Valley Yarns Alyssum Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Alyssum Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Alyssum is a ribbed cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech, offered as a downloadable PDF pattern from Valley Yarns. This versatile garment is designed for cool Spring and Summer days when a full jacket would be too warm. The cardigan features a mid-hip length and can be worn open or closed, making it suitable for both casual weekend wear and office settings. It is available in sizes XS through 4XL, with the sample shown in size M.

Techniques Used

The Alyssum employs a bottom-up construction method with seamed assembly, worked flat on circular needles. The back and sleeves are knit in one continuous piece from the bottom up, incorporating raglan shaping for a fitted sleeve cap. The fronts are knit separately in two pieces, also from the bottom up. After the main body pieces are complete, additional elements are picked up and knitted, including the cuff, neckband, and front button bands. The Long-Tail Cast-On method is used to begin the project, with a video tutorial provided for reference.

Stitches Used

This cardigan features two primary rib stitch patterns. The initial ribbing uses a K2, P1 Rib worked for 3 rows, which then transitions into a P2, K1 Rib pattern that becomes the main stitch throughout the garment. The gauge for this pattern is 21 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in P2, K1 Rib, worked on US 6 (4.0mm) needles. The ribbed construction provides elasticity and a refined, textured appearance suitable for a professional or casual cardigan.

Materials and Specifications

The Alyssum is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Toby, a premium blend yarn composed of 83% maco cotton, 10% mulberry silk, and 7% cashmere. Each ball contains 50 grams and yields 109 yards. The yarn requirement varies by size: 8 balls for XS, 9 balls for S, 10 balls for M, 12 balls for L, 13 balls for XL, 14 balls for 2XL, 16 balls for 3XL, and 17 balls for 4XL. The pattern sample is shown in color 02 - Silver.

Construction requires a US 6 (4.0mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches long, or a needle size adjusted to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers (including locking stitch markers for tracking raglan shaping), stitch holders for managing live stitches, a tapestry needle for seaming and finishing, and 8 buttons measuring ⅝ inch for the front closure.

Finished Measurements and Fit

The Alyssum is designed to fit with 3 to 5 inches of positive ease, providing a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit. Finished bust measurements range from 32 inches in XS to 59½ inches in 4XL. Length to shoulder measurements vary from 21¾ inches in XS to 25¼ inches in 4XL, with the cardigan falling at mid-hip length across all sizes.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle multi-piece garment construction with shaping techniques such as raglan increases.