Valley Yarns Gravenstein Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Gravenstein Knit Wrap

What Is Being Made

The Gravenstein is an asymmetrical triangular wrap designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This luxurious shawl measures 32 inches wide and 60 inches long when finished, making it an elegant layering piece suitable for various occasions. The wrap features a distinctive asymmetrical shape created through strategic decreases worked along one side edge, resulting in a graceful tapered tail.

Yarn and Materials

This project uses Valley Yarns Westfield, a premium fiber blend composed of 60% fine merino wool, 20% yak fiber, and 20% silk. This luxurious combination provides exceptional softness and a subtle sheen that enhances the finished wrap's drape and visual appeal. The pattern calls for two colors: Color A (Stone) requiring 4 balls of yarn, and Color B (Amethyst) requiring 3 balls. Each ball contains 50 grams and yields 120 yards. A US size 6 (4 mm) circular needle measuring 32 to 40 inches is required, along with a tapestry needle for finishing.

Techniques and Construction Method

The Gravenstein is worked in one piece, flat back and forth in rows rather than in the round, beginning from the wide end and progressing toward the narrow tail. This seamless, worked-flat construction approach simplifies the knitting process while maintaining clean edges throughout the project. The wrap employs a strategic combination of garter stitch and slip-stitch colorwork to create visual interest and texture.

A key design feature involves a positive and negative colorplay effect achieved by switching the main color and contrasting color at approximately the midpoint of the wrap. This color reversal creates a sophisticated visual impact without requiring complex stitch techniques. Decreases are worked regularly along one edge to establish the asymmetrical triangle silhouette that defines the wrap's elegant shape.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitches used in the Gravenstein include:

• Garter Stitch: Forms the foundational texture and appears in sections between the colorwork pattern rows. This reversible stitch creates a classic, textured appearance and is worked by knitting every row.
• Slip-Stitch Colorwork Pattern A: An 8-row repeat pattern that introduces the two-color design element. The slip-stitch technique allows color changes without the complexity of stranded colorwork, making it accessible for intermediate knitters.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit two together) decreases are worked on right-side rows at the edge to create the asymmetrical shaping. These decreases are spaced strategically throughout the pattern to gradually taper the wrap from its wide beginning to its narrow tail.

The slip-stitch colorwork pattern is worked in regular intervals with rows of garter stitch between pattern repeats, creating a balanced rhythm throughout the wrap and preventing the colorwork from becoming visually overwhelming.

Skill Level and Project Characteristics

Rated as Advanced Beginner difficulty, the Gravenstein is designed to be an engaging project for knitters with some foundational experience. The combination of straightforward garter stitch sections and slip-stitch colorwork provides a manageable learning opportunity without overwhelming complexity. The worked-flat construction eliminates the need for circular knitting skills, and the slip-stitch colorwork technique is more forgiving than stranded colorwork methods.

The pattern includes detailed gauge information: 20 stitches and 26 rows equal 4 inches in both garter stitch and the slip-stitch pattern when blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 32 inches wide by 60 inches long.

Design Features and Finishing

The Gravenstein pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF format, allowing knitters to access instructions digitally and print them as needed. The pattern includes comprehensive written directions for all construction stages, from the long-tail cast-on method through completion. The use of striping through the slip-stitch colorwork pattern combined with the asymmetrical shaping creates a sophisticated, modern aesthetic that appeals to knitters seeking a project with visual interest and contemporary design.