Honeycomb Sweater in Valley Yarns Haydenville DK - 1004 - Downloadable PDF

Honeycomb Sweater in Valley Yarns Haydenville DK – Pattern #1004 by Julie Turjoman

What Is Being Made

The Honeycomb Sweater (Pattern #1004) is a charming infant cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman. It is sized to fit babies from 0–6 months through 18–24 months, with finished chest measurements ranging from 20 to 25½ inches and a recommended 2–3 inches of positive ease. The sweater is described as an ideal project for gifting to the little ones in your life, combining practical, easy-care fiber with decorative colorwork details that make it feel truly special. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in the 6–12 month size.

Design Details and Colorwork

The sweater's standout feature is its stranded colorwork, which appears at both the hem and the chest. The chest colorwork is worked from a dedicated Zig Zag Chest Chart, featuring repeating 8-stitch motifs worked around the body. The number of repeats varies by size: 14, 16, 16, or 18 repeats depending on the size being knitted. The honeycomb-inspired motif gives the garment its name and creates a visually striking, structured pattern against the main color background.

The sweater uses two colors of Valley Yarns Haydenville DK: a Yellow Main Color (MC) and a Gray Contrast Color (CC). The contrast color is also used for the ribbed edgings, tying the colorwork panels and the finishing details together cohesively.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is worked from the cast-on edge upward, a traditional approach that allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and adjust length easily.
• Worked flat (seamed): Pieces are knitted flat on circular needles and then seamed together, giving the finished garment clean, structured edges and a classic tailored look.
• Stranded colorwork: Two colors are carried across rows simultaneously to create the geometric hem and chest motifs. Knitters manage both the MC and CC yarns, catching floats as needed to keep the fabric even and the tension consistent.
• Single hem: A neat hem finish is worked at the lower edge of the sweater.
• Ribbed edgings in contrast color: The cuffs, neckline, and button bands are finished in CC ribbing, adding a polished, coordinated look.
• Stockinette stitch body: The main body of the sweater between the colorwork sections is worked in classic stockinette stitch.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch for the body panels
• Ribbing – used for contrast color edgings at cuffs, hem, and neckline
• Stranded colorwork – worked from charted motifs at the hem and chest
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Standard cast-on and bind-off techniques throughout

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Haydenville DK, a DK weight yarn with a fiber content of 60% Superwash Merino Wool / 40% Acrylic Microfiber, sold in 50g / 136-yard skeins. The superwash treatment makes the yarn machine-washable, a highly practical feature for baby garments. The acrylic microfiber content adds durability and softness, helping the sweater hold up well to everyday wear.

• Main Color (Yellow): 2 (3, 3, 4) balls
• Contrast Color (Gray): 1 (1, 2, 2) balls

Needles and Notions