995 Spearmint - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Sunderland

Pattern #995 Spearmint: Women's Short-Sleeved Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

Pattern #995 Spearmint, designed by Julie Turjoman, is a women's waist-length, short-sleeved cardigan knitting pattern worked in Valley Yarns Sunderland, a 100% baby alpaca yarn celebrated for its exceptional softness and luxurious drape. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and delivers a refined, feminine silhouette that transitions beautifully across three seasons. Whether worn over a summer dress or a skirt, the Spearmint cardigan combines classic shaping with elegant stitch detail to create a versatile wardrobe staple.

Design Overview

The Spearmint cardigan features a graceful scoop neckline, a fitted waist-length body, and short sleeves — a combination that makes it an ideal layering piece. The design is intentionally styled to flatter a wide range of figures, with a button band closure and a relaxed but polished aesthetic. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Spring Willow, a color that complements the fresh, minty spirit of the design's name.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern is written for a generous size range, making it accessible to knitters of many body types:

• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL
• Finished Bust: 33 (37, 41, 45, 49) (53, 57, 61, 65) inches, buttoned
• Ease: Approximately 2–4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit
• The sample garment shown is knitted in Size S

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern is worked using a bottom-up, seamed, flat construction method. Each piece — the back, fronts, and sleeves — is worked flat on circular needles and then joined using seaming techniques. This traditional approach gives knitters excellent control over shaping and produces a structured, polished finished garment. Seaming also reinforces the edges and contributes to the cardigan's clean, tailored appearance.

• Bottom-up construction: Knitting begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders, allowing for easy length adjustments
• Worked flat: Pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making this a great pattern for knitters comfortable with reading both right-side and wrong-side rows
• Seamed finishing: Individual pieces are sewn together, a technique that adds structure and durability to the finished cardigan

Stitches Used

The Spearmint cardigan combines two complementary stitch patterns that provide both visual interest and textural contrast:

• Stockinette stitch: Used throughout the body of the cardigan, stockinette creates a smooth, classic fabric that showcases the natural sheen and softness of the baby alpaca yarn
• Seeded rib: Featured on the sleeves, seeded rib is a textured stitch pattern that combines elements of seed stitch and ribbing. It adds subtle visual depth and a slightly more elastic quality to the sleeve fabric, complementing the smooth body beautifully

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Sunderland, a DK weight yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. Each ball weighs 50 grams and contains approximately 109 yards. Baby alpaca is prized for being softer and less scratchy than standard alpaca or wool, making it an excellent choice for a garment intended to be worn directly against the skin or over lightweight summer clothing.

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Sunderland, 100% Baby Alpaca, 50 g / 109 yds per ball
• Color shown: Spring Willow
• Yarn quantity needed: 11 (12, 14, 15, 16) (17, 18, 19, 20) balls depending on size