388 Out of the Blue Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northampton

388 Out of the Blue Cardigan - Knitting Pattern Overview

What is Being Made

The 388 Out of the Blue Cardigan is a women's knitted cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This seamed cardigan features prominent cable stitch panels and is worked flat on needles, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop their cable technique skills.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques:

• Cable stitches - The primary design element, featuring two distinct cable panels (Cable A and Cable B) that create dimensional, twisted texture throughout the garment
• Seamed construction - Pieces are knitted separately and then sewn together, allowing for precise shaping and professional finishing
• Flat knitting - Worked back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, giving knitters control over stitch placement and cable positioning
• Ridge pattern - A textural stitch pattern alternating between purl and knit rows to create horizontal ridged sections
• Reverse stockinette stitch - Used as a background stitch to make cable stitches stand out prominently

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern incorporates multiple stitch techniques:

• Cable A panel - A 10-stitch repeat pattern worked over 12 rows, featuring left cross (LC) and right cross (RC) cable stitches combined with purl stitches to create a complex twisted design
• Cable B panel - Another 10-stitch repeat pattern with its own 12-row sequence, offering variation in cable placement and direction
• Left cross (LC) - Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, purl 1, then knit 2 from cable needle
• Right cross (RC) - Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold in back, knit 2, then purl 1 from cable needle
• Decrease stitches - Knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) for shaping
• Ridge pattern - Two rows of purl followed by two rows of knit, creating textured horizontal bands

Materials and Yarn Weight

This cardigan is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for cable patterns. Worsted weight yarn allows the intricate cable stitches to be clearly visible while maintaining good drape and wearability in a finished cardigan. The pattern is intended for use with Valley Yarns Northampton yarn, though other worsted weight options may be suitable depending on gauge requirements.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle cable work. The combination of cable panels, seaming, and shaping techniques requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading complex stitch patterns, making it an ideal project for developing advanced knitting skills.