Valley Yarns Tanager Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Tanager Striped Lace Pullover Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Tanager is a casual striped spring pullover sweater designed by Julie Turjoman. This intermediate-level knitting project features a decorative single-color lace border at the hem, combining practical everyday wearability with elegant design details. The sweater is available in sizes XS through 4XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 inches to 63 inches and a length of approximately 17 to 18 inches from the underarm, offering 1 to 2 inches of positive ease for comfortable layering.

Techniques Used

The Tanager employs multiple construction techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted from the hem upward, allowing for easy length adjustments and a traditional building process
• Worked flat and in the round: Different sections utilize both flat and circular knitting methods for optimal shaping and efficiency
• Striped colorwork: The body features decorative stripes created with multiple contrasting colors (Fawn, Persimmon, and Bordeaux) against the main color (Linen), with a video tutorial available for the jogless stripes technique to maintain clean color transitions
• Lace patterning: A decorative lace stitch creates an elegant border at the hem, adding visual interest and a touch of sophistication
• Seamed construction: Pieces are seamed together for a polished, structured finish

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with decorative lace work:

• Stockinette stitch: Forms the primary fabric of the body, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• Lace stitch: Used specifically for the decorative hem border, adding an elegant openwork detail that contrasts with the solid stockinette body
• Basic decreases: Knit 2 together (K2tog) decreases are used for shaping and lace pattern definition

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Tanager is designed to showcase the beautiful drape and softness of Valley Yarns Goshen, a premium blend yarn that makes this sweater ideal for warm-weather wear:

• Yarn fiber content: Valley Yarns Goshen comprises 48% Peruvian cotton, 46% modal, and 6% silk, combining durability with luxurious softness and excellent drape
• Yardage and weight: Each skein contains 92 yards and weighs 50 grams
• Color requirements: Main color (MC) requires 5 to 8 skeins depending on size in Linen; Contrasting Color 1 (CC1) in Fawn requires 2 to 3 skeins; Contrasting Colors 2 and 3 (CC2 and CC3) each require 2 skeins in Persimmon and Bordeaux respectively
• Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in 16-inch and 24 to 40-inch lengths are used for the main body at a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch; US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in 16-inch and 24-inch lengths are used for the lace hem at a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in lace stitch
• Additional materials: Stitch markers (including locking stitch markers), stitch holders, and a tapestry needle for finishing

Design Characteristics

The Tanager captures the essence of spring with its fresh color palette and elegant details. The combination of striped colorwork with a delicate lace border creates visual interest while maintaining the versatility needed for a practical layering piece. The cotton-modal-silk blend of Valley Yarns Goshen provides the perfect fabric hand for a summer-appropriate sweater that drapes beautifully without clinging, making it an excellent choice for warm-weather knitting projects.