Valley Yarns Cedar Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Cedar Lace Shawl and Wrap

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Cedar is an elegant lace stole designed by Julie Turjoman, perfect for layering over shoulders or wrapping around the neck. This versatile wrap measures 16 inches wide by 70 inches long when finished, making it an ideal accessory for both formal occasions and everyday wear. The stole provides warmth and sophistication, whether draped at a party or worn casually to ward off a chill in professional settings.

Yarn and Materials

This project uses Valley Yarns Whately, a luxurious blend of 68% Baby Alpaca and 32% Organic Pima Cotton. The yarn is worked in the Fog colorway, a neutral natural shade that complements any wardrobe. The project requires 6 balls of Whately, with each ball containing 50 grams and 164 yards of yarn. Additional materials include US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles or the size needed to achieve proper gauge, locking stitch markers to track pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends during finishing.

Techniques and Construction Method

The Cedar stole is worked flat in rows as a single seamless piece, beginning from one short end and continuing to the other. This flat construction method makes the project accessible and straightforward to execute. The wrap is created using an allover lace pattern that runs continuously from end to end, creating a cohesive and elegant design throughout the entire piece. The seamless, flat-worked approach eliminates the need for seaming and allows the lace pattern to flow naturally across the width and length of the stole.

Stitches and Lace Pattern

The Cedar features a repeating 12-stitch lace pattern that is worked over 28 rows. The lace field incorporates several fundamental lace stitches, including:

• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to create the openwork characteristic of lace
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to form symmetric lace motifs
• Yarn Over (yo): Creates the decorative holes and eyelets that define the lace pattern
• Purl Stitches (p): Used strategically within the pattern to create texture and definition
• Slip, Slip, Purl (ssp): A purled decrease that maintains pattern consistency on wrong-side rows
• Purl 2 Together (p2tog): A decrease worked on the wrong side to balance the lace design

The pattern begins with a 6-row garter stitch setup (knit every row) to establish a stable foundation. The lace pattern is then worked repeatedly until the piece reaches approximately 71 inches in length when gently stretched. The project concludes with another 6-row garter stitch border, providing a finished edge that frames the delicate lace center.

Skill Level and Gauge

The Valley Yarns Cedar is rated as an intermediate-level project, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace patterns. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this project: 18 stitches and 24 rows should measure 4 inches in the lace pattern when blocked. Proper gauge ensures the finished stole meets the specified dimensions and drapes beautifully.

Pattern Construction Details

The project begins with casting on 77 stitches using the Long-Tail cast-on method. Locking stitch markers are placed between each 12-stitch lace repeat to help track the pattern and prevent mistakes. The right-side rows feature knit stitches at the edges with the lace pattern repeating across, while wrong-side rows are worked with knit edge stitches and purled pattern sections. The alternating right-side and wrong-side rows create the dimensional lace fabric characteristic of this design.

Finishing Process

After completing all pattern rows and the final garter stitch border, the stitches are bound off. The finishing process involves weaving in all yarn ends to the wrong side of the work using a tapestry needle, ensuring a polished appearance. The completed stole is then blocked to the specified measurements, which sets the lace pattern, evens out the fabric, and allows the wrap to reach its full finished dimensions of 16 inches wide by 70 inches long.