Valley Yarns Amaryllis Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Amaryllis Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Amaryllis is a thigh-length cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman, offering a contemporary take on a classic winter essential. This garment provides extra visual interest through its combination of textured body work, deep ribbed hems, and a distinctive narrow ribbed shawl collar. Available in sizes XS through 4XL with finished bust measurements ranging from 36¾" to 65½", the cardigan is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for comfortable everyday wear.

Techniques Used

The Amaryllis cardigan employs several advanced construction techniques that contribute to its polished, wearable finish. The garment is worked flat in pieces rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and construction. Pieces are subsequently seamed together to create the finished garment. The shoulders feature short-row shaping to provide enhanced drape and a more refined fit through the shoulder area. Shoulder seams are joined using the Three-Needle Bind-Off method, a technique that creates a strong, flexible seam ideal for shoulder construction. The front bands and shawl collar are picked up and worked after the main pieces are seamed, allowing for precise stitch pickup and consistent ribbing. The shawl collar incorporates wrap and turn shaping that is staggered to create a more subtle, refined curve rather than a sharp angle. All pieces include selvage stitches at the edges—knit stitches on the right side and purl stitches on the wrong side—specifically designed to facilitate clean seaming.

Stitches Used

The Amaryllis combines multiple stitch patterns to create visual and textural interest. The body of the cardigan features an allover Wickerwork stitch texture, a stitch pattern that creates crisp definition and visual depth across the front and back pieces. This textured stitch is worked on the larger needles at a gauge of 19 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches. In contrast, the sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit stitch pattern, which provides a smooth, classic surface. Stockinette stitch on the larger needles gauges at 17 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches. The ribbing used for the deep hems and shawl collar creates vertical lines that provide structure and elasticity, ensuring the garment maintains its shape through wear and washing. The ribbed sections are worked on smaller needles to create tighter, more defined ribs.

Materials

The Amaryllis is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool yarn that offers excellent stitch definition and durability. Yardage requirements range from 1,482 yards for the smallest size (6 skeins) to 3,211 yards for the largest size (13 skeins), with each skein providing 247 yards. The sample shown is worked in color 21 - Dahlia. Construction requires US size 8 (5.0 mm) circular needles in 24 to 32 inches for the main body and sleeves, and US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in both 24 to 32 inches and 40 to 60 inches for the front bands and shawl collar pickup. Additional materials include stitch holders, stitch markers, four locking stitch markers for tracking shaping, and a tapestry needle for seaming and finishing.

Difficulty Level

The Amaryllis is rated as Advanced Beginner, making it an accessible project for knitters with some foundational experience who are ready to tackle more complex construction techniques. While the individual stitches used are relatively straightforward, the combination of techniques—including short-row shaping, three-needle bind-off, and picked-up stitches—requires attention to detail and familiarity with intermediate knitting methods.