Valley Yarns Melrose Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Melrose Stranded Colorwork Beanie

What Is Being Made

The Melrose is a seamless, stranded colorwork beanie designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a stylish winter hat available in three sizes: Small (fits head sizes 18–20"), Medium (fits head sizes 20–22"), and Large (fits head sizes 22–24"). The finished circumference ranges from 18" to 21¾" unstretched, making it a versatile accessory for cool weather wear.

Techniques Used

The Melrose beanie is worked in the round as a single, seamless piece, eliminating the need for seaming. Construction begins with a ribbed and folded band at the base, which features a turning ridge at the halfway point to reinforce the fold and provide extra warmth over the ears when folded in half. The body transitions from ribbed stockinette stitch into the main colorwork section, where stranded colorwork motifs add visual interest around the rise of the hat. The bottom-up construction method allows knitters to work from the ribbed band upward to the crown, making it easy to try on and adjust fit as needed.

Stitches Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches suited to intermediate skill levels. The ribbed band is worked in K2/P2 ribbing, which creates vertical columns of knit and purl stitches that provide stretch and recovery. The main body of the beanie is worked in stockinette stitch, the most common knit fabric, which creates a smooth, flat surface ideal for displaying colorwork. The stranded colorwork technique involves carrying yarn colors across the back of the work while knitting with the active color, creating patterns with simple motifs that add pops of color throughout the design. A purl turning ridge is incorporated at the midpoint of the ribbed band to create a clean fold line.

Materials and Yarn

The Melrose is designed to be knit with Valley Yarns Sunderland, a luxury yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. Three colorways are required: Natural for the main color (MC), Pacific Teal for the first contrast color (CC1), and Lavender Mist for the second contrast color (CC2). Each colorway requires one 50-gram ball containing 109 yards, with the main color needing 2 balls across all sizes. Baby alpaca provides softness and warmth ideal for a beanie worn close to the face.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for US size 6 (4.0 mm) 16" circular needles and double-pointed needles for the main body, US size 7 (4.5 mm) 16" circular needles for the stranded colorwork section if needed to maintain consistent gauge, and US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16" circular needles for the ribbed band. The gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the medium-size needles, and the same gauge applies to the stranded colorwork section when worked on the largest needles. Blocking is recommended to achieve accurate measurements.

Additional Materials

• Stitch markers for tracking round progression
• Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends

Pattern Notes

The Melrose beanie is constructed as a single seamless piece worked from the bottom up. The ribbed band is intentionally designed to be folded in half, with a turning ridge creating a reinforced fold line for durability and extra insulation around the ears. Knitters may need to switch to the larger needle size when transitioning from stockinette to stranded colorwork to maintain consistent gauge, as the colorwork technique naturally creates a denser fabric. The pattern includes sizing options and clear gauge measurements to ensure proper fit across all three sizes.