Valley Yarns Wiltshire Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Wiltshire Knitted Scarf

What is Being Made

The Wiltshire is a modern knitted scarf designed by Julie Turjoman that combines sheer and opaque striping with elegant short-row shaping. This intermediate-level accessory measures 11½" x 72" when finished and features a graceful rippling texture created through strategic short-row techniques. The design creates visual interest through alternating bands of sheer and opaque fabric, with the stripes oriented both vertically and horizontally when the scarf is wrapped around the neck, giving it a dynamic sense of motion.

Techniques Used

The Wiltshire employs several advanced knitting techniques that elevate it beyond a basic scarf pattern. Short-row shaping is the primary technique, worked multiple times across each stripe to create the signature rippling texture throughout the piece. The pattern is worked flat and sideways, meaning you knit across the width rather than lengthwise, which affects how the stripes appear when worn. The designer notes that due to the frequency of short-rows, knitters may benefit from learning the knitting backwards technique to avoid excessive turning of the work.

The sheer and opaque stripe effect is achieved through a clever yarn-holding method: sheer stripes use a single strand of the mohair/silk blend, while opaque stripes are created by holding two yarns together—one strand each of the mohair/silk and the wool/nylon blend. This creates visual contrast and textural variation within a single piece. The pattern includes instructions for incorporating yarn tails into fringe finishing at each end using a crochet hook, which minimizes weaving in ends.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch, worked in the round and flat sections using circular needles and double-pointed needles as needed. The gauge is established at 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when one strand each of Yarn A and Yarn B are held together and the fabric is blocked. The cast-on uses the Long-Tail cast-on method, with 365 stitches cast on to establish the width of the finished piece.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This scarf requires two distinct yarns that work in concert to create the finished effect. Yarn A is Valley Yarns Southampton, a luxurious blend of 72% kid mohair and 28% mulberry silk, providing exceptional softness and the sheer quality for lighter stripes. Four balls are required, each weighing 25 grams with 230 yards of yardage, in colorway (023) Precious Pink. Yarn B is Valley Yarns Huntington, a practical blend of 75% fine superwash merino wool and 25% nylon that adds durability and warmth while creating the opaque stripes. Four hanks are needed, each containing 50 grams and 218 yards, in colorway (0039) Blush.

Needles required include US 6 (4mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, plus double-pointed needles (dpn) in the same size, or whatever size is needed to achieve the specified gauge. A Size G/6 (4mm) crochet hook is used to pull strands of fringe through each end of the wrap during finishing. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for any necessary finishing work.

Construction Notes

The unblocked fabric naturally has a bumpy, raised texture from the short-row shaping, but this blocks out smooth and flat for a refined finished appearance. The combination of sheerness and opacity, along with the rippling from short-rows, creates a scarf that is both visually interesting and tactilely appealing. The strategic placement of yarn breaks and joins at the sides allows tails to be incorporated directly into the fringe, reducing finishing work significantly.