1051 Arctic - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Becket

Pattern #1051 Arctic: Women's Button-Front Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

The Arctic Cardigan, pattern number 1051, is a women's button-front cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman and knitted in Valley Yarns Becket, a luxurious blend of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. This intermediate-level knitting pattern combines a classic stockinette body with a striking botanical lace hem, creating a versatile layering piece that works beautifully with a wide range of outfits. The finished garment hits at the high hip and is designed to be worn with 2 to 5 inches of positive ease, giving it a comfortable, relaxed silhouette.

Garment Overview

The Arctic Cardigan is a seamed, bottom-up cardigan worked flat in separate pieces and assembled. The design features a deep botanical lace hem that transitions into a smooth stockinette body, elevating what might otherwise be a simple everyday cardigan into something truly special. The neckband and button bands are picked up along the selvedge edges and worked back and forth in rows, giving the finished garment a neat, polished look. Eight or nine buttons at ¾ inch diameter close the front, depending on the size chosen.

Sizing and Fit

The pattern is offered in seven sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL, fitting bust measurements from 29 to 62 inches with positive ease built in. Finished bust measurements range from 34 to 64 inches buttoned, and finished hip measurements range from 36 to 66 inches. The sample shown was knitted in Size 33–37 inches. Knitters who prefer less ease are advised to choose the next smaller size. The body length can also be customized by beginning waist shaping later, though this will require additional yarn.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is built from the hem upward, allowing the lace border to be established first before transitioning to the stockinette body.
• Worked flat (seamed): Individual pieces are knitted back and forth in rows and then seamed together, a traditional construction method that produces clean, structured edges and a well-defined fit.
• Lace knitting: The deep botanical lace hem is the defining decorative feature of this pattern. Lace in knitting is created through a combination of yarn-overs and decreases that form open, decorative eyelets arranged in patterned motifs — in this case, inspired by botanical forms.
• Armhole shaping and neckband construction: Armhole shaping is worked simultaneously with other shaping elements, requiring careful attention to reading the pattern. The neckband and button bands are picked up along selvedge edges for a tidy finish.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch of the body, worked by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic fabric.
• Lace stitches: The botanical hem incorporates a variety of decrease techniques to shape the lace motifs, including K2tog (knit two together), K3tog (knit three together), Ssk (slip, slip, knit), and Sk2p (slip one, knit next two stitches together, pass slipped stitch over), each producing directional decreases that define the lace pattern's visual flow.

Materials

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Becket, a chunky-to-worsted weight yarn made from 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool, sold in 100g skeins of 141 yards. The sample was knitted in the colorway Garnet. Depending on size, 5 to 9 skeins are required. The alpaca content lends the finished fabric a soft, lustrous drape, while the wool provides structure and warmth — a combination well suited to a cozy layering cardigan.

Needles and Notions