Valley Yarns Deauville Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Deauville Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Deauville Cardigan is a sophisticated top-down knit cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman. This intermediate-level project features a scoop neckline, ¾-length sleeves, and eyelet lace detailing on the front. The cardigan is available in seven sizes, ranging from 32 ¼ inches to 56 ¼ inches in bust measurement, making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The finished piece shown in the pattern is size 40 inches.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its elegant construction and wearability:

• Top-Down Construction: The cardigan is worked from the top down, beginning at the neckline and progressing downward. This method allows for easy fit adjustments and the ability to try on the garment as you knit.
• Raglan Shoulder Shaping: The pattern uses raglan increases to shape the shoulders and armholes, creating a smooth, fitted silhouette. The raglan increase row adds 8 stitches per row through strategic yarn overs and marker placement.
• Worked Flat and In-the-Round: The cardigan combines both flat knitting and circular knitting techniques. The main body sections are worked flat, while certain portions utilize circular needles for seamless construction.
• Eyelet Lace Front: Vertical eyelet lace enhances the front of the cardigan, created through yarn overs that form decorative holes in the fabric. This lace detail adds visual interest and a sophisticated aesthetic.
• Picked-Up Sleeves: The ¾-length sleeves are picked up from the armholes and worked downward, rather than being knitted separately and seamed, creating a seamless integration with the body.
• Ribbed Finishing Bands: Clean ribbed bands provide structured finishing details at the neckline, front edges, and cuffs, ensuring the cardigan maintains its shape and drape.

Stitches Used

The Deauville Cardigan incorporates a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the back, sleeves, and non-lace portions of the front. This classic stitch creates a smooth, polished fabric with excellent stitch definition.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Used selectively for textural contrast and detail work, created by knitting all wrong-side rows and purling all right-side rows.
• Yarn Overs (Yo): Essential for creating the eyelet lace pattern on the front of the cardigan, yarn overs form the characteristic decorative holes and openwork details.
• Decreases: The pattern uses K2tog (knit 2 together) and SSK (slip, slip, knit) decreases to shape the garment and balance the yarn overs in the lace sections.
• Knit Through Back Loop (K1tbl): Used for specific shaping and detail work to create twisted stitches where needed.
• Slip Stitches: Slip stitches are used throughout for edge finishing and seamless transitions between sections.

Materials and Specifications

The Deauville Cardigan is designed to showcase the qualities of a premium yarn blend. The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Goshen, a luxurious fiber composition of 48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, and 6% Silk. This blend creates a fabric with exceptional stitch definition, beautiful drape, and luxurious softness—qualities that make it ideal for summer knitting. The yarn is worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch on US size 7 (4.50 mm) needles.

The pattern requires 10 to 17 skeins of Goshen yarn depending on the finished size, with each skein containing 50 grams and 92 yards. The cardigan shown in the pattern uses the Lake colorway.

Needles and Tools Required:

• US size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles in 24-40 inch lengths