815 Moss Fern Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky

815 Moss Fern Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Women by Kirsten Hipsky

The 815 Moss Fern Cardigan, designed by Kirsten Hipsky, is a women's open-front cardigan featuring woodland-inspired textured panels on the back and fronts. Worked in chunky-weight yarn, this garment strikes a balance between cozy warmth and elegant, nature-inspired detail, making it a rewarding project for intermediate knitters looking to expand their skills with a wearable, stylish result.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's open cardigan — meaning it has no buttons or closures, draping gracefully at the front. The cardigan features raglan sleeves and textured stitch panels described as "moss fern" motifs that run along the body, evoking the organic, layered look of woodland foliage. It is available in a wide range of finished bust sizes: 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, and 60 inches, with the sample shown in size 40 inches, making it accessible for a broad spectrum of body types.

Construction Techniques

The 815 Moss Fern Cardigan is constructed using a top-down method, beginning at the neckline and working downward toward the hem. This approach allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and make fit adjustments before completing the piece — a significant advantage for achieving a personalized fit.

• Top-down construction: The yoke is cast on in sections — left front, left sleeve, back neck, right sleeve, and right front — and all pieces are joined and shaped simultaneously as the knitter works downward.
• Raglan shaping: Four raglan markers are used throughout the yoke to create the classic raglan increase lines that define the sleeve and body separation. Raglan construction is a hallmark of top-down knitting, producing smooth, continuous fabric without seams at the shoulder.
• Worked flat: The cardigan body and yoke are worked flat (back and forth in rows) on circular needles, which is standard for open-front cardigans to maintain the front opening.
• Worked in the round: The sleeves are worked in the round, likely using double pointed needles, allowing for seamless sleeve tubes after the sleeve stitches are separated from the body.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern incorporates a combination of classic and textured stitches that together create the signature woodland aesthetic of this cardigan.

• Stockinette stitch: The primary background fabric of the cardigan, used throughout the body and sleeves. Gauge is measured in stockinette: 3 stitches and 4 rows equal 1 inch.
• Moss stitch / seed stitch-style ribbing: The set-up rows reference a [k1, p1] rib pattern worked in sections, contributing to the textured "moss fern" panels on the fronts and back. This type of alternating knit-purl texture creates a dense, non-curling fabric that mimics the look of moss or fern fronds.
• Purl stitches: Used in combination with knit stitches to build the textured stitch pattern panels and to work wrong-side rows throughout the flat-worked sections.

The interplay of stockinette and the moss-style textured panels gives the finished cardigan visual depth and a handcrafted, artisanal quality that sets it apart from simpler knitwear designs.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern is specifically written for Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, a chunky-weight yarn with a fiber content of 85% wool and 15% alpaca, available in 100g skeins with approximately 108 yards each. The sample cardigan was knitted in the colorway Olive, a rich, earthy green that perfectly complements the woodland theme of the design.

• Yarn quantity needed: 9 (10, 11, 13) (14, 15, 17) skeins depending on size
• Fiber benefits: The wool content provides structure, elasticity, and warmth, while the alpaca adds a soft halo and luxurious drape — ideal for a cozy, wearable cardigan.