B9 Basic Set-in Sleeve Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northampton

B9 Basic Set-in Sleeve Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northampton

The B9 Basic Set-in Sleeve Cardigan is a classic, wardrobe-staple cardigan knitting pattern designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns. Worked in Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool worsted weight yarn, this pattern delivers a timeless silhouette with modern fit options that make it endlessly versatile. Whether you prefer a V-neck or a crew neck, and whether you want waist shaping or a straight body, this pattern accommodates your preference — giving knitters up to four distinct cardigan variations from a single download.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's set-in sleeve cardigan worked in pieces and seamed together for a structured, polished finish. The finished garment features a front button band, ribbed edges, and classic set-in sleeves that create a neat, tailored shoulder line. It is available in a wide range of sizes — XS through 5XL — with finished bust measurements spanning 33 inches to 65 inches, making it an inclusive pattern suitable for a broad range of body types.

The four style combinations — V-neck with waist shaping, V-neck without waist shaping, crew neck with waist shaping, and crew neck without waist shaping — allow knitters to customize the garment to their personal taste and lifestyle. The V-neck version uses six 1-inch buttons, while the crew neck version uses seven 1-inch buttons, both sewn on with a sewing needle and thread to match the yarn or button color.

Construction and Techniques

The B9 Basic Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat, seamed method. Each major piece — the back, left front, right front, and sleeves — is knitted separately as flat panels and then joined using seaming techniques. This traditional construction approach is well suited to knitters who enjoy the process of finishing and appreciate the added structure and stability that seams provide in a garment.

• Bottom-up construction: Each piece begins at the lower cast-on edge and is worked upward toward the shoulder, allowing for easy length adjustments before the armhole shaping begins.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which is typical for cardigans and allows the front bands to be integrated naturally.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces are joined after knitting, producing clean, defined seams at the shoulders, sides, and sleeve joins — a hallmark of classic knitwear construction.
• Set-in sleeve shaping: The armhole and sleeve cap are shaped with bind-offs and decreases to create a curved, fitted sleeve head that sits neatly into the armhole — a technique that requires careful attention to row-by-row shaping instructions.
• Waist shaping (optional): For those who select the fitted option, waist shaping is achieved through strategic decrease and increase rows along the body panels, creating an hourglass silhouette.
• Ribbed edges and button bands: The lower body, cuffs, neckline, and button bands are worked in ribbing using a smaller needle size for a neat, elastic finish.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric. Gauge is measured in stockinette stitch.
• Ribbing: Used at the cast-on edges, cuffs, neckband, and button bands to provide stretch and a tidy, professional finish. The pattern begins with a ribbed cast-on row worked on the smaller needle.
• Decreases and bind-offs: Used to shape the armholes, sleeve caps, neckline, and shoulders throughout the pattern.

Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool worsted weight yarn that comes in 100-gram skeins of approximately 247 yards each. Yardage requirements range from approximately 1,200 yards for size XS up to 2,800 yards for size 5XL, requiring between 5 and 12 skeins depending on the size chosen.