Valley Yarns Ambrosia Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ambrosia Knit Sweater

Garment Overview

The Ambrosia is a sophisticated crewneck pullover sweater designed by Julie Turjoman, crafted from Valley Yarns Westfield luxury fiber blend. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a high hip-length pullover with a slightly dressier silhouette, making it an excellent layering piece for versatile everyday wear. The sweater features a distinctive deep honeycomb cable border that runs around the lower body, combined with fitted three-quarter length sleeves in stockinette stitch for a polished, classic aesthetic.

Construction Techniques

The Ambrosia employs a combination of modern and traditional knitting techniques to achieve its refined fit and structure. The sweater body is worked in the round from the bottom up, allowing for seamless construction in the body section. At the base of the underarms, the piece is divided and worked flat to the shoulders, providing flexibility in shaping the upper body. The shoulders feature short-row shaping for enhanced fit and a more tailored appearance. Once the body and shoulders are complete, the pieces are joined using the Three-Needle Bind-Off method, a technique that creates a strong, neat seam while eliminating the need for additional seaming.

The three-quarter length sleeves are worked in the round after the crew neckband is completed, with stitches picked up around the armholes and knitted downward. This top-down sleeve construction includes narrow decrease shaping to create a fitted silhouette that tapers toward the cuff. The crew neckline is finished with a picked-up neckband worked in the round.

Stitch Patterns and Textural Details

The Ambrosia showcases two primary stitch patterns that work together to create visual interest and demonstrate the stitch definition of the luxury yarn. The body features a Honeycomb Cable pattern that forms a textured border around the waist, creating depth and dimension. The remaining body sections and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch, a fundamental knit stitch that provides a smooth, classic background that allows the honeycomb cables to stand out prominently. The combination of these stitches highlights the soft hand and excellent stitch definition of the Valley Yarns Westfield fiber blend.

Yarn and Materials

The Ambrosia is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Westfield, a luxurious fiber blend composed of 60% Fine Merino Wool, 20% Yak, and 20% Silk. This premium combination provides both softness and durability, with the silk content contributing to stitch definition that showcases the textured cable patterns. The yarn is available in 50-gram balls with 120 yards per ball. The pattern shown features Color 106 Lichen.

Yarn requirements vary by size: XS through S require 8–9 balls, M requires 10 balls, L requires 11 balls, XL requires 12 balls, 2XL requires 14 balls, 3XL requires 16 balls, 4XL requires 17 balls, and 5XL requires 18 balls.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for two needle sizes to create proper gauge and structure. US size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles in 16-inch and 24–32-inch lengths, along with a set of double-pointed needles, are used for the main body and sleeves. US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles in 24–32-inch lengths and a set of double-pointed needles are used for the hems and cuffs, creating a subtle transition and ensuring a neat, finished edge.

Additional materials include stitch markers, locking stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any necessary seaming.

Sizing and Fit

The Ambrosia is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished bust measurements from 32 inches to 64 inches. The sweater is designed to fit with 2–4 inches of positive ease in the body and 1½ inches of ease in the sleeves, creating a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit that drapes elegantly. For those preferring a closer fit, working the project one size smaller is recommended.

Gauge

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern specifies 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch