Valley Yarns WEBS DIR Collar Your Dreams Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns WEBS DIR Collar Your Dreams by Fiona Ellis

What is Being Made

This is a multi-season cardigan featuring a sophisticated shawl collar and elegant waist shaping. The garment is designed by Fiona Ellis as part of the Valley Yarns WEBS Designer in Residence Series and is available in seven sizes ranging from 31½ inches to 50 inches bust measurement. The finished length ranges from 23¼ inches to 26¾ inches depending on size, making it a versatile piece suitable for various body types and layering preferences.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several advanced techniques that make it an excellent choice for experienced cable knitters seeking a rewarding challenge. The cardigan is worked flat on circular needles and constructed bottom-up, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed. The design features seamed

The most distinctive technical element is the intricate cable work that forms the visual centerpiece of this design. The cables incorporate eyelet holes alongside cable crosses, creating a lacy, openwork effect inspired by ironwork with shapes reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower. This combination of cables and lace techniques demonstrates intermediate to advanced skill level and requires careful attention to stitch placement and pattern repeats.

Additional shaping techniques include short rows for constructing the shawl collar, which creates a three-dimensional, draped neckline without requiring increases and decreases. The pattern also incorporates waist shaping through strategic increases and decreases to create a flattering silhouette.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes several fundamental and decorative stitch patterns to create visual interest and texture:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) serves as the primary background stitch, providing a smooth, classic canvas that allows the cable and lace patterns to stand out prominently.
• Double Moss Stitch is used in sections with an odd number of stitches, creating a textured, bumpy fabric through alternating knit and purl stitches across four rows.
• Seed Stitch appears in variations for both even and odd numbers of stitches, producing a similar textured appearance through alternating knit and purl stitches that creates visual interest and prevents curling.
• Cable stitches form the signature design element, with cables that incorporate eyelet holes for a lacy, openwork appearance.
• Eyelet stitches are integrated within the cable panels, creating decorative holes that contribute to the lace-like quality inspired by ornamental ironwork.

The pattern includes specialized abbreviations such as M1R (Make 1 Right) and M1L (Make 1 Left) for creating new stitches through yarn-over techniques, as well as W&T (Wrap and Turn) for executing the short-row shaping that forms the shawl collar.

Materials and Gauge

This cardigan is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a premium yarn composed of 100% Extrafine Merino wool. The yarn comes in 50-gram skeins with 137 yards per skein, and the pattern requires 10 to 17 skeins depending on the finished size selected. The sample shown in the pattern was knitted in color #08 Copper, a warm, earthy tone that complements the cable and lace detailing.

The primary needles required are US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles, which should be selected based on achieving the correct gauge. A US size 7 (4.50 mm) needle is specified for binding off the collar, allowing for a slightly looser, more elastic edge at the neckline. A cable needle is essential for manipulating stitches during cable crossing, and stitch markers help track pattern repeats and shaping points throughout the construction.

The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 33 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch, which is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements. The cable panel itself measures 5 inches wide when worked to gauge, ensuring that the proportions of the design elements remain consistent across all sizes.

The cardigan is finished with 6 buttons, which are used to close the front opening and should be selected to complement the yarn color and overall aesthetic of