Valley Yarns Holly Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Holly Cowl and Hat Set

Project Overview

Valley Yarns Holly is a coordinating cowl and hat set designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a textured Peaks and Valleys stitch pattern. This pattern offers versatility with an expansive size range, making it suitable for gifts for the entire family. The cowl is one size with a finished circumference of 20 inches and height of 8 inches. The hat comes in four sizes: XS (to fit head circumference 15-17"), S (17-19"), M (19-21"), and L (21-24"), with finished lengths ranging from 8¼ to 9¾ inches depending on size.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a matching set consisting of a cowl neck warmer and a fitted hat. Both pieces showcase the same distinctive Peaks and Valleys stitch pattern, creating visual cohesion between the two garments. The cowl provides a comfortable neckwarmer, while the hat offers coverage for multiple head sizes from children to adults.

Techniques Used

• Seamless Construction: Both the cowl and hat are worked seamlessly in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pieces are worked from the bottom edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches and building toward the finished height.
• Worked in the Round: Using the circular needle method, stitches are joined and worked continuously in rounds rather than flat rows, creating a tubular fabric.
• Lace and Textured Stitching: The Peaks and Valleys stitch pattern creates visual texture and interest through increases and decreases that form peaks and valleys across the fabric.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern employs several key stitches to create the finished garments:

• Peaks and Valleys Stitch Pattern: A 16-row repeating pattern that increases from 6 stitches to 12 stitches, then decreases back to 6 stitches over the course of each repeat. This creates the distinctive textured appearance that defines the set.
• K1/P1 Ribbing: A knit-one, purl-one ribbing stitch used for the cuffs and edges, providing elasticity and a neat, finished appearance. The cowl begins with 1 inch of K1/P1 ribbing worked on the smallest needles.
• Knit Stitch: Basic knit stitches are used in transition rounds between pattern sections.

Construction Details and Gauge

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this pattern. The Peaks and Valleys stitch pattern requires different gauges depending on needle size: 24 stitches and 32 rounds equal 4 inches over the pattern on the largest needles when blocked, and 26 stitches and 34 rounds equal 4 inches on the medium needles when blocked. The K1/P1 ribbing produces a gauge of 32 stitches and 36 rounds over 4 inches on the smallest needles. The cowl begins with 124 cast-on stitches using a stretchy cast-on method such as Old Norwegian, which is then decreased to 120 stitches before the main pattern begins.

Materials and Yarn

Valley Yarns Holly requires one skein of Valley Yarns Huntington Splash yarn, which contains 75% Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, providing 436 yards per 100 grams. The sample shown is worked in the Caribbean Sea colorway. The yarn's blend offers softness combined with durability, and the random splashes of color add visual interest to the finished pieces.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for multiple needle sizes to achieve proper gauge and construction:

• US 6 (4.00mm) 16-inch circular needles: Used for the main cowl body worked in the Peaks and Valleys stitch pattern.
• US 4 (3.50mm) 16-inch circular needles and double-pointed needles: Used for the hat rise and crown shaping.
• US 3 (3.25mm) 16-inch circular needles: Used for ribbed edges on both the cowl and hat.

Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings.