Valley Yarns Flowing Rib Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Flowing Rib Cardigan

Project Overview

The Valley Yarns Flowing Rib Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment features a distinctive one-piece construction where the sleeves are knit sideways directly into the body, creating a seamless integration at the shoulders. The cardigan is available in six finished sizes ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements.

What Is Being Made

This is a button-front cardigan with integrated sleeves and a collar. The garment is worked from the bottom up using a flat knitting method, then seamed to complete the construction. The design emphasizes elegant drape and fluid movement through its stitch pattern and fiber content, making it suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan begins at the lower edges and is worked upward toward the shoulders and neckline
• Flat knitting: Pieces are worked back and forth on circular needles rather than in the round
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are joined together using seaming techniques to create the finished garment
• Sideways sleeve integration: Sleeves are cast on and worked horizontally as part of the body piece, eliminating traditional sleeve cap shaping
• Collar construction: A separate collar section is worked and integrated into the neckline
• Graduated increases: Sleeve shaping is achieved through strategic cast-on increases at row ends, with varying frequencies depending on size

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is the Carriage Rib, a variation of traditional ribbing that creates a flowing, textured appearance. This pattern is based on a multiple of 4 stitches plus 1 additional stitch.

• Carriage Rib Pattern: Row 1 is worked as *K3, p1; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. This row is repeated throughout to establish the pattern
• Knit stitch (k): The fundamental stitch that forms the majority of the fabric
• Purl stitch (p): Used in alternation with knit stitches to create the ribbed texture
• Mistake Rib variation: The pattern incorporates more knit stitches than purl stitches, creating a subtle visual variation that flows elegantly across the shoulders

Materials and Gauge

The Valley Yarns Flowing Rib Cardigan is worked in Valley Yarns Deerfield, a luxury blend yarn composed of 80% Baby Alpaca and 20% Silk. This fiber combination is specifically chosen for its exceptional drape qualities, allowing the cardigan to flow gracefully over the body. The yarn is available in the color Seaspray for this design.

Yardage requirements vary by size: 11 skeins (for size 36"), 12 skeins (size 40"), 13 skeins (size 44"), 14 skeins (size 48"), 16 skeins (size 52"), 18 skeins (size 56"), and 20 skeins (size 60"). Each skein contains 50 grams and 109 yards of yarn.

The pattern is worked on US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches in length, or needles in whatever size is necessary to achieve the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in the Carriage Rib pattern when blocked and slightly stretched. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the cardigan to drape correctly and fit as intended.

Construction Details

The cardigan body begins with cast-on stitches that vary by size, ranging from 49 stitches for the smallest size to 81 stitches for the largest. The lower body is worked in the Carriage Rib pattern for approximately 16 inches or to the desired length before underarm shaping begins.

Sleeve shaping is accomplished through incremental cast-on increases at the end of wrong-side rows. The number and frequency of these increases vary by size to accommodate different proportions. The pattern specifies cast-on increases of 8 stitches repeated multiple times, followed by cast-on increases of 4 stit