Valley Yarns Ocotillo Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ocotillo Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Ocotillo is an intermediate-level colorblock cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech. This garment is a luxury piece crafted from Valley Yarns Toby, a premium blend of 83% maco cotton, 10% mulberry silk, and 7% cashmere. The cardigan features a sophisticated three-color colorblock design with contrasting bands of Sand, Silver, and Grey. Available in sizes Small through Extra Large, the finished cardigan offers a bust measurement of 37½ to 47 inches with a length to shoulder of 24½ inches.

Construction Techniques

The Ocotillo cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed approach, meaning the body and sleeves are knitted separately as individual pieces and then sewn together. The garment features drop shoulders, which creates a relaxed, contemporary silhouette. The cardigan is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier color changes and pattern management across the three distinct colorblock sections. Horizontal stripes created by the colorblock technique add visual interest and showcase the luxury yarn's qualities.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Ocotillo employs classic knitting stitches suitable for an intermediate skill level. The pattern begins with a 2x2 ribbed cuff worked over 16 rows (8 pattern repeats) using the smaller needles, which provides elasticity and a finished edge. The main body is worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This stitch creates a smooth, refined surface that allows the luxury yarn fiber blend to shine. The V-neck shaping involves strategic decreases worked on right-side rows to create the flattering neckline.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This cardigan requires Valley Yarns Toby yarn in three coordinating colors:

• Color A (Sand): 2 balls for the initial ribbed cuff
• Color B (Silver): 6 to 9 balls depending on size, forming the largest colorblock section
• Color C (Grey): 3 to 4 balls for the final colorblock stripe

Each ball of Valley Yarns Toby contains 50 grams and yields 109 yards. The yarn's composition of maco cotton, mulberry silk, and cashmere creates a breathable yet luxurious fabric with excellent drape and comfort. Knitting needles required include US 6 (4.0mm) circular needles in 24 to 32-inch length for the main fabric and US 5 (3.75mm) circular needles in 32-inch length for the ribbed cuff. The gauge is 20 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when lightly blocked. Additional materials include stitch markers, stitch holders, a tapestry needle for seaming, 6 to 7 buttons measuring ¾ inch, and sewing supplies to match the yarn.

Pattern Structure

The pattern is organized by garment section, beginning with the back panel, followed by the left front, right front, and sleeves. Each section includes detailed row-by-row instructions with size variations noted in parentheses. The back piece is cast on with Color A and smaller needles for the ribbed edge, then transitions to Color B and larger needles for the stockinette body. The front pieces follow a similar construction method with additional shaping for the V-neck. This modular approach allows knitters to work methodically through each component before assembly.