Valley Yarns Buttercreme Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Buttercreme Knitted Pullover Sweater

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Buttercreme is an intermediate-level knitted pullover sweater designed by Julie Turjoman. This ¾-sleeve faux wrap-front pullover features a V-neck and is constructed with intentional waist shaping details. The garment is versatile enough for both professional office settings and casual evening occasions, making it a practical addition to any wardrobe. Available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished bust measurements from 32¾ inches to 64¾ inches, the Buttercreme accommodates 1 to 2 inches of positive ease for comfortable fit.

Techniques Used

This sweater is worked flat on circular needles and then seamed together, rather than being knitted in the round. The construction method involves strategic waist shaping achieved through decreases and increases worked at specific intervals. The pattern employs short-row shaping (indicated by wrap and turn abbreviations) to create tailored fit and structure. A distinctive design feature involves layering a seed stitch pattern over a stockinette stitch base, with the seed stitch layer wrapping over the plain stockinette layer to create visual depth and an eye-catching design element on the finished garment.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary base stitch used throughout the sweater, creating a smooth, flat fabric that serves as the foundation for the layered design
• Seed Stitch: An alternating knit and purl pattern worked over an even number of stitches across 2 rows, creating a textured, bumpy surface that wraps over the stockinette base for dimensional contrast
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit 2 together (k2tog) decreases are used for waist shaping, worked every 8th row to create gradual tapering
• Increases: Make 1 (M1) increases are incorporated to shape the garment

Materials and Tools

The Buttercreme is knitted using Valley Yarns Charlemont, a premium blend yarn composed of 60% Fine Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, and 20% Polyamide. Each hank contains 100 grams and yields 439 yards. The yarn is noted for its soft hand and excellent drape, making it ideal for warmer weather garments. Yarn requirements range from 3 hanks for smaller sizes (XS, S, M, L) to 6 hanks for the largest size (5XL). The pattern shown is worked in Dark Olive colorway.

Knitting needles required include US size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles in 16-inch, 24-inch, and 32-40 inch lengths for the main fabric, worked at a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when blocked. US size 4 (3.50mm) circular needles in 16-24 inch and 32-40 inch lengths are used for ribbing or edgings. Additional materials include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction and a tapestry needle for seaming the flat-worked pieces together.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate skill level, the Buttercreme requires knitters to be comfortable with circular needle techniques, waist shaping through strategic decreases and increases, short-row shaping, and seaming finished pieces. The layered stitch pattern and fitted construction make this an engaging project for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle garment shaping and more complex stitch combinations.