1290 Alyssum - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Toby

Pattern #1290 Alyssum – Ribbed Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women by Lidia Karabinech

The Alyssum cardigan (pattern #1290), designed by Lidia Karabinech and published by Valley Yarns, is a beautifully versatile ribbed cardigan for women. Knitted in the luxurious Valley Yarns Toby yarn — a sophisticated blend of 83% maco cotton, 10% mulberry silk, and 7% cashmere — this garment is designed to be equally at home on a casual weekend errand run or dressed up for the office. Its lightweight, breathable fiber content makes it especially well-suited for cool spring and summer days when a full jacket would feel too heavy. The cardigan falls at mid-hip length and is intended to be worn with 3–5 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed, comfortable fit. It can be worn open or closed, making it a truly adaptable wardrobe staple.

Garment Overview

The Alyssum is a seamed cardigan worked primarily flat and constructed bottom-up. The design features a classic raglan sleeve shaping, which creates a smooth, elegant shoulder line without the bulk of a traditional set-in sleeve. The back and both sleeves are knitted together as a single piece from the lower hem upward, while the two fronts are each knitted separately as individual flat pieces. Once the main body sections are complete, finishing details — including the cuff ribbing, neckband, and front button bands — are picked up and knitted directly onto the garment, creating a neat, integrated finish. Eight ⅝-inch buttons fasten the front bands.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

• Sizes available: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL
• Finished bust (buttoned): 32 (35, 39½, 43½, 48) (51, 55½, 59½) inches
• Length to shoulder: 21¾ (22¼, 22¾, 23¼, 23¾) (24¼, 24¾, 25¼) inches
• The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size M
• Designed with 3–5 inches of positive ease for a relaxed, comfortable fit

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the cast-on hem edge upward toward the shoulders, a traditional approach that gives knitters excellent control over length adjustments before committing to the yoke shaping.
• Worked flat: All main pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making this an approachable construction style for knitters who prefer flat knitting.
• Seamed construction: The individual pieces — back/sleeves unit and the two fronts — are joined with seams, which add structure and durability to the finished garment.
• Raglan shaping: The sleeves and back are shaped using raglan decreases, a technique that creates a diagonal seam line running from the underarm to the neckline, distributing fabric smoothly across the shoulder.
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern specifically calls for the Long-Tail Cast-On method to begin the back and sleeves, a technique that produces a firm, elastic, and attractive cast-on edge well-suited to ribbing.
• Pick-up and knit finishing: Cuffs, the neckband, and front button bands are all picked up and knitted from the finished fabric edges, ensuring a clean, professional look without the need for separate sewn-on bands.

Stitches Used

• K2, P1 Rib: Used for the initial three rows of the hem to establish the ribbing foundation.
• P2, K1 Rib: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the cardigan. This reverse-orientation rib creates a distinctive, textured fabric with excellent elasticity and visual interest. The gauge for this pattern is set in P2,