Valley Yarns Desert Willow Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Desert Willow Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Desert Willow is an advanced-level knitted cardigan designed by Julie Turjoman, offering knitters the flexibility to customize their finished garment. This button-front cardigan features a deep ribbed V-neck and modified drop shoulders, with two distinct length options and sleeve variations to suit different style preferences and body types. Knitters can choose between a cropped version that hits at the top of the hip or a hip-length version for extended coverage. The sleeve options range from classic tapered sleeves to full statement sleeves that gather at the wrist, allowing for personalization within a single pattern.

Techniques Used

The Desert Willow cardigan employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its sophisticated construction. The garment is worked flat in pieces, meaning individual components are knitted separately before being joined together, which allows for easier stitch management and shaping. Bottom-up construction is used, with pieces knitted from the lower edges upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The cardigan features seamed construction, where finished pieces are sewn together using a tapestry needle, creating clean, professional seams. The cable work is centered on the sleeves with double moss stitch filling the undersides, creating visual interest on the visible portions while maintaining structural integrity throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

Cable stitches form the primary decorative element of the Desert Willow cardigan. The pattern features a prominent Center Cable measuring 28 stitches that spans 5¼ inches in width when worked to gauge, serving as the focal point of the design. Side Cables consisting of 8 stitches each measure 1¼ inches wide, framing the center cable and adding visual dimension. The Double Moss stitch pattern is used as the filler stitch throughout the garment, creating a textured, crisp appearance that complements the cable work. Double Moss stitch, also known as seed stitch variation, alternates knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, providing excellent stitch definition. The cardigan incorporates ribbed stitching for the deep V-neck opening and button bands, which provides elasticity and a refined finish. The gauge for the Double Moss stitch pattern is 18 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches when blocked on the larger needles, ensuring consistent fabric drape and fit.

Materials

The Desert Willow cardigan is knitted using Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% Merino Wool yarn that offers the crisp stitch definition essential for showcasing cable work. Each ball contains 109 yards and weighs 50 grams. The cropped version requires 7 to 20 balls depending on size (XS through 5XL), and is shown in Light Grey. The hip-length version requires 10 to 25 balls and is shown in Plum. Knitting needles include US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles in 16-inch and 32–40 inch circular configurations, plus double-pointed needles, used for the main fabric. US size 6 (4.0 mm) needles in a 40-inch circular needle and double-pointed needles are used for ribbed edgings. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, locking stitch markers for securing stitches, stitch holders for temporarily securing live stitches, a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together. The cardigan is finished with four ¾-inch buttons for the cropped version and seven ¾-inch buttons for the hip-length version.

Size Range and Finished Measurements

The Desert Willow is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL. Finished bust measurements span from 32¾ inches in the smallest size to 65½ inches in the largest size, with the cardigan designed to fit with 4–6 inches of positive ease for comfortable wearing. The cropped version features a length to underarm ranging from 10 to 12½ inches depending on size, while the hip-length version extends from 17 to 19 inches to the underarm, providing significant variation in overall garment length.