40th Anniversary 12 Flares and Graces - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Colrain

Flares and Graces: A Detailed Look at Fiona Ellis's Elegant Chevron Cable Jumper in Valley Yarns Colrain

Flares and Graces is a beautifully crafted women's pullover jumper designed by Fiona Ellis as part of the Guest Designer Series #12, released to celebrate the 40th Anniversary collection. This intermediate-level knitting pattern delivers a ladylike, wardrobe-staple sweater that balances classic construction with eye-catching cable detailing. It is worked in Valley Yarns Colrain, a luxurious worsted-weight yarn, and is available as a downloadable PDF.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's fitted pullover jumper featuring a slightly flared yoke and flared sleeves, both adorned with chevron cable patterning. The design is intentionally elegant and versatile — it can be dressed up alongside feminine skirts or worn casually over jeans. The body is worked in Stockinette stitch with gentle waist shaping to create a subtly fitted silhouette. Set-in sleeves complete the refined, tailored look. The chevron cables on the yoke and sleeves are specifically designed to draw the eye toward the wearer's face and hands, making this a thoughtfully conceived garment from a design perspective.

Finished Sizes and Fit

The pattern is written for a wide range of sizes, making it accessible to many knitters:

• Bust: 32½ (35½, 38, 41) (44, 47, 50) inches
• Length to shoulder: 22 (23, 23½, 24½) (24½, 25½, 26) inches
• Fit: Designed to be worn with 1–2 inches of positive ease

Construction and Techniques

Flares and Graces is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, worked-flat method — a traditional approach well-suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable with shaping and finishing. Working flat means the front, back, and sleeves are each knitted as separate pieces and then seamed together, which gives the finished garment excellent structure and drape.

• Bottom-up construction: The garment begins at the cast-on edge and is worked upward toward the shoulders, allowing for easy length adjustments along the way.
• Seamed finishing: Pieces are joined using seaming techniques, which reinforce the set-in sleeve join and contribute to the garment's polished, tailored appearance.
• Waist shaping: Decrease rows and increase rows are used to shape the body, creating a gently fitted silhouette without being overly structured.
• Armhole shaping: Stepped bind-offs are used to create the set-in armhole curves, a classic tailoring technique that produces a clean, professional finish.
• Seed stitch border: A seed stitch section is incorporated into the lower body, adding textural contrast before the main Stockinette fabric begins.
• Chevron cable patterning: The yoke and sleeves feature chevron cables, which are worked from detailed cable charts as well as written instructions included in the PDF. These cables create a flared, elegant effect that frames the face and hands.
• Neckline finishing: A 16-inch circular needle is used to pick up and work the neckline, giving it a neat, professional edge.

Stitches Used

This pattern draws on a combination of foundational and decorative knitting stitches:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Used for the main body of the jumper, providing a smooth, classic fabric that serves as a backdrop for the cable details.
• Seed stitch: Used at the lower edge of the body for a textured, non-rolling border.
• Chevron cable patterns: The signature decorative element of this design, worked on both the yoke and sleeves. Cables are created by crossing stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the characteristic twisted rope or chevron appearance.
• Make 1 (m1) increases: Used during waist shaping increase rows to add stitches invisibly within the fabric