Valley Yarns Network Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Network Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Network Cardigan is a knitted cardigan sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment is constructed in multiple pieces—sleeves, body, and shoulders—that are seamed together. The cardigan features a fitted silhouette with waist shaping and is finished with a decorative patterned band at the lower edge worked in contrasting colors.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques suitable for beginner-level crafters:

• Seamed construction: Individual pieces are knitted flat and then seamed together at the underarms and side seams
• Worked flat: The main body sections and sleeves are worked back and forth in rows rather than in continuous rounds
• Worked in the round: The patterned band at the lower body is worked circularly using circular needles
• Stranded colorwork: The decorative band features a stranded pattern using two colors (main color and contrast color) with slip stitches creating a textured, multi-colored design
• Shaping: The body includes strategic decreases and increases spaced 12 rows apart to create waist definition

Stitches Used

The Network Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with colorwork techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Slip stitches (sl): Used extensively in the patterned band to create the stranded colorwork design without carrying yarn across large distances
• Make one increases (m1): Used in the patterned band setup round to distribute stitches evenly around the lower edge
• Purl stitches (p): Used in the shoulder and top body sections

The patterned band consists of eight rounds of alternating slip-stitch patterns in two colors, creating a geometric, textured design that contrasts with the smooth stockinette body.

Materials and Tools

The Valley Yarns Network Cardigan is designed to be worked with specific materials:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Colrain, a blend of 50% Merino wool and 50% Tencel, offered in 50-gram skeins with 109 yards per skein. Main color requires 8 to 13 skeins depending on size, while the contrast color requires 2 to 4 skeins
• Needles: US size 7 and US size 8 circular needles in 16-inch and 32-inch lengths. The smaller needles are used for ribbing or initial cast-on, while the larger needles are used for the main fabric
• Gauge: 16 stitches and 24 rows measured over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements

Pattern Details and Construction

The cardigan is available in multiple finished sizes and is constructed in three main sections:

• Sleeves: Cast on 4 stitches and worked in the round, increasing gradually to create the sleeve cap
• Lower body: Picked up and cast on at the right underarm with 144 to 208 stitches depending on size. The body is worked in stockinette stitch with strategic shaping—decreasing once on each side of two markers every 12th row twice, then increasing once on each side every 12th row twice to create a fitted waist
• Patterned band: A decorative eight-round stranded colorwork band worked in the round at the lower edge, featuring slip-stitch patterns in main color and contrast color that create a textured, multi-colored finish

The finished garment measures between 16 and 18 inches in length depending on size, with the patterned band positioned 2.5 inches from the desired total length. This beginner-friendly design combines classic construction techniques with accessible colorwork, making it an excellent project for knitters developing their skills in seaming, shaping, and stranded pattern work.