Valley Yarns WEBS DIR In the Loop Knitting Pattern

In The Loop Knit Sweater by Fiona Ellis

What Is Being Made

In The Loop is a longer-line fitted knit top designed by Fiona Ellis as part of the Valley Yarns Designer In Residence Series. This intermediate-level sweater features cap sleeves and is available in eight sizes ranging from 33 inches to 47.5 inches in bust measurement, with finished lengths between 24 and 28 inches. The garment showcases an intricate cable pattern on both the front and back, with textured stitches woven throughout the cable loops, creating a sophisticated and visually striking design.

Techniques Used

This sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its intermediate difficulty level. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, meaning pieces are knitted in separate flat sections rather than in the round. The construction method is bottom-up, beginning at the hem and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline. All pieces are then seamed together to create the finished garment. The most distinctive technical feature is the elaborate cable work, which forms the primary design element across the front and back panels, as well as simplified rope cables on the cap sleeves.

A unique design detail includes an I-cord feature at the neckline that creates the visual illusion of the cable pattern extending beyond the fabric edge and looping back onto itself, adding an innovative three-dimensional quality to the finished piece.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a range of fundamental and advanced knitting stitches to achieve its textured appearance. Stockinette stitch (abbreviated St st) forms the foundation fabric and is used to measure gauge at 23 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches. The cable pattern itself is a 12-stitch panel that incorporates multiple specialized stitches:

• Twist stitches (T3F and T3B) create diagonal crossed effects by twisting three stitches around each other, with T3F indicating a twist to the front and T3B indicating a twist to the back
• Cable stitches (C4F and C4B) cross four stitches over each other using a cable needle, with C4F crossing to the front and C4B crossing to the back, creating the distinctive looped cable appearance
• Knit and purl stitches in alternating patterns (k1, p1) create textured contrast within the cable panels and help define the cable structure
• Rope cables on the cap sleeves use simplified cable techniques for a cleaner, less complex design element

The cable pattern repeats over 29 rows, with the full cable panel measuring 6.5 inches wide on smaller sizes and 7 inches wide on larger sizes. A secondary gauge measurement of 27 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches is specified for the rope cable pattern, indicating a slightly tighter gauge in that textured area.

Materials

The sweater is knitted using Valley Yarns Southwick, a blend of 52% Pima cotton and 48% bamboo viscose that provides breathability and drape suitable for a fitted garment. The yarn is worked at 105 yards per 50-gram skein, and the pattern requires 10 to 15 skeins depending on the chosen size, with the sample shown in size 33 inches using 10 skeins in color #14 African Violet.

The needles required include US size 6 (4.00 mm) straight needles for the main flat construction, a 24-inch circular needle in US size 6 (4.00 mm) for working the neckline collar, and a pair of US size 6 (4.00 mm) double-pointed needles (dpns) for any small circumference sections. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable crosses throughout the pattern.