous beginner level:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The vest is worked from the hem upward, beginning with a textured hem and progressing toward the shoulders
• Worked Flat: The back and front pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in continuous rounds, allowing for easier shaping and construction
• Seamed Assembly: Pieces are joined together using seaming techniques, creating clean, professional-looking seams
• Minimal Shaping: The design incorporates a small amount of A-line shaping, making it a relatively quick knit despite its sophisticated appearance
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern uses the Long-Tail cast-on method to begin the back piece

Stitches Used

The Cambridge vest features two primary stitch patterns that work together to create visual interest and texture:

• Cross Stitch Pattern: A unique textured stitch used for the hem and front bands, creating distinctive visual detail. This pattern is worked over a set-up row and continues for 3 inches before transitioning to the main body stitch
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch for the body of the vest, providing a smooth, classic knit fabric that allows the wrap-front design to drape elegantly

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Cambridge vest calls for Valley Yarns Taconic, a luxurious blend of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Cashmere. This soft, high-quality yarn provides both warmth and a refined aesthetic appropriate for a layering piece. Yarn requirements range from 6 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 12 balls for the largest size (4XL), with each ball containing 50 grams and 125 yards of yardage. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Red Tweed colorway.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires circular needles in two sizes to accommodate different stitch patterns and gauges:

• US Size 8 (5.00 mm): 16-inch and 24 to 32-inch circular needles for stockinette stitch sections, achieving a gauge of 17 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches when blocked
• US Size 9 (5.50 mm): 24 to 32-inch circular needles for the Cross Stitch pattern sections, also achieving 17 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches when blocked

Additional materials needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends.

Construction Details

The vest is constructed in separate pieces using a bottom-up approach. The back is cast on using the Long-Tail method and begins with the Cross Stitch pattern for the hem. After working 3 inches of this textured pattern, knitters switch to the smaller needles and stockinette stitch for the body. The front bands are worked together with the body pieces, integrating the wrap-front design into the main construction rather than adding them as separate elements. This integrated approach contributes to the quick knitting time despite the garment's polished appearance.

The pattern allows for customization: knitters who prefer less ease can select a smaller size, and the body length can be extended by delaying the A-line shaping, though additional yarn will be required for longer versions.