Valley Yarns Pavo Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Pavo Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Pavo is a lightweight knit tee designed by Susan Baron for Valley Yarns. This intermediate-level garment features an elegant off-center cable motif running up both the front and back, making it an ideal project for knitters looking to showcase their cable-working skills. The finished sweater is available in sizes XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 35 inches to 65½ inches, designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, modern silhouette.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Pavo is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders. The garment is knit in two separate pieces—a back and a front—which are later seamed together. Short sleeves are created by casting on additional stitches at the top of the body pieces. This two-piece construction method allows for precise shaping and makes it easier to manage the cable pattern placement during knitting. The cable design is positioned off-center on the left side of each body piece, creating a striking asymmetrical visual effect that becomes apparent once the front and back are assembled and seamed.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Pavo incorporates several key stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric throughout most of the garment, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic finish
• Ribbing: A 2x2 rib pattern (alternating 2 knits and 2 purls) is worked at the lower edge for 12 rows total, providing elasticity and a finished appearance
• Cable Pattern: A 26-stitch cable motif is the signature design element, worked up the left side of both front and back pieces. This cable pattern is worked according to a charted or row-by-row pattern that must be followed carefully while maintaining the surrounding stockinette stitches
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern specifies the Long-Tail method for casting on the initial stitches, a popular technique that creates a neat, elastic edge ideal for garments

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Pavo is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Leverett, a breathable blend composed of 70% Pima Cotton and 30% Linen. This fiber composition makes the finished garment perfect for warm weather, offering excellent breathability and comfort. The yarn is a fingering to sport weight with yardage of 109 yards per 50-gram hank. Yarn requirements range from 7 hanks for the smallest size (XS) to 15 hanks for the largest size (5XL). The sample shown in the pattern is knit in the colorway Blossom.

Needles, Tools, and Gauge

This pattern calls for US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in a 24- to 32-inch length, though knitters should use the needle size that allows them to achieve the specified gauge. The working gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked, and the 26-stitch cable pattern measures 4¼ inches wide when blocked. Additional tools required include a cable needle for crossing stitches, stitch markers to denote pattern sections, stitch holders for managing stitches during assembly, and a tapestry needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Skill Level and Pattern Difficulty

Rated as Intermediate, the Pavo is suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working cables and managing multiple pattern sections simultaneously. The combination of stockinette stitch, ribbing, and cable work, along with the two-piece construction and seaming required, makes this an engaging project that builds on fundamental knitting skills while introducing or reinforcing cable techniques.