Valley Yarns Taconic V-neck Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Taconic V-Neck Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Taconic V-Neck Pullover is a classic knitted sweater designed by Jen Ronning, available in six finished sizes ranging from 34" to 44" bust circumference. This garment features a sophisticated V-neckline and is constructed using a combination of stockinette stitch and cable pattern panels, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking to incorporate textured stitch techniques into a wearable design.

Techniques Used

This pullover is worked using several key knitting techniques that build structural interest and shaping:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and a natural progression through the garment pieces.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join the finished components.
• Cable patterns: Decorative cable panels add visual texture and dimension to the design, worked over a 24-stitch repeat.
• Short-row shaping: Advanced shaping techniques including wrap-and-turn (W&T) methods are employed at the shoulders and neckline to create a custom fit without the need for complex decreases.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces are joined together using three-needle bind-off at the shoulders, creating strong, professional seams.

Stitches Used

The Taconic V-Neck Pullover employs a focused selection of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric base that serves as the foundation for the cable pattern panels.
• Cable stitches: Worked using a cable needle (CN) to cross stitches over one another, creating the textured cable panels that are a signature design element.
• Knit 2 together (K2tog): A basic decrease stitch used for shaping.
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease created by slipping two stitches knitwise to the right-hand needle and knitting them together.
• Wrap and turn (W&T): A technique involving slipping a stitch with yarn in back, moving yarn to front, and returning the stitch to the left needle before turning the work, used to eliminate holes in short-row shaping.

Materials and Gauge

The Taconic V-Neck Pullover is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Williamstown, a blend of 65% wool, 25% acrylic, and 10% viscose, offering durability and warmth with a soft hand. The Deep Red color (05) provides a rich, versatile option for this classic design. A total of 125 yards per 50-gram ball is required.

The pattern calls for US size 5 and US size 7 needles, with the smaller needles used for the initial hem and ribbing sections, and the larger needles employed for the main body where the cable pattern is introduced. The gauge is 4.75 stitches per inch when measured over stockinette stitch using the larger needle size. Achieving proper gauge is essential, as the cable pattern sections work at a slightly smaller gauge than the stockinette background, requiring additional cast-on stitches for the front compared to the back.

Construction Details

The front of the sweater begins with a smaller needle cast-on, worked in stockinette stitch for five rows before a turning ridge creates a folded hem. The stitch count is then increased evenly across a row worked with the larger needles, transitioning into the cable pattern. The cable pattern panel spans 24 stitches and is positioned prominently on the front piece, flanked by stockinette sections.

Shoulder shaping is accomplished through short-row techniques, with wrap-and-turn methods creating gradual shaping that accommodates the V-neckline. The back neck and left shoulder are shaped separately, with stitches placed on holders for later three-needle binding off. This construction method ensures secure, invisible seams at the shoulders while maintaining the integrity of the cable pattern throughout the garment.