Valley Yarns Winter Wheat Self-Tie Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Winter Wheat Self-Tie Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Winter Wheat Self-Tie Cardigan is a sophisticated knit cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment features a distinctive self-tie closure mechanism created through strategic bind-off and cast-on sections integrated into the waistband. The cardigan is constructed in a bottom-up method, beginning with the waistband and progressing upward to the upper body. The finished sizes range from 34 inches to 49 inches, accommodating multiple fit options for different body measurements.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is worked flat on needles rather than in the round, allowing for seamless integration of the lace pattern throughout. The construction begins with the waistband, which is cast on with 19 stitches and features a set-up row that establishes stitch markers to guide the lace pattern placement. The waistband incorporates multiple "slash rows" that create the self-tie feature—these rows involve strategic bind-offs and cast-ons that form openings through which the tie can pass. After completing the waistband section, stitches are picked up along one edge to begin the upper body, which is worked flat with careful stitch marker placement to maintain pattern alignment across the left front, left back panel, central back panel, right back panel, and right front sections.

Stitches and Lace Pattern

The cardigan showcases the Winter Wheat Lace Stitch, a 20-row repeating pattern that creates elegant openwork throughout the garment. The stitch pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) create the openwork characteristic of lace knitting, producing decorative holes that increase stitch count
• Decreases including slip-slip-knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) balance the yarn overs and maintain stitch count across rows
• Garter stitch edges (knit 2 stitches at the beginning and end of each row) frame the lace pattern and provide structural stability
• Reverse stockinette sections on wrong-side rows (purl stitches between garter edges) create textural contrast
• Stitch markers guide the placement of lace motifs across different sections of the garment

The Winter Wheat Lace Stitch pattern expands progressively across rows 1 through 19, with the lace diamond motif growing from 3 stitches wide to 11 stitches wide, creating a dynamic visual effect. The pattern repeats every 20 rows, and the waistband alone features three complete pattern repeats before the upper body section begins.

Materials

The Valley Yarns Winter Wheat Self-Tie Cardigan is knit using Valley Yarns Longmeadow yarn, a blend of 60% cotton and 40% additional fiber content. Yardage requirements vary by finished size: the smallest size requires 8 skeins, while the largest size requires 13 skeins. The cotton content provides breathability and drape, making this an ideal garment for transitional seasons. The pattern is worked on needles appropriate for the yarn weight specified in the complete pattern instructions.