Valley Yarns Sundrop Cropped Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Sundrop Cropped Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Sundrop Cropped Cardigan is a women's button-front cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky, available in three finished sizes: 33", 40", and 47" bust circumference. This garment features a cropped silhouette with lace patterning integrated throughout the front and body sections, making it an elegant layering piece suitable for various seasons and occasions.

Knitting Techniques

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that build structural interest and visual appeal:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The cardigan is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.
• Worked Flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front and back panels that are later seamed together.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces (right front, left front, back, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then joined using seaming techniques for a finished, professional appearance.
• Lace Integration: Lace patterning is strategically incorporated into the front panels and body, creating an open, breathable fabric with decorative eyelet details.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sundrop Cardigan employs a combination of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Ribbing: Knit-purl ribbing (K1, P1) is used for button bands, cuffs, and structural edging, providing elasticity and a polished finish.
• Lace Pattern: A 15-stitch lace repeat forms the primary decorative element. The lace pattern uses yarn overs (yo) to create openwork, paired with decreases including knit 2 together (k2tog) and purl 2 together (p2tog) to maintain stitch count while forming the characteristic eyelets and openings of lace fabric.
• Decrease Techniques: The pattern employs k2tog, p2tog, p2tog-tbl (purl 2 together through back loop), and SSK (slip, slip, knit) for shaping at armholes, necklines, and shoulders, creating clean, directional decreases.
• Yarn Overs: Yarn overs (yo) are used throughout the lace pattern to create the openwork eyelets characteristic of lace knitting.

Materials and Gauge

The Sundrop Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Goshen, a luxurious blend yarn composed of 48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, and 6% Silk. Each skein yields 92 yards and weighs 50 grams. Depending on finished size, the cardigan requires 7 skeins (smallest size), 9 skeins (medium size), or 11 skeins (largest size).

Needles required include US Size 8 straight needles for flat knitting and circular needles (also size 8 or adjusted as needed to obtain proper gauge). The pattern specifies an approximate gauge of 4.5 stitches and 5 rows per inch when working the lace pattern, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and drape.

Finishing Details

The cardigan features three 1 3/8" buttons spaced evenly down the front, with corresponding buttonholes worked into the right front band during construction. The cropped length and lace detailing create a contemporary silhouette, while the cotton-modal-silk blend provides breathability, softness, and a subtle sheen suitable for warm-weather wear.