Valley Yarns Shenandoah Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Shenandoah Knit Tee

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Shenandoah is an advanced beginner knit tee featuring striking vertical color blocking on both front and back panels. This short-sleeved sweater showcases a split personality design with contrasting color sections, creating a modern aesthetic perfect for warm weather wear. The garment is available in sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished bust measurements from 31¼ inches to 60 inches, offering versatile sizing for various body types.

Design Features and Color Blocking

The Shenandoah's distinctive design divides the front and back pieces into left and right halves, each worked in alternating colors to create bold vertical color blocking. Color A (Leaf) and Color B (Stone) are used strategically on opposite halves of both the front and back panels, producing a striking two-tone effect. This color placement technique is complemented by a seeded rib check texture pattern that adds visual interest and depth to the color-blocked sections.

Construction Techniques

This tee employs a bottom-up, seamed construction method that allows for precise shaping and customization. The garment is worked in four equal pieces: a Left Front, Right Front, Left Back, and Right Back. Each piece is worked flat on straight needles before being seamed together at the center front, center back, side seams, and shoulders. This modular approach enables knitters to work with manageable sections while maintaining consistent stitch patterns throughout.

Shaping is incorporated through several techniques: increase shaping at the armhole edges creates the short sleeves, while short-row shoulder shaping adds elegant drape to enhance the overall fit. Selvage stitches are added to each side edge of all pieces to facilitate clean, professional seaming. Narrow garter stitch hems are worked at the bottom edge, sleeve edges, and neckline for a polished finish.

Stitch Pattern

The entire garment is worked in the Seeded Rib Check stitch pattern, which combines ribbed and stockinette elements to create a textured, visually interesting fabric. This stitch pattern is worked throughout all four pieces and provides both structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. The seeded rib check texture showcases the color blocking effectively while adding dimension to the finished tee.

Yarn and Materials

The Shenandoah is designed for Valley Yarns Leverett, a premium blend of 70% Pima Cotton and 30% Linen. This fiber composition offers exceptional breathability and comfort, making it ideal for warm weather garments. The cotton-linen blend provides a soft hand while maintaining structure, and the linen content adds a subtle texture and natural drape.

Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 3 hanks to 7 hanks per color (6 to 14 hanks total). Each hank of Valley Yarns Leverett contains 109 yards at 50 grams, allowing knitters to calculate yardage needs based on their chosen size. The pattern specifies Color 005 (Leaf) and Color 004 (Stone) for the color-blocked design.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for US size 5 (3.75 mm) needles in multiple formats: 16-inch and 24-32 inch circular needles, plus double-pointed needles for working in the round on smaller sections. The specified gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Seeded Rib Check stitch pattern, blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining accurate finished measurements and ensuring the garment fits as intended.

Additional Materials and Notions

• Stitch markers, including 4 locking stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points
• Stitch holders or waste yarn for holding live stitches during construction
• Tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends

Sizing and Fit

The Shenandoah is designed to fit with 0-4 inches of positive ease, providing a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit. Length from hem to underarm ranges from 15 inches in smaller sizes to 17 inches in larger sizes. The pattern notes that the piece can be made longer if desired, though additional yarn will be required for extended length modifications.

Skill Level