784 Alvy Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Goshen

784 Alvy Cardigan - Knitting Pattern Overview

What is Being Made

The 784 Alvy Cardigan, designed by Kirsten Hipsky, is an unstructured women's cardigan featuring short raglan sleeves ideal for warmer weather. This garment offers versatility—wear it open and breezy for casual layering or close it with a shawl pin for additional warmth. The cardigan is available in seven sizes with finished chest measurements ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches, accommodating a wide range of body types.

Construction Techniques

The Alvy Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning knitting begins at the lower body and progresses upward toward the neckline. The garment is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional flat panel construction. The design incorporates seamless construction techniques to minimize finishing work and create clean, comfortable wear. Lace elements are featured throughout the body, adding visual interest and breathability to the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The lower body begins with a knit one, purl one (k1, p1) ribbing at the front edges, which provides structure and elasticity. The main body features textured patterns and eyelets that create an open, decorative aesthetic. These stitch patterns work together to produce the dimensional texture characteristic of the design while maintaining the garment's lightweight, breathable quality suitable for warm-weather wear.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for Valley Yarns Goshen, a luxurious blend yarn composed of 48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, and 6% Silk. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 92 yards. Yarn quantities vary by size: 10 skeins for the smallest size (36" chest) up to 19 skeins for the largest size (60" chest). The pattern specifies color 11 Sage, a sophisticated neutral tone.

Needles and Gauge

Knitters will need US size 7 (4.50mm) needles, specifically a 40-inch circular needle for the main body and double-pointed needles for sleeve sections or areas requiring smaller circumferences. The pattern requires achieving a gauge of 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per 1 inch in the stitch pattern to ensure proper fit across all sizes. Gauge swatching is essential before beginning this project.

Additional Supplies

• Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points
• Stitch holders for securing stitches during construction

Difficulty Level

The 784 Alvy Cardigan is rated as an intermediate knitting project. This classification reflects the combination of lace stitch patterns, seamless construction techniques, and shaping required. Knitters should have solid foundational skills including comfort with circular needle work, reading stitch patterns, and managing multiple stitches simultaneously.

Yarn Weight and Fabric Characteristics

This pattern uses worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight option that creates a fabric with good drape and structure while remaining breathable. The cotton-modal-silk blend of Valley Yarns Goshen produces a soft, lustrous fabric with excellent moisture-wicking properties, making it particularly suitable for the warm-weather styling suggested in the pattern.