Valley Yarns Skyline Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Skyline Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Skyline Cardigan is a classic V-neck cardigan designed by Amy Herzog, featuring a flattering deep neckline and refined construction details. This garment is available in 12 size options, with bust measurements ranging from 31¼ inches to 63¼ inches (80.5 cm to 160.5 cm), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The cardigan is designed to be worn with 2 inches of ease in the bust for comfortable, relaxed wear.

Construction and Techniques

The Skyline Cardigan is worked bottom-up in individual pieces that are later seamed together, allowing for precise shaping and control throughout the knitting process. The garment is worked flat on straight or circular needles, rather than in the round, which is a traditional approach for cardigan construction. The cardigan features set-in sleeves, a tailored construction method that creates a professional, fitted appearance at the armhole. An additional design detail includes dart-style waist shaping worked exclusively on the back piece, creating subtle contouring that enhances the garment's silhouette.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Skyline Cardigan employs two primary stitch patterns. The body is worked in stockinette stitch, the most fundamental knitting stitch that creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. Trim details, including the neckline and button bands, are finished with 1x1 ribbed trim, which alternates single knit and purl stitches to create an elastic, textured border that frames the cardigan and helps edges maintain their shape.

The pattern utilizes standard knitting abbreviations and techniques including:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches as foundational elements
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) for right-leaning decreases
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) for left-leaning decreases
• Make 1 left (m1l) and make 1 right (m1r) for invisible increases used in waist shaping
• Bind off (BO) and cast on (CO) for edge finishing
• Stitch markers and slip markers for tracking pattern sections

Materials and Gauge

The Skyline Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Peru, a luxury blend yarn composed of 84% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, and 8% nylon. This fiber combination provides softness, breathability, and durability. The yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls with 109 yards per ball, and the pattern requires between 9 and 21 balls depending on the chosen size.

Knitting needles required include US #7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles for the main body pieces, and one 24-inch circular needle in the same size for working the neckline ribbing. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the intended finished measurements.

Additional materials needed for completion include stitch markers, a stitch holder, a darning needle for seaming, 7 buttons measuring 19mm, and sewing thread for attaching buttons securely to the finished cardigan.

Difficulty Level

The Skyline Cardigan is classified as an advanced knitting project. This difficulty rating reflects the garment's multiple construction techniques, including set-in sleeve shaping, waist dart shaping, seaming multiple pieces together, and the precision required for a professional-looking finished cardigan. Knitters undertaking this project should have solid experience with shaping techniques, gauge consistency, and garment assembly.