Valley Yarns Pangea Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Pangea Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Pangea Cardigan is a seamed, flat-worked knit cardigan designed by Elisabeth Parker. This intermediate-level project is available in five finished sizes ranging from 36" to 52", making it suitable for a range of body measurements. The cardigan features a classic construction with a divided front and back, set-in sleeves, and structured shaping throughout.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques that build essential skills:

• Flat knitting: The body and sleeves are worked flat on needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming
• Seaming: Pieces are joined together using the Kitchener stitch, a grafting technique that creates an invisible seam
• Wrap and turn (W&T): Used for short-row shaping on the front to create fitted bust shaping and contoured neckline
• Stitch placement: Stitches are strategically placed on waste yarn to be worked later, allowing for structured garment assembly
• Increase techniques: Sleeve shaping is achieved through strategic increases at the beginning and end of rounds to create a fitted cap sleeve

Stitches Used

Stockinette stitch forms the foundation of the entire cardigan. Worked as knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows, stockinette creates the smooth, classic fabric that defines this garment. The pattern maintains consistent stockinette throughout the body, sleeves, and front panels, providing a clean, professional finish.

Materials and Tools

The Pangea Cardigan is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk, a luxury blend composed of 80% alpaca and 20% silk. This yarn provides 1736 yards per 8-ounce cone, offering excellent yardage for a substantial garment. The recommended color for this pattern is olive.

Needles required include US size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles measuring 40" and double-pointed needles of the same size, or whatever size is needed to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern specifies working to a gauge of 6 stitches and 6 rows equaling 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the proper finished measurements.

Construction Details

The cardigan begins with casting on 108 to 136 stitches (depending on size) for the back panel, followed by the same number for the front panel. The body is worked flat in stockinette stitch for approximately 6.5 to 8.5 inches before dividing for the back and front. The front features short-row shaping using the wrap-and-turn technique to create fitted bust shaping and a contoured neckline.

Sleeves are worked separately, beginning with a cast-on of 60 to 96 stitches depending on size, then joined in the round. Sleeve shaping is accomplished through increases worked at the beginning and end of every eighth round, repeated six times to gradually expand the sleeve cap. The sleeves continue in stockinette stitch for 12 to 20 inches before all remaining stitches are placed on waste yarn for later grafting.

Final assembly involves grafting the sleeve stitches to the body using the Kitchener stitch, creating seamless joins that blend invisibly into the stockinette fabric.