Valley Yarns Spinel Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Spinel Cardigan: Children's Knit Design with Colorwork and Texture

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Spinel is an intermediate-level cardigan designed for children, available in six sizes ranging from 12 months to 12 years old. This mixed-media garment combines textured knitting with vibrant stranded colorwork in a single project. The cardigan features a finished chest measurement of 21½ inches (12MO-2YR size) up to 32¼ inches (10-12YR size), with approximately ¾ inch opening and is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease for comfortable wear over layers.

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Spinel cardigan incorporates multiple advanced knitting techniques that make it an excellent skill-building project. The garment is worked in the round using circular needles, which creates seamless construction for most of the piece. The design features stranded colorwork, a technique where multiple yarn colors are carried across the fabric to create intricate patterns. The cardigan includes a steek construction at the center front, with 12 steek stitches worked in contrast color that are later cut and finished to create the cardigan opening.

Additional finishing techniques include seamed construction where necessary, slip-stitched hems for a polished edge, and buttonholes positioned along the front opening. The cardigan is finished with a 3-needle bind-off technique for joining edges. The border is worked in the round with alternating contrast colors, creating a decorative frame for the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Spinel uses a combination of fundamental and intermediate stitches. Stockinette stitch (St st) forms the primary fabric base, providing a smooth, classic knit surface. The pattern also incorporates lace stitch elements, which add textural interest and visual depth to the design. Both the stockinette and lace stitch sections are worked at the same gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches when blocked, allowing them to integrate seamlessly throughout the garment.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Spinel is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a yarn composed of 100% Extra Fine Merino wool. This fiber choice makes the cardigan ideal for children's wear, offering softness and durability. The yarn comes in 50-gram skeins with 137 yards per skein.

Yarn quantities vary by size. The main color (MC) requires 2 skeins for the smallest size (12MO-2YR) up to 6 skeins for the largest size (10-12YR). The pattern uses three contrast colors (CC1, CC2, and CC3): Light Gray requires 1 skein across most sizes, Misty Lilac requires 1 to 2 skeins depending on size, and Classic Navy requires 1 skein. The main color is listed as Natural.

Needles required include US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in 16-inch, 24-inch, and 32-inch lengths for the main fabric, along with an extra US size 5 needle for the 3-needle bind-off. US size 4 (3.50 mm) circular needles in the same lengths and double-pointed needles are also needed, likely for ribbing or edging. Additional materials include stitch markers, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a sewing needle with thread matching the main color, and 7 buttons with ½-inch diameter for closure.

Gauge and Blocking

The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when blocked with the larger needles. The same gauge applies to lace stitch sections, ensuring consistent fabric density throughout the garment. Proper blocking is essential for achieving accurate finished measurements and even stitch definition, particularly important when working with multiple stitch patterns and colorwork sections.