Valley Yarns Ingrid Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ingrid Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Ingrid Cardigan, designed by Kirsten Hipsky, is a seamless, top-down knit cardigan available in five finished sizes: 36", 39", 42", 45", and 48". This beginner-friendly garment features a distinctive stitch pattern with dropped-stitch details that create visual texture and movement throughout the piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using seamless, top-down methodology, meaning knitting begins at the neckline and progresses downward toward the hem. The garment is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and construction. The design incorporates strategic decreasing and increasing at side edges to create fitted shaping at the waist and bust areas. Shoulder and sleeve seams are sewn after the main body and sleeves are completed, and the lower sleeve and side seams are also seamed for a polished finish.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The cardigan features a repeating 12-row stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 4. The pattern combines several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Knit and purl stitches form the foundational texture
• Yarn overs (yo) create decorative eyelet details that appear in rows 2, 6, and 12 of the pattern repeat
• Dropped stitches are intentionally unraveled down to the yarn over six rows below, creating a distinctive ladder-like texture in rows 6 and 12

The stitch pattern alternates between purl and knit sections across rows, with the dropped-stitch technique serving as the signature design element. Rows 1-12 are repeated throughout the body and sleeves to create consistent patterning. The collar is worked separately using a set-up row followed by the same 12-row stitch pattern, worked for 6 inches before binding off loosely.

Materials and Tools

The Ingrid Cardigan is worked in Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a blend of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 11 to 15 skeins (each skein contains 50 grams and 109 yards). The recommended needle size is US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, available in either 32" or 40" lengths depending on project needs. The gauge is approximately 22 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches when worked in the stitch pattern, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Finishing Details

After all pieces are knitted, the cardigan is finished by seaming the shoulder and upper sleeve seams, then picking up stitches around the front edges and back neck for the collar. The collar is folded so the wrong side faces outward, creating a distinctive rolled edge. The garment can be blocked or steamed to desired measurements, with the collar optionally tacked down for a more structured appearance. Lower sleeve and side seams are sewn to complete the construction.