Valley Yarns Capella Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Capella: Seamless Stranded Colorwork Capelet

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Capella is an elbow-length capelet designed by Julie Turjoman, functioning as a cheerful and cozy layering piece perfect for crisp spring days. This garment features a loose ribbed turtleneck and is constructed as a single seamless piece worked in the round. The capelet arrives in four sizes: Small (designed to fit bust 30–38"), Medium (40–46"), Large (48–54"), and Extra Large (56–64"), with finished hem circumferences ranging from 52" to 74" and lengths between 17" and 18" excluding the turtleneck.

Techniques Used

Seamless construction is central to this design. The capelet is worked in the round in one continuous piece from hem to neck, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish. Stranded colorwork provides the graphic visual interest, with motifs worked across the body of the capelet using multiple contrast colors held together while knitting. The pattern notes that stranded colorwork sections may be worked on slightly larger needles to counteract the natural tendency of colorwork to pull inward, and long floats should be caught on the wrong side of stitches to prevent snagging and maintain structural integrity.

The garment features decrease shaping that tapers from the wider hem to the narrower neckline, creating the characteristic capelet silhouette. This shaping is achieved through strategic decreases worked in the round, allowing the piece to fit smoothly from shoulders to neck.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch forms the main body of the capelet, providing a smooth, classic knit fabric that showcases the stranded colorwork patterns
• K2/P2 Ribbed stitch creates the loose ribbed turtleneck, offering comfortable stretch and warmth while maintaining structure for layering
• Stranded colorwork stitches incorporate three contrast colors (Natural, Lagoon, and Medium Gray) alongside the main color (Moss), with floats carried across the wrong side of the work

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Capella is constructed using Valley Yarns Hardwick, a premium blend yarn composed of 50% Baby Alpaca, 35% Wool, and 15% Silk. This fiber combination creates a substantial yet lightweight fabric ideal for a layering topper. Yarn requirements vary by size: the main color (Moss) requires 2–3 hanks depending on size, while the contrast colors require 2 hanks of Natural (CC1), 1 hank of Lagoon (CC2), and 1 hank of Medium Gray (CC3). Each hank of Hardwick provides 100 grams and 164 yards of yardage.

The pattern calls for multiple circular needle sizes to accommodate different stitch types and gauges. US size 8 (5.00 mm) circular needles in 16" and 32"–60" lengths are used for the ribbed hem and neck, achieving a gauge of 16 stitches and 22 rounds over 4 inches in K2/P2 Rib stitch when blocked and slightly stretched. US size 9 (5.50 mm) circular needles in 16"–24" and 32"–60" lengths serve as the primary needles for the main stockinette body, producing a gauge of 16 stitches and 22 rounds over 4 inches. US size 10 (6.00 mm) circular needles in matching lengths are available as an optional adjustment to maintain consistent gauge specifically over the stranded colorwork pattern sections, where the gauge measures 16 stitches and 19 rounds over 4 inches when blocked.

Additional materials include stitch markers (with one in a unique color to mark the beginning of each round) and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle seamless in-the-round construction, stranded colorwork techniques, and shaping through decreases.