Valley Yarns Basil Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Basil Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Basil Cardigan is a seamless, top-down raglan cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment is constructed to be soft, cozy, and versatile for everyday wear. The cardigan is available in seven finished sizes ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches in circumference, offering options for various body measurements and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques

This cardigan employs advanced beginner-level knitting techniques centered around a seamless, top-down construction method. The top-down approach allows knitters to begin at the neckline and work downward, which provides flexibility for customizing the finished length before binding off. The raglan shaping technique is used to create the sleeve cap and yoke, which involves strategic increases placed on either side of marked sections to achieve a gradual, fitted shoulder line.

The yoke is constructed using placed increases (m1 stitches) worked on alternating rows to shape the front panels, back neck, and sleeves simultaneously. Once the yoke reaches the desired depth, the sleeves are separated from the body and worked in the round on double pointed needles, while the lower body continues on circular needles. This method eliminates the need for seaming, resulting in a smooth, professional finish.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in ribbing and textural elements
• Ribbing (K2, P2) – Creates the collar using alternating knit and purl columns for elasticity and structure
• Stockinette Stitch – The main fabric throughout the body and sleeves, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• Make One (M1) – An invisible increase worked by knitting into the back of the strand running between stitches, used for raglan shaping
• Slip Marker (SM) – Technique for moving stitch markers along the needles to denote section boundaries

Materials and Gauge

The Basil Cardigan is worked in Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% Merino Wool yarn in the color Olive. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 11 skeins (for the smallest 36-inch size) to 20 skeins (for the largest 60-inch size). Each skein contains 50 grams and 109 yards of yardage.

Needles required include US size 8 (5.00mm) circular needles and double pointed needles, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include 4 stitch markers for tracking the raglan increases and section divisions.

The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the cardigan fits as designed.

Construction Details

The cardigan begins with a ribbed collar worked flat on circular needles, cast on with 68 to 80 stitches depending on size. The collar is worked in K2, P2 ribbing for 6 inches or to the desired length. Following the collar, the yoke section is established by placing stitch markers to divide the stitches into five sections: right front, right sleeve, back neck, left sleeve, and left front. Increases are worked symmetrically on both sides of each marker every other row for a total of 21 to 30 repeats, depending on size, gradually expanding the yoke to accommodate the shoulders and upper arm width. Once yoke shaping is complete, the sleeves are separated and worked in the round on double pointed needles with underarm cast-on stitches, while the lower body continues on circular needles in the round, allowing for independent customization of sleeve and body length.