Valley Yarns Rays Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Rays Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Rays Cardigan is an elegant A-line coat featuring a flirty flare at the lower hem. This seamless, top-down knit cardigan is designed with raglan construction, eliminating the need for special finishing work. The garment is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, fitting bust measurements of 28 to 42 inches with 0-4 inches of negative ease for a tailored fit.

Knitting Techniques

This advanced beginner pattern employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its polished construction:

• Seamless, Top-Down Construction: The cardigan is knit from the top down in one piece, eliminating seaming and providing a smooth, professional finish without additional finishing steps.
• Raglan Shaping: The raglan construction creates diagonal lines from the neckline to the underarms, allowing for comfortable armhole depth and natural shoulder fit.
• Wrap and Turn (W&T): This short-row technique is used to shape the collar sections, creating smooth transitions and proper neckline shaping.
• Increases: Strategic increases throughout the raglan rows (using M1L, M1R, and M1P methods) build the necessary width for the A-line silhouette and flared hem.
• Ribbed Edging: 1x1 ribbing is used for structure and elasticity, particularly important for the collar and hem areas.

Stitches Used

The Rays Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques:

• Knit (k) and Purl (p): Basic stitches forming the foundation of the stockinette and ribbed sections.
• 1x1 Ribbing: Alternating knit and purl stitches create the textured ribbed fabric used for the collar, cuffs, and hem. The pattern provides gauge measurements for both unstretched (22 sts and 20 rows = 4") and slightly stretched (20 sts and 28 rows = 4") ribbing to accommodate the yarn's natural properties.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog) and Purl Two Together (p2tog): Decreases used for shaping and finishing edges.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in raglan shaping for balanced decreases.
• Make One Left (M1L), Make One Right (M1R), and Make One Purlwise (M1P): Increases that add stitches without creating visible holes, essential for the raglan increases and A-line shaping.
• Slip Stitches: Used in conjunction with wrap and turn techniques for seamless shaping.

Materials

The Rays Cardigan is designed to showcase the luxurious qualities of premium natural fiber:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Sunderland, 100% baby alpaca, in the color Bark. The pattern requires 11 to 15 skeins depending on size (XS through XL), with each skein containing 50 grams and 109 yards. The pattern notes that this yarn tends to grow after blocking, and the finished measurements account for this yarn growth.
• Needles: US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles and double-pointed needles, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The use of circular needles for the seamless construction allows for easy increases and the ability to work in the round.
• Gauge: Achieving proper gauge is essential for this pattern. The ribbed sections should measure 22 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches when unstretched, or 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches when slightly stretched.

Pattern Details

The Rays Cardigan pattern, designed by Nataliya Polyakov, includes comprehensive instructions with clear abbreviations and row-by-row guidance. The right collar begins with casting on 30 stitches and incorporates wrap and turn shaping to create a smooth neckline transition. All measurements provided are taken after blocking, which is particularly important given the baby alpaca yarn's tendency to relax and grow during the blocking process. This advanced beginner pattern is ideal for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle seamless construction and raglan shaping