Valley Yarns Ginkgo Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ginkgo Knit Top

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Ginkgo is a beginner-friendly knit top designed by Julie Turjoman. This wardrobe essential features a classic boatneck silhouette with cap sleeves and an A-line body shape. The garment showcases a distinctive knit-purl stitch pattern across the upper body, creating visual texture and interest while remaining accessible to new knitters. Available in sizes XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 inches to 64 inches, the Ginkgo is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for comfortable, wearable styling.

Techniques Used

The Ginkgo is worked flat in two separate pieces—a back and front—rather than in the round, making it an ideal first sweater project for beginners. The finished pieces are then seamed together for structure and durability. The construction method includes several shaping techniques that add sophistication to this beginner pattern:

• A-line shaping: Side decreases create a fitted bust that gradually widens toward the hip
• Cap sleeve shaping: Gradual increase stitches at the beginning of each armhole create the characteristic cap sleeve silhouette
• Short-row shoulder shaping: This advanced finishing technique enhances both the drape and fit of the neckline and shoulders
• Ribbed edgings: Neckband and sleeve edges are worked in ribbing after seaming for a polished, finished appearance

Stitches Used

The Ginkgo employs fundamental knitting stitches suitable for a beginner skill level. The main body is worked in stockinette stitchknit-purl stitch texture pattern featured across the upper body, which adds visual interest and showcases the yarn's tweedy character without requiring complex stitch techniques. Ribbing is used for the neckband and sleeve edgings to provide elasticity and a professional finish.

Materials and Yarn

The Ginkgo pattern calls for Valley Yarns Hawley, a premium blended yarn composed of 50% cotton, 30% silk, and 20% nylon/polyamide. This fiber combination provides the yarn's signature tweedy texture and soft, next-to-the-skin comfort—qualities that make it ideal for a fitted summer or transitional top. The yarn is available in 50-gram balls with 135 yards per ball. Yardage requirements range from 810 yards for the smallest size (XS) to 2,160 yards for the largest size (5XL), with the pattern shown in size S using 7 balls in the color North Sea.

Knitting needles required include US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles in 24-inch to 40-inch lengths for the main fabric, and US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 24-inch to 40-inch lengths for ribbed edgings. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needle, blocked. Additional materials include stitch markers (including 4 locking stitch markers for shaping), stitch holders or scrap yarn for holding stitches, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Pattern Overview

The Ginkgo is structured as a two-piece garment with the back and front worked separately in rows on circular needles. The pattern begins with a long-tail cast-on, ranging from 90 stitches for the smallest size to 170 stitches for the largest. The body is worked even in stockinette stitch before side decreases are introduced every 10 rows to create the A-line shaping. Once the desired length is reached, cap sleeve shaping begins with gradual increases at the armhole edges. The upper body transitions to the knit-purl stitch pattern, and short-row shaping is worked to enhance shoulder fit. After both pieces are complete and blocked, they are seamed together, and ribbed edgings are added to the neckline and sleeve openings for a finished, professional appearance.