Valley Yarns Desert Lime Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Desert Lime Cowl

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Desert Lime is an intermediate-level knitted cowl designed by Julie Turjoman. This refined infinity wrap measures approximately 43 inches long (when twisted) by 8¾ inches wide and is intended for three-season wear. The finished cowl features an elegant Figure Eight infinity shape created by twisting the knitted piece and seaming the short ends together, making it a versatile accessory to dress up the neckline of any jacket.

Techniques Used

This cowl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance and structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The piece is worked flat in rows from the bottom edge to the top edge in one continuous piece, rather than in the round.
• Cables and twisted stitches: A refined chevron twist stitch pattern forms the visual centerpiece of the design, running vertically around the piece.
• Seaming: After the knitting is complete and the piece is twisted to create the Figure Eight infinity shape, the short ends are seamed together to join the cowl.
• Worked flat: The entire cowl is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for the distinctive construction method.
• Blocking: The finished piece is steam or mist blocked to measurements to ensure proper shape and drape.

Stitches Used

The Desert Lime cowl features a limited but elegant stitch palette designed for intermediate knitters:

• K1/P1 Rib: Used for both the bottom and top hems, each measuring 1 inch in depth. The bottom hem is worked for 7 rows beginning with a wrong-side row, while the top hem is worked for 7 rows beginning with a right-side row. This ribbed edging provides structure and helps the cowl maintain its shape.
• Chevron Rib pattern: The main stitch pattern that runs vertically around the piece, creating the refined chevron twist effect. The pattern is worked in 22-row repeats, with knitters completing 2 full repeats of the Chevron Rib pattern. The pattern is organized into 16-stitch repeats, with 12 full repeats per row, and stitch markers are used between each repeat to help track the pattern accurately.

Materials and Yarn

The Valley Yarns Desert Lime is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Savoy, a soft and luxurious blend of fibers. The yarn composition includes 30% recycled wool, 5% recycled cashmere, 35% Ecovero viscose, and 30% recycled polyamide. Each ball contains 137 yards of yardage per 50 grams of weight. The project requires 3 balls of yarn in the color Sunset Glow (color number 1708), providing sufficient yardage for the finished cowl.

Needles and Notions

To complete this project, knitters will need US size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles measuring 32 to 40 inches in length, or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers to help track the repeating Chevron Rib pattern and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and seaming the short ends together during finishing.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The correct gauge for the Desert Lime cowl is 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches when worked in the Chevron Rib pattern and blocked. The finished cowl measures approximately 43 inches long (when twisted into the infinity shape) by 8¾ inches wide, making it a generous and comfortable wrap for the neckline.

Construction Notes

The Desert Lime employs a distinctive construction method that creates its elegant infinity wrap shape. The cowl begins with an Old Norwegian or other stretchy cast-on method, which provides flexibility at the cast-on edge. After completing the bottom hem in K1/P1 Rib, knitters set up the Chevron Rib pattern with a right-side row, placing stitch markers between each 16-stitch repeat to maintain pattern accuracy. The main body of the cowl consists of 2 full 22-row repeats of the Chevron Rib pattern. Once the knitting is complete and the top hem is finished, the piece is twisted twice so that the right side of each short end faces upward when they are butted together, creating the Figure Eight infinity shape. The short ends are then seamed together to complete the cowl, and the finished piece is steam