Valley Yarns WEBS Changing Tack Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns WEBS Changing Tack by Fiona Ellis

What Is Being Made

Changing Tack is a modern, between-season knit sweater designed by Fiona Ellis as part of the WEBS Designer in Residence Series. This pullover sweater features a figure-flattering silhouette with asymmetrically placed cable patterns and slightly flared sleeves for a contemporary, feminine aesthetic. The design updates traditional cabled sweater construction with modern pattern placement and proportions. Available in six sizes ranging from 34" to 52" bust circumference, with finished lengths from 23" to 27".

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its distinctive look:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knit from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and a natural progression through the body and sleeves
• Worked flat: All pieces are knit flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join the finished components
• Seaming: Individual pieces are sewn together using yarn to create the finished garment, a traditional method that provides clean, professional seams
• Cable work: Intricate cable patterns are created using a cable needle to cross stitches over one another, forming the textured, twisted rope-like designs that define the sweater's visual interest

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern incorporates several essential stitches and stitch patterns:

• Stockinette stitch: The foundational stitch used for the main body and sleeves, creating a smooth, flat fabric surface
• Seed stitch: A textured, reversible stitch pattern created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard formation, used for borders and edgings
• Cable stitches: Abbreviated as T4B (twist 4 back), T4F (twist 4 forward), T3B (twist 3 back), T3F (twist 3 forward), C4B (cable 4 back), and C4F (cable 4 forward), these techniques create the dimensional cable panels
• Chart A: An 11-stitch cable panel featuring complex twists and crosses that create an intricate, flowing cable design
• Chart B: An 18-stitch cable panel with symmetrical cable motifs, providing a bolder, more prominent textured element

Materials and Gauge

The sweater is worked in Valley Yarns Brimfield, a premium yarn blend composed of 70% Extrafine Merino Wool and 30% Silk. This luxurious fiber combination provides warmth, breathability, and a subtle sheen. Yardage requirements range from 1,308 yards (12 skeins for size 34") to 2,071 yards (19 skeins for size 52"), with each skein containing 109 yards at 50 grams.

The project requires US size 6 (4.00mm) needles in both straight and 16" circular configurations, along with a cable needle for executing the cable twists and crosses. The working gauge is 22 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with Chart A measuring 1½ inches wide and Chart B measuring 2¼ inches wide. Maintaining accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements and proper cable panel proportions.