Valley Yarns Blossom Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Blossom Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Blossom Cardigan is a flared cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky that offers two construction methods for knitters. The pattern provides finished sizes ranging from 32 to 42 inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements. This garment features a feminine silhouette with shaping that creates a flowing, elegant drape through the body and hem.

Construction Methods

The Blossom Cardigan is available in two distinct construction approaches:

• Top-Down Seamless Version: This method features seamless set-in sleeves that are picked up and knit downward from the armhole opening. This construction style is easier to customize and adjust to fit individual measurements, making it ideal for knitters who want to modify the fit as they work.
• Bottom-Up Version: This more traditional construction method includes seamed sleeves but maintains the garment's signature seamless appearance through the use of short-rowed shoulders. Short-rowing is a shaping technique that creates smooth, flowing lines without visible seams at the shoulder area.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Blossom Cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its polished, professional finish:

• Seamless Construction: The top-down version is worked without seams, creating a continuous fabric from the neckline down through the body and sleeves.
• Top-Down Shaping: The top-down approach allows knitters to work from the neck area downward, with increases strategically placed to create the cardigan's flared silhouette.
• Short-Rowed Shoulders: Both versions utilize short-rowing at the shoulders, a technique where rows are turned before reaching the end of the needle. This creates smooth, sloped shoulder lines without the need for seaming, contributing to the seamless aesthetic.
• Set-In Sleeves: The armhole shaping and sleeve cap construction create fitted sleeves that sit smoothly at the shoulder, a hallmark of tailored knitwear.
• Neckline Increases: Gradual increases worked at the neck edge every sixth row build the front neckline shaping while the cardigan body is being constructed.
• Armhole Shaping: Strategic increases at the beginning of right-side rows create the armhole opening with proper depth and fit.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Blossom Cardigan is primarily worked in stockinette stitch (abbreviated as St st), which is the most common knit stitch pattern. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern appearance on the right side and horizontal bumps on the wrong side. This versatile stitch showcases the yarn's color and texture beautifully while providing a refined, elegant look suitable for a cardigan.

Materials Required

The Blossom Cardigan pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and finished appearance:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Southwick, a blend of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo, providing a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for a cardigan. The yardage is 105 yards per 50-gram ball, and the pattern requires 8 to 11 skeins depending on the finished size (8 skeins for the smallest size, 11 skeins for the largest). The recommended colorway is color 12 mauve.
• Needles: US Size 5 and US Size 9 circular needles and double-pointed needles. The pattern recommends choosing the needle size that allows you to obtain the correct gauge for proper fit.
• Notions: Two buttons measuring ½ to ⅝ inches for the cardigan front closure.

Pattern Details and Shaping

The pattern provides detailed shaping instructions for both the right and left fronts, with specific row counts for neckline increases and armhole shaping that vary across the six size options. The fronts are worked separately using stitch holders or scrap yarn to set aside stitches during construction. Underarm stitches are cast on when joining the fronts to the back piece, creating the underarm seams. The flowing, flared silhouette is achieved through the combination of these shaping techniques, resulting in a garment that is both flattering and comfortable to wear.