Valley Yarns Cloe Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Cloe Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Cloe Cardigan is an unstructured, one-size cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky that features an intricate lace pattern as the focal point. This garment is worked as a single piece beginning at the bottom, with two separate front panels that are later joined at the shoulders and back neck. The finished cardigan measures approximately 57 inches around, making it a generous, draping silhouette suitable for layering over light tops. The one-piece construction method creates a seamless integration of the front and back sections, with side seams sewn only partially to create defined armholes.

Techniques Used

The Cloe Cardigan employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the bottom edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches at the lower edge of the front pieces
• Lace knitting: An intricate lace stitch pattern forms the primary fabric, with a 34-stitch and 28-row repeat that measures 6.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches long when completed
• Seamed assembly: Side seams are sewn together to join the separate front and back sections, with seaming stopped at the desired underarm location to create the armhole opening
• One-piece integration: The two front pieces are joined together at the back neck and shoulders while still on the needles, creating a continuous fabric rather than separate components
• Grafting: Held stitches at the back neck are grafted together to create a finished edge
• Seed stitch edging: A three-stitch seed stitch border is maintained at the beginning and end of each row on the front and back pieces, providing a finished, structured edge that frames the lace pattern

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates a carefully selected combination of stitches to achieve both structure and visual interest:

• Lace stitch pattern: The primary stitch pattern consists of a 34-stitch by 28-row repeat that creates the intricate, delicate appearance central to the cardigan's design
• Seed stitch: A three-stitch seed stitch border (alternating knit and purl stitches) is worked at the edges of each piece, created by repeating k1, p1, k1 sequences
• Stockinette stitch: Implied in the construction of the back piece and as the base fabric in areas not featuring the lace pattern
• Grafting stitch: Used to join the held stitches at the back neck for a seamless finish

Materials and Gauge

The Cloe Cardigan is designed to showcase the qualities of a specific yarn that contributes significantly to its draping and feel. The pattern calls for 11 skeins of Valley Yarns Southwick, a luxurious blend of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 105 yards, providing a total of 1,155 yards of yarn for the completed garment. The sample shown in the pattern was worked in the colorway Mineral Green.

Knitting is worked on US size 6 (4.00mm) needles, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern gauge is approximately 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in the lace stitch pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the cardigan to reach its intended finished dimensions and for the lace pattern to display correctly.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, reflecting the skills required to successfully complete the project. Knitters should be comfortable with lace knitting techniques, including yarn overs and decreases that create the openwork pattern. Understanding how to read lace charts or written lace instructions is necessary, as is the ability to work seams and grafting techniques. The one-piece construction method, while efficient, requires attention to stitch placement and the coordination of multiple sections being worked simultaneously.

Pattern Format

The Cloe Cardigan pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing crafters to access the complete instructions, stitch charts, and construction details digitally. This format enables easy reference during knitting and the ability to print sections as needed for convenient pattern following.