Valley Yarns Mistral Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Mistral: Fingerless Mitts and Beanie Set

Project Overview

The Valley Yarns Mistral is a coordinating fingerless mitts and beanie set designed by Julie Turjoman, crafted from luxurious 100% cashmere yarn. This intermediate-level knitting project combines elegant cable work with seamless construction, making it an ideal gift for cold weather accessory lovers. The set features matching design elements across both pieces, with charming baby cable ribbed cuffs and stand-out cables flowing up the back of the mitts and the rise and crown of the beanie.

What Is Being Made

• Fingerless Mitts: Available in sizes S, M, and L, with finished hand circumference measurements of 7 (8, 9) inches and finished length of 8¼ (8½, 8¾) inches
• Beanie: Available in sizes S, M, and L, with finished circumference of 18 (20, 22) inches and height of 8 (8½, 9) inches

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate skill level:

• Seamless Construction: Both the mitts and beanie are worked in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pieces are knitted from the cuff or brim upward to the top, allowing for easy adjustments to length
• Cable Work: The design features prominent cable patterns, including a single cable flowing up the back of the hand on the mitts and cables flowing up the rise and crown on the beanie
• Lace and Ribbed Elements: Baby cable ribbing creates the decorative cuffs and brims, providing both visual interest and structural integrity
• Flexible Construction Methods: Knitters may choose to work using circular needles with the Magic Loop method, double-pointed needles (dpns), or 16-inch circular needles depending on personal preference

Stitches Used

The Mistral pattern incorporates fundamental and decorative knitting stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: Forms the main fabric body with a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rounds per 4 inches when worked on US 6 (4.00mm) needles
• Baby Cable Rib: Creates the textured cuffs and brims with a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rounds per 4 inches when worked on US 4 (3.50mm) needles
• Cable Stitches: Stand-out cables worked with a cable needle create the signature design elements flowing up the mitts and beanie
• Ribbing: Provides structure and elasticity at the edges
• Increases and Decreases: Strategic increases worked as knit-front-and-back (pfb) into purl stitches shape the pieces and transition between stitch patterns

Materials and Yarn

The Mistral pattern calls for premium materials befitting its luxury construction:

• Yarn: 2 balls of Valley Yarns Hitchcock, 100% cashmere, 50g per ball with 109 yards per ball, in Light Blue colorway
• Needles: US 6 (4.00mm) circular needles in 16-inch length (for beanie only) and 40-inch (100cm) length for main fabric; US 4 (3.50mm) circular needles in matching lengths for ribbing sections. Knitters may substitute double-pointed needles or use the Magic Loop method with the longer circular needle
• Notions: Cable needle for managing cable stitches, stitch markers to denote beginning of round and pattern repeats, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and 12 inches of smooth waste yarn in a contrasting color for provisional cast-on or stitch holders

Skill Level and Construction Details

Rated as an intermediate project, the Mistral requires competency with cable techniques and seamless in-the-round knitting. Knitters will work multiple 4-round repeats of baby cable ribbing before transitioning to the main stockinette fabric with cable motifs. The pattern includes specific gauge requirements for both the ribbed