Valley Yarns Borage Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Borage Pullover

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Borage is a children's pullover cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman, created as part of the WEBS Modern Kids collection. This garment combines practical everyday wear with playful design elements, making it an ideal addition to a child's wardrobe. The pullover features a distinctive beefy cable motif on the front, while the sleeves and back are worked in fast stockinette stitch for a balanced aesthetic. The design is available in six sizes ranging from 1-2 years through 10-12 years, with the pictured sample shown in size 6-8 years.

Techniques Used

The Borage pullover employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished structure. The garment is worked flat on circular needles, meaning pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, then seamed together to create the final pullover. This construction method allows for precise shaping and makes it easier to manage the cable work on the front panel. The cable techniques featured include both right cross braid side cables and left cross braid side cables, which create the dimensional texture on the front of the garment. These cables are worked using the cable cross method, where stitches are slipped onto a cable needle, held to the front or back of the work, and then crossed over subsequent stitches to form the braided effect. The design also incorporates short-row shaping using the wrap and turn method, which allows for targeted increases and decreases to achieve proper fit across different sizes.

Stitches Used

The Borage pullover utilizes a focused selection of fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric for the sleeves and back panel, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This stitch creates the smooth, classic knit fabric appearance. Ribbing in a K1/P1 pattern (knit one, purl one) is used for edge finishing and shaping elements. The featured cable stitches—the right cross braid side cable and left cross braid side cables—are each worked over a multiple of 6 stitches and repeat over 4 rows. These cables are created using 2/2 right cross (RC) and 2/2 left cross (LC) techniques, where two stitches are crossed over two other stitches to build the braided pattern. Decreases are accomplished using knit 2 together (K2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) methods, while increases are made using the make 1 left (M1L) technique, which lifts the strand between stitches and knits it through the back loop to add stitches invisibly.

Materials and Tools

The Borage pullover is knitted using Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky, a durable blend of 60% Superwash Merino and 40% Acrylic Microfiber. This fiber composition provides easy care properties ideal for children's garments, as the acrylic microfiber content enhances washability while the merino wool adds softness and breathability. Each skein yields 109 yards and weighs 100 grams. Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 3 skeins for the smallest size (1-2 years) to 9 skeins for the largest size (10-12 years). The pictured sample is worked in Color 31 Blue. Knitting needles include a US 9 (5.5mm) 24-inch circular needle for the main fabric and US 8 (5mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 24-inch lengths for ribbed sections, with needle size adjusted as needed to achieve proper gauge. Additional materials include locking stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and cable crossings, a stitch holder or waste yarn for securing live stitches, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch when blocked using the larger needle.

Finished Measurements

The Borage pullover is designed with 1 to 2 inches of positive ease for comfortable fit. Chest measurements for each size are as follows: Size 1-2 years measures 22 inches across the chest; Size 2-4 years measures 24 inches; Size 4-6 years measures 26 inches; Size 6-8 years measures 28 inches; Size 8-10 years measures 30 inches; and Size 10-12