Valley Yarns Pastille Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Pastille Knitted Blanket

What is Being Made

The Pastille is a versatile knitted blanket designed by Julie Turjoman, available in two sizes to suit different needs. The pattern offers both a baby stroller blanket measuring 30" x 29" and a larger adult throw blanket measuring 49¼" x 62". This blanket is specifically engineered for durability and practicality, making it ideal for busy families who need a washable, long-lasting textile. The design combines visual complexity with straightforward construction, creating an attractive finished piece that belies its intermediate skill level.

Techniques Used

The Pastille blanket is worked flat on circular needles, a common approach for large rectangular projects that require flexibility and comfort during extended knitting sessions. The pattern employs cable techniques including right crosses (1/1 RC) and left crosses (1/1 LC), which are executed by slipping stitches to a cable needle and holding them to the back or front as directed. These cable maneuvers create the dimensional texture without requiring advanced cable expertise. The blanket features stitch marker placement at regular intervals to help knitters track pattern repeats and maintain consistency throughout the project. The construction uses simple borders framing the central patterned field, simplifying the overall assembly process.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is the Diamond Twist stitch, a textured pattern that forms diamond shapes across the blanket's surface. This pattern repeat is 16 stitches wide and repeats multiple times depending on the chosen size. The Diamond Twist stitch combines knit and purl stitches with the aforementioned cable crosses to create visual interest and dimensional texture. Decreases using the slip, slip, knit (ssk) method are incorporated into the pattern to shape the diamond formations. The borders are worked in garter stitch (knit on all rows), providing a clean, stable frame for the patterned center section. Basic stitches including knit and purl form the foundation of all pattern rows.

Materials and Tools

The Pastille pattern calls for Valley Yarns Haydenville, a practical blend of 60% Superwash Merino Wool and 40% Acrylic Microfiber. This fiber composition delivers easy-care properties essential for family blankets, as the superwash treatment allows machine washing without felting concerns. Yardage requirements are 4 skeins (880 yards total) for the baby blanket or 14 skeins (3,080 yards total) for the adult throw, with each skein providing 220 yards at 100 grams. The sample shown is worked in colorway 02-Natural.

Two sizes of US circular needles are required: a US size 7 (4.5 mm) 32-inch circular needle for the main fabric and a US size 6 (4 mm) 32-inch circular needle for ribbed sections or gauge adjustments. Additional tools include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a cable needle for executing the twist stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing. The recommended gauge is 25 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches in the Diamond Twist stitch pattern when worked on the larger needles and blocked.

Difficulty and Suitability

Rated at intermediate skill level, the Pastille is accessible to knitters with foundational knowledge of cable techniques and pattern reading. While the twist stitch diamond pattern appears visually complex, the actual construction remains manageable through clear stitch marker placement and straightforward pattern instructions. The blanket's practical design and forgiving fiber content make it an excellent project for intermediate knitters seeking to expand their cable skills while creating a functional, heirloom-quality textile.