Valley Yarns Wintersweet Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Wintersweet Knit Wrap

Project Overview

The Wintersweet is a sophisticated triangular wrap designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This advanced beginner knitting project creates a generous wrap measuring 48 inches by 72 inches, suitable for year-round wear. The wrap is worked flat from one long wide edge to a narrow end point, making it an engaging project that combines multiple stitch techniques and color work.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a large triangular shawl or wrap with a finished size of 48" x 72". The piece is worked in a single continuous piece from the cast-on edge through multiple sections to the final point. The triangular shaping is achieved through strategic decreasing on one side edge throughout the entire project, creating a dramatic and wearable wrap that drapes beautifully.

Techniques Used

The Wintersweet employs several advanced knitting techniques that work together to create visual interest and texture:

• Mosaic Stitch: A color work technique that creates patterns without traditional stranding or intarsia, allowing two colors to be incorporated while only working with one color per row
• Stockinette Stitch: The foundational smooth fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Purl Texture Pattern: A textured surface stitch that adds dimension and visual interest to the solid-color sections
• Striped Construction: The wrap is organized into distinct sections that alternate between color A and color B, creating horizontal stripes throughout the piece
• Decreasing for Shaping: Triangle shaping is accomplished by working decreases (ssk on right-side rows and ssp on wrong-side rows) at one edge on both right-side and wrong-side rows

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates several essential knitting stitches:

• Knit Stitch (K): The basic stitch used throughout for stockinette sections and edging
• Purl Stitch (P): Used to create stockinette fabric and the purl texture pattern
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease worked on right-side rows for shaping
• Slip, Slip, Purl (ssp): A left-leaning decrease worked on wrong-side rows for consistent shaping
• Mosaic Stitches: Specialized stitches that create color patterns by slipping stitches and working with alternating yarns

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Wintersweet requires specific Valley Yarns products to achieve the intended finished garment:

• Color A (Grey River): 3 skeins of Valley Yarns Huntington Splash, a variegated yarn containing 75% Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, with 436 yards per 100-gram skein
• Color B (Mustard): 2 skeins of Valley Yarns Huntington, a solid-color yarn with the same fiber content of 75% Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, with 218 yards per 50-gram skein
• Needles: US 6 (4.00mm) circular needles measuring 32 to 40 inches in length, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge
• Additional Materials: Stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge and Construction Details

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern specifies two different gauges depending on the stitch being worked: 24 stitches and 32 rows equals 4 inches in stockinette stitch and purl texture pattern when blocked, while mosaic stitch is worked at 30 stitches and 36 rows equals 4 inches when blocked. The pattern begins with a long-tail cast-on of 432 stitches and is worked back and forth in rows on circular needles. The construction is divided into distinct sections: an edging worked in solid color, a field section in the variegated splash yarn, a mosaic section incorporating both colors, and a final purl texture section in the solid mustard color.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as