Valley Yarns Hyacinth Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Hyacinth Cardigan by Kirsten Hipsky

What is Being Made

The Hyacinth Cardigan is a seamless, top-down knit cardigan designed for transitional seasons and layering in air-conditioned spaces. This intermediate-level project features a lace construction and comes in seven finished sizes ranging from 33 inches to 51 inches in bust circumference. The cardigan includes button closures and is worked primarily in stockinette stitch with lace detailing throughout the yoke and body.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Top-Down Construction: The garment is worked from the neckline downward, beginning with a small cast-on at the yoke and increasing outward to create the body and sleeves simultaneously.
• Seamless Knitting: The design is worked seamlessly using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together after completion.
• Worked Flat: Despite using circular needles, the yoke and lower body sections are worked flat (back and forth in rows) rather than in the round for most of the construction.
• Lace Patterning: Lace elements are incorporated through yarn overs and strategic decreases, creating an open, decorative fabric that contributes to the cardigan's breathable quality.
• Raglan Shaping: The yoke uses raglan-style increases to shape the sleeves and body, with increases worked on either side of marked stitches to create the characteristic raglan lines.

Stitches Used

The Hyacinth Cardigan primarily features stockinette stitch as its foundation fabric. Key stitch techniques include:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows.
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used extensively in the yoke increases and lace patterning to create decorative holes and add visual interest to the fabric.
• Knit and Purl: Basic stitches used to create the foundation and texture of the garment.
• Garter Stitch Elements: Likely used in button bands and finishing edges for stability and durability.

Materials and Gauge

The Hyacinth Cardigan is designed to be worked with Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a luxury blend yarn composed of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 109 yards, making it an ideal choice for a cardigan that drapes beautifully while providing warmth and breathability. Yardage requirements range from 6 skeins for the smallest size (33 inches) to 12 skeins for the largest size (51 inches).

The pattern calls for Size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles as the primary needles for the main fabric and Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles for ribbed edges and finishing details. Needles should be available in various lengths to accommodate the increasing stitch counts as the garment grows from the yoke downward. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Additional notions include 6 to 8 buttons depending on size (with larger sizes requiring more buttons for proper closure) and scrap yarn to serve as stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction.

Construction Overview

The cardigan begins with a small cast-on of 55 stitches divided into sections for the left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve, and right front. The yoke is worked using a series of increases that expand the piece symmetrically. After the yoke reaches the desired width, stitches are divided: sleeve stitches are placed on waste yarn to be worked later, and the body continues downward in the round. The sleeves are subsequently picked up from the underarm and worked in the round to completion. This construction method ensures proper fit and eliminates the need for complex seaming while maintaining the seamless aesthetic.