1136 Yorkshire - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Hatfield

Pattern #1136 Yorkshire – Ombre Stripe Open Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women by Susan Baron

Pattern #1136 Yorkshire, designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns, is a beautifully conceived ombre-striped open cardigan for women. This is a three-season sweater designed to take you from cool spring mornings through breezy fall evenings and into layered winter days. The design's most distinctive feature is its sophisticated color-mixing technique: two strands of yarn are held together throughout the entire garment, with one color changing at a time to create a gradual, blended stripe effect that is far more nuanced than a standard striped sweater. The result is a striking, wearable piece that pairs easily with a wide range of wardrobe staples.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's open-front cardigan with a relaxed, comfortable silhouette. It is worked with 6–8 inches of positive ease, making it an ideal layering piece. The cardigan features a raglan yoke construction, meaning the sleeves and body are shaped simultaneously from the neckline downward, creating smooth, angled seam lines across the shoulders and chest. The open-front style requires no buttons or closures, giving it an effortless, modern look.

The pattern is sized from XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 36¼ inches up to 67 inches. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in size S.

Construction Techniques

The Yorkshire cardigan uses a combination of construction methods that make it an excellent project for knitters ready to move beyond simple flat knitting:

• Seamless top-down construction: The entire garment is worked from the neckline down to the hem and cuffs, eliminating the need for seaming. This is a popular modern technique that allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and adjust fit in real time.
• Raglan yoke shaping: Increases are worked at four raglan points to simultaneously shape the sleeves and body as the yoke grows downward from the collar.
• Worked in the round and flat: The yoke begins as flat knitting (worked back and forth) to create the open cardigan front, while portions of the construction use circular needle techniques. Sleeves are worked in the round down to the cuffs.
• Ombre stripe technique: Two strands of yarn are held together at all times. The stripes are formed by changing only one strand at a time, blending colors gradually. At color transitions, the strand not being carried forward is cut, while the strand continuing into the next stripe section is left uncut. This creates smooth color gradations rather than hard stripe edges.
• Sleeve separation: Once the yoke is complete, sleeve stitches are placed on stitch holders or waste yarn, and the body is worked flat or in the round to the hem. Sleeves are then returned to the needles and worked downward to the cuffs.
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern specifies the Long-Tail Cast-On Method for casting on yoke stitches, a stretchy and neat cast-on well suited to neckline edges.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body, yoke, and sleeves, creating a smooth knit fabric ideal for showcasing the ombre color transitions.
• K2/P2 Ribbing: Used at the neckline for 8 rows to create a neat, slightly stretchy collar edge. Ribbing of this type alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches across each row, producing a textured, elasticated band.
• Raglan increase stitches: Worked at the four raglan points throughout the yoke to shape the garment.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Hatfield, a 100% Baby Alpaca yarn with a weight of approximately lace to sport weight, coming in 50g/437-yard hanks. Because two strands are held together throughout, the yarn effectively knits up at a heavier gauge than its individual weight suggests. The three colors used in the sample are:

• Color A: Caribbean