560 Whistler Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northampton Sport

560 Whistler Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Garment Overview

The 560 Whistler Cardigan is a women's cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky, available in six finished sizes ranging from 32 inches to 52 inches. This intermediate-level knitting pattern creates a sophisticated garment suitable for layering and everyday wear. The cardigan features a gentle lace stitch detail combined with stockinette stitch sections, offering visual interest while maintaining wearability.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach, meaning the knitter begins at the lower body and works upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The pattern is designed to be worked on straight needles rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat construction methods. The seamless design minimizes finishing work, as the garment is shaped through strategic increases and stitch marker placement rather than seaming separate pieces together.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The 560 Whistler Cardigan incorporates multiple stitch techniques to create its finished appearance. The lower body features a 12-row repeating lace stitch pattern that creates eyelet details and gentle chevron effects, worked over a 5-repeat sequence before transitioning to stockinette stitch. The body is primarily worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), while edge stitches are maintained in garter stitch for stability and a finished appearance. Stitch markers are used strategically to denote side seams, helping the knitter maintain shaping throughout construction.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Northampton Sport weight yarn, a 100% wool fiber available in light gray for the pictured version. Yardage requirements range from 4 skeins (for the smallest size) to 7 skeins (for the largest size), with each skein containing 50 grams and 164 yards. This sport weight yarn provides a lightweight, breathable fabric suitable for a cardigan that can be worn across multiple seasons.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern requires two needle sizes: US size 5 (3.75mm) needles and US size 4 (3.50mm) needles. The larger needles are used for the lace pattern sections, while the smaller needles are used for the stockinette body sections. This needle sizing creates appropriate gauge and fabric density for each stitch pattern. The required gauge is 6 stitches and 8 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch with the smaller needles, and 6 stitches and 8 rows per 1 inch in the lace pattern stitch with the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires 2 stitch markers to track shaping at the side seams and 9 buttons measuring 0.5 inches for the button band closure. These notions are essential for completing the cardigan's functional and decorative elements.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace stitches, gauge adjustments between stitch patterns, and garment shaping. The combination of lace work and seamless construction requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading stitch patterns and managing multiple stitches on needles.