Valley Yarns Silverscape Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Silverscape Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Silverscape Cardigan is a fitted, waist-shaping cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment features a sophisticated lace yoke that creates an elegant drape across the shoulders and upper back. The cardigan is constructed in six finished sizes ranging from 32" to 52" in width, making it suitable for a variety of body types. The design combines classic cardigan structure with decorative lace patterning in the yoke area, creating a refined piece suitable for both casual and dressier occasions.

Techniques Used

The Silverscape Cardigan is worked using several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knitted from the hem upward, beginning with the back piece and working through the front pieces and yoke.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming to join the pieces together.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then sewn together to create the finished garment, providing clean, professional seams.
• Lace patterning: The yoke features an intricate lace design that incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create an open, decorative pattern across the shoulders and upper chest area.

Stitches Used

The Silverscape Cardigan employs a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Ribbing (k1, p1): Used at the hem to create elastic edging that provides structure and helps the cardigan sit close to the body.
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic fabric.
• Yarn overs (yo): Used extensively in the lace yoke pattern to create decorative openings and contribute to the lacy aesthetic.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in both waist shaping and lace pattern decreases.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in the lace yoke pattern to create balanced decreases alongside yarn overs.
• Slip, slip, purl (ssp): The purl-side equivalent of ssk, used in the lace pattern on wrong-side rows.
• Purl stitch: Used on wrong-side rows to create stockinette stitch and as part of the ribbed edging.

Waist Shaping and Fit

The cardigan incorporates strategic waist shaping to create a flattering, fitted silhouette. The back piece begins with decreases worked every 6 rows for 4 rows, reducing the width at the waist. This is followed by corresponding increases every 6 rows for 4 rows, creating a gentle hourglass shape. The piece then continues even in stockinette stitch until reaching the desired length before armhole shaping begins.

Lace Yoke Design

The yoke features a sophisticated lace pattern that is worked over multiple rows with strategic marker placement. The pattern uses paired yarn overs and decreases to create an open, decorative design. The lace is worked symmetrically across the back yoke with specific stitch sequences that alternate between right-side and wrong-side rows. The pattern is repeated multiple times depending on the finished size, allowing the lace to develop fully across the shoulders. As the yoke progresses, the lace pattern continues while shoulder shaping is simultaneously worked, creating a seamless integration of the decorative element with the garment's structure.

Materials

Yarn: The Silverscape Cardigan is knitted with Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a blend of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. This yarn is supplied in 50-gram skeins with approximately 109 yards per skein. The recommended colorway is Stone Blue. The yardage requirement ranges from 8 to 15 skeins depending on the finished size, providing between 872 and 1,635 total yards of yarn.

Needles and Tools: The pattern calls for US size 7 (4.50mm) knitting needles or the size required to achieve proper gauge. A US size 7 (4.50mm) crochet hook is also listed in the materials, likely for finishing details such as edging