Beebalm Sweater in Valley Yarns Northampton - 917 - Downloadable PDF

Beebalm Sweater in Valley Yarns Northampton – Pattern #917 by Julie Turjoman

The Beebalm Sweater is a beautifully striped, seamed cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman and knitted in Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool worsted-weight yarn celebrated for its rich, full color palette. Rated intermediate in difficulty, this pattern is an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to explore multi-color stripe sequences and classic garment construction. The finished sweater is described as a great three-season layering piece, featuring a wide neckband, full sleeves, and a symphony of stripes in varying widths — all details that give it both visual interest and everyday wearability.

What Is Being Made

The Beebalm Sweater is a striped cardigan worked flat in pieces and seamed together. It is sized to fit a range of bodies from XS through 4XL, with finished bust measurements spanning 34½ inches to 61½ inches and a recommended 2–4 inches of positive ease for a relaxed, layered fit. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 38½ inches. Stylish finishing details include a wide neckband worked in ribbing and a single hem at the lower edges, making this a polished, structured garment suitable for cooler weather layering across spring, fall, and winter.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls exclusively for Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool yarn sold in 100 g skeins with approximately 247 yards each. Three colorways are used to create the stripe sequence:

• Main Color (MC): Color 05 Light Gray — 4 to 8 skeins depending on size
• Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Color 03 Fawn — 1 to 2 skeins depending on size
• Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Color 41 Garnet — 1 to 2 skeins depending on size

Valley Yarns Northampton is a worsted-weight wool that blocks beautifully, making it well suited to the structured, seamed construction of this cardigan. Its broad color range is specifically noted in the pattern as a reason it lends itself naturally to stripe work.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32–40-inch lengths for the main body and sleeves, plus an extra US size 7 needle reserved for the Three-Needle Bind Off. A smaller US size 6 (4 mm) circular needle in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths is used for the ribbed hem and neckband sections. Additional notions include stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, and a tapestry needle for seaming and finishing.

Gauge

Gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows to 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, measured after blocking. Achieving accurate gauge is especially important in a seamed, multi-piece garment like this one, where each section must align precisely at the seams.

Techniques Used

The Beebalm Sweater employs several key knitting techniques that make it a satisfying intermediate-level project:

• Worked Flat: All pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — are knitted flat, back and forth in rows, rather than in the round. This is a traditional approach to cardigan construction that gives knitters full access to both right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Seamed Construction: The individual flat pieces are joined using seaming techniques after knitting is complete. Seamed garments tend to have excellent structure and drape, and the seams themselves add stability to the finished fabric.
• Stripes in Varying Widths: The stripe pattern is a central design feature of the Beebalm Sweater. Stripes are worked by alternating between the Main Color and the two Contrast Colors at regular intervals. For example, the stripe sequence includes 4 rows of CC1 in stockinette, followed by 8 rows of MC, then CC2