Valley Yarns Aurora Shawl Collar Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Aurora Shawl Collar Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Aurora Shawl Collar Cardigan is a knitted cardigan featuring a distinctive shawl collar, designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment is constructed from the bottom up and worked flat on circular needles, making it an accessible intermediate-level project. The cardigan is available in five finished sizes: 36, 40, 44, 48, and 52 inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements. The design includes a shaped v-neck front with button closure and a coordinating shawl collar that wraps elegantly around the neckline.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and visual appeal:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is built starting from the lower body and working upward, allowing knitters to try on the piece as they progress and adjust length as needed.
• Seamless, worked flat: Despite being seamless in appearance, the cardigan is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, eliminating the need for seaming while maintaining the flat construction method.
• Wrap and turn (W&T) shaping: The shawl collar utilizes wrap and turn techniques to create the gradual shaping and elegant drape characteristic of a shawl collar. This involves slipping stitches with yarn positioning and turning work to create short rows that build the collar's three-dimensional form.
• V-neck shaping: Strategic decreases shape the front opening into a flattering v-neckline.
• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, classic knit surface.

Stitches Used

The Aurora Shawl Collar Cardigan incorporates fundamental knitting stitches suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side when working flat, producing the characteristic smooth, V-textured surface.
• Knit and purl stitches: Basic stitches used throughout the body and for edge finishing.
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping the v-neck and other decreases.
• Knit into front and back (kfb): An increase stitch for adding stitches where needed.
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skp): A left-leaning decrease used for balanced shaping.
• Wrap and turn (W&T): A short-row technique that wraps stitches to prevent holes while turning work mid-row, essential for the shawl collar construction.

Materials and Specifications

The Aurora Shawl Collar Cardigan calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and finished appearance:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky, a 100% wool yarn with yardage of 109 yards per 100-gram skein. The recommended colorway is Lt Green Heather. The pattern requires 8 to 12 skeins depending on the finished size selected.
• Needles: US size 10.5 circular needles (or the size needed to obtain proper gauge), used for working the cardigan flat despite the circular needle format.
• Additional notions: One crochet hook for finishing details, including creating a 2-inch chain for the right front v-neck shaping attachment, and one large button for closure.
• Gauge: 3 stitches and 4 rows equal 1 inch when worked in stockinette stitch, a critical measurement for ensuring the finished garment meets the intended dimensions.

Construction Details

The lower body begins with a three-section cast-on: 27 to 39 stitches (depending on size) for the left front, 54 to 78 stitches for the back, and 27 to 39 stitches for the right front, totaling 108 to 156 stitches. After knitting three rows, the piece is worked even in stockinette stitch until reaching the desired length of approximately 13 inches. Sleeve shaping follows, with decreases worked over multiple