Valley Yarns Petrified Forest Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Petrified Forest Knit Towel Set

What Is Being Made

The Petrified Forest is a petite knit towel set designed by Julie Turjoman, consisting of two coordinating towels with finished measurements of 12" x 18" each. These towels are versatile homeware pieces suitable for powder rooms, kitchen use, or as gifts. Made from soft organic cotton with a subtle boucle texture, they combine aesthetic appeal with practical durability, performing well for everyday tasks without scratching delicate surfaces.

Techniques Used

Both towels in this set are worked using bottom-up construction, meaning you cast on at the bottom edge and knit upward to the finished length. The towels are worked flat in rows back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, making this an accessible project for knitters new to seamless garment construction. Each towel features a small I-Cord loop worked at one corner using double-pointed needles, allowing the finished towels to be hung for display or storage. The Long-Tail cast-on method is used to begin each towel.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates several distinct stitch techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Seed Stitch forms narrow borders on all edges, creating a neat, finished frame around each towel
• Basketweave Stitch covers the surface of the first towel, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in an 8-stitch repeat pattern worked over 8 rows to produce a dimensional, woven appearance
• Zigzag Stitch patterns the second towel, offering visual variety within the coordinating set
• Garter Stitch elements appear in the border sections

The combination of these textured stitches—particularly the Basketweave and Zigzag patterns—creates the boucle-like surface texture characteristic of these towels.

Materials and Specifications

Each towel requires approximately 250 yards of yarn. The complete set uses 5 hanks of Valley Yarns Montague (100% Organic Cotton, 50g per 110 yards) in Color 001 White, which yields enough yardage for both towels. Knitting is worked on US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, with two double-pointed needles of the same size reserved for the I-Cord loop construction. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends after completion.

Gauge and Difficulty

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in the Basketweave and Zigzag stitch patterns after blocking. This is a beginner-level project, making it accessible to knitters developing fundamental skills while still offering the satisfaction of completing a practical, finished item. The straightforward flat construction and repetitive stitch patterns allow newer knitters to build confidence and consistency.