Valley Yarns Wainscot Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Wainscot Woman's A-Line Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Wainscot is a sophisticated woman's A-line cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman, crafted in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK yarn. This advanced-level knitting pattern creates a stylish cold weather garment featuring a dramatic slip-stitch colorwork border, cable front panels, a shawl collar, and set-in pockets trimmed with I-Cord. The cardigan is available in sizes XS through 4XL with finished bust measurements ranging from 36 inches to 61½ inches, designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease.

Techniques Used

The Wainscot pattern incorporates multiple advanced knitting techniques that make it an ideal project for experienced knitters seeking technical variety. The garment is worked using a combination of approaches:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is built from the lower edge upward, allowing for straightforward sizing adjustments and a logical progression through the pattern.
• Worked flat: The slip-stitch colorwork border and primary sections are worked flat on circular needles, which provides flexibility and ease of stitch management across the wider garment pieces.
• Worked in the round: Certain sections utilize circular needle techniques worked in the round for seamless construction where appropriate.
• Seamless construction: The pattern employs seamless knitting methods to minimize finishing work and create a polished, professional appearance.
• Set-in pockets: Functional pockets are integrated into the design with I-Cord trim detailing, adding both practicality and decorative interest.
• Cable work: Cable front panels create visual texture and dimension on the cardigan fronts.
• Slip-stitch colorwork: A dramatic slip-stitch colorwork border is featured, using two colors to create patterned interest while maintaining the ease of slip-stitch technique compared to traditional stranded colorwork.

Stitches Used

The Wainscot pattern employs a range of fundamental and intermediate stitches to create its textured and patterned design. The primary stitch patterns include:

• Stockinette stitch: The base fabric for much of the cardigan, worked as knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows.
• Slip-stitch colorwork: A decorative border technique worked over a multiple of 10 stitches and 20 rows, alternating colors (main color and contrast color) with slipped stitches to create a multi-colored pattern without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork.
• Cable stitches: Cable panels on the front sections, created by crossing groups of stitches over each other to form twisted rope-like textures.
• Ribbing: Elastic ribbing used for cuffs, waistband, and other edges to provide shape and recovery.
• I-Cord: A narrow tubular cord used to trim the pockets, created by working a small number of stitches in the round using double-pointed needles.
• Decreases and increases: Shaping techniques including K2tog (knit 2 together) and other decrease methods to create the A-line silhouette and fitted shaping.

Materials and Yarn

The Wainscot is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a practical and luxurious yarn choice. The main color (MC) requires 5 to 8 hanks depending on size, while the contrast color (CC) requires 2 to 3 balls. The yarn is 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino Wool, providing durability, softness, and easy-care machine-washable properties ideal for a frequently-worn cardigan. The sample shown is worked in Color 8 (Teal) for the main color and Color 3 (Black) for the contrast colorwork border.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires a range of circular needle sizes to accommodate the different stitch gauges used throughout the garment:

• US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles: Available in 16-inch, 24-inch, and 32-40 inch lengths for the main fabric, worked at a gauge of 22 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches in slip-stitch colorwork pattern when blocked.