182 Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southwick

182 Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southwick

The 182 Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan is a beautifully designed women's knitting pattern created by Kirsten Hipsky and published under the Valley Yarns brand. Inspired by the legendary Tanglewood music venue nestled in the Berkshires — a summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a beloved gathering place for classical and folk music lovers — this cardigan captures the elegance and relaxed sophistication of that iconic cultural destination. Whether you're attending an outdoor concert or enjoying a wine tasting on a warm summer evening, this striking red garment is designed to draw admiring glances.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a cascading cardigan for women, available in two sizes: S/M and M/L. The finished back width measures 15.75 inches for S/M and 18 inches for M/L, making it a versatile fit across a range of body types. The cardigan features a flowing, open-front silhouette with a cascading design element that gives it a graceful, draped quality. It is worked as a seamless construction, meaning the body is knitted in one continuous piece to minimize finishing work and create a polished, professional result.

Construction and Techniques

The Tanglewood Cascading Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitting project that draws on several satisfying techniques:

• Seamless construction: The garment is worked seamlessly, reducing the need for seaming and creating smooth, uninterrupted fabric throughout the body.
• Worked flat: Portions of the cardigan are worked flat, meaning knitted back and forth in rows rather than entirely in the round, which is typical for open-front cardigan styles.
• Lace patterning: A decorative lace pattern stitch runs throughout the body of the cardigan, adding texture, visual interest, and an airy, elegant quality to the finished fabric. The lace pattern is worked in a repeating sequence of rows, and the instructions reference specific row numbers (such as Row 1 and Row 15) as ending points, indicating a structured multi-row lace repeat.
• Garter stitch border: The lower edge of the cardigan features a garter stitch border worked in a contrasting or accent color (described as red in the pattern), followed by three rows of knitting before binding off. Garter stitch, created by knitting every row, produces a sturdy, non-curling edge that frames the lace body beautifully.
• Armhole shaping: Armholes are created by binding off stitches mid-row and then casting them back on in the following row — a clean, integrated method of shaping that maintains the seamless character of the piece. The pattern specifies binding off 33 stitches for each armhole, then casting on 33 stitches on the return row.
• Sleeve construction in the round: The two sleeves are worked separately by picking up 66 stitches around each armhole using a short circular needle and joining to work in the round. The lace pattern stitch continues into the sleeves, maintaining a cohesive look throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

• Lace pattern stitch – the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves, worked over a multi-row repeat
• Garter stitch – used for the lower border, worked by knitting every row
• Standard bind-off and cable cast-on (or similar) – used for armhole shaping within the body
• Knitting in the round – used for sleeve construction after picking up stitches around the armhole

Materials – Yarn and Needles

This pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Southwick, a worsted weight yarn from the Valley Yarns brand. Worsted weight yarn is a popular mid-gauge choice that knits up relatively quickly while still producing stitch definition that showcases lace patterns beautifully. It offers excellent drape and stitch clarity, making it well-suited to the cascading, flowing aesthetic of this cardigan design.

The sleeve construction