Valley Yarns Moss Fern Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Moss Fern Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Moss Fern Cardigan is a top-down raglan-sleeved open cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This woodland-inspired garment features textured panels on the back and front, creating a nature-themed aesthetic. The cardigan is available in six finished sizes ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements. The open cardigan construction makes it versatile for layering over various outfits.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level cardigan employs multiple construction techniques to achieve its finished design. The garment is worked top-down, beginning with the yoke and expanding outward toward the hem and cuff edges. The yoke is worked in the round using circular needles, which allows for seamless raglan shaping and even stitch distribution. Once the yoke is complete, the pattern transitions to working flat, enabling the creation of the open cardigan front panels and allowing for easier stitch management during the textured pattern sections.

The construction begins with a small cast-on at the front edges and progressively increases through raglan shaping, which is marked with stitch markers at four strategic points. This top-down approach provides excellent fit customization, as knitters can try on the garment as they progress and adjust length as needed before binding off.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The cardigan incorporates several fundamental knitting stitches combined into a cohesive design. Stockinette stitch serves as the primary background stitch, creating a smooth, classic fabric base. The gauge is 3 stitches and 4 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which is appropriate for the bulky yarn weight used in this project.

A Fern Panel pattern provides the woodland-inspired textured detail on the back and front sections. This stitch pattern is worked over multiple rows and incorporates various knit and purl combinations to create the fern-like motif. The pattern uses m1R (make one right) and m1L (make one left) increases to shape the raglan sleeves and front panels while maintaining pattern integrity. Ribbing elements appear in the set-up rows, utilizing alternating knit and purl stitches to create definition at the edges.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Moss Fern Cardigan is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, a premium blend of 85% wool and 15% alpaca. This fiber composition provides warmth, elasticity, and a soft hand. The yardage required varies by size: 9 skeins for the smallest size (36 inches), increasing to 17 skeins for the largest size (60 inches). Each skein contains 100 yards and weighs 100 grams, making this a bulky-weight yarn suitable for quick projects and substantial fabric.

Needles required include US size 10 (6.00mm) circular needles in a 40-inch length for working the yoke in the round, as well as double-pointed needles of the same size for working the sleeves in the round once they are separated from the body. The pattern also calls for additional materials including 4 stitch markers designated for raglan shaping, 4 stitch markers for tracking the stitch pattern repeats, and stitch holders for managing stitches when transitioning between sections.

Pattern Structure and Progression

The pattern begins with casting on a minimal number of stitches distributed across the front, sleeves, and back sections. The yoke is established through set-up rows that introduce the Fern Panel pattern while simultaneously shaping the raglan increases. Each right-side row includes strategic increases at the raglan lines, with 2 stitches increased in the back section, 2 stitches in each sleeve section, and 1 stitch in each front section per increase row. This balanced shaping ensures proper garment proportions and sleeve cap fit.

The pattern alternates between increase rows and pattern rows, with the Fern Panel developing over multiple rows. The combination of knit, purl, and increase stitches creates visual interest while maintaining the structural integrity necessary for a well-fitting cardigan. Once the yoke reaches the desired depth, the sleeves are placed on stitch holders and the body continues in stockinette stitch or pattern as specified, working flat to the hem edge.