Valley Yarns Tempest Beret, Gauntlets and Cowl Knitting

Valley Yarns Tempest Beret, Gauntlets and Cowl

Project Overview

The Tempest collection is a three-piece knitting set designed by Kirsten Hipsky, featuring a coordinated beret, gauntlets, and cowl that can be made together or individually. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating elegant, lace-detailed accessories using seamless, in-the-round knitting techniques. All three pieces showcase refined lace stitch patterns that create visual interest while maintaining wearability.

Beret

The beret features a finished circumference of 20"-24" at the brim, making it a versatile fit for most head sizes. The design is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in the round, beginning with a ribbed brim and progressing through multiple rounds of lace patterning. The construction uses strategic decreases and yarn-over stitches to shape the crown, transitioning from a wider brim to a fitted top. The lace pattern repeats create an open, airy texture that is both decorative and structurally sound.

Gauntlets

The gauntlets measure 7"-9" wide and 7" long, providing coverage for the hands and lower forearms. Like the beret, these are constructed using seamless, in-the-round knitting techniques. The gauntlets incorporate the same lace stitch patterns found throughout the collection, creating a coordinated appearance when worn with the other pieces. The width allows for comfortable wear over various hand and wrist sizes.

Cowl

The cowl is designed to measure 24" around and 8" wide, offering substantial coverage for the neck and shoulders. This piece is also worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, featuring the signature lace patterns that define the Tempest collection. The 8" width provides generous drape and layering potential, making it suitable for various styling options.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Construction Method: All three pieces in the Tempest collection are worked seamlessly in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles. This bottom-up construction method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a continuous, tubular fabric.

Lace Patterning: The designs feature intricate lace stitches created through the strategic use of yarn-overs and decreases. Yarn-overs (abbreviated as yo) create decorative eyelets and openings in the fabric, while paired decreases—primarily knit-two-together stitches (abbreviated as k2tog)—balance the yarn-overs and control shaping. This interplay of increases and decreases is fundamental to lace knitting, allowing the fabric to expand and contract as needed.

Core Stitches Used: The pattern employs essential knitting stitches including knit stitches (k), purl stitches (p), yarn-overs (yo), and knit-two-together decreases (k2tog). Purl stitches create textural contrast and definition, particularly in the ribbed sections and pattern separations. The combination of these basic stitches, when repeated in specific sequences across multiple rounds, creates the complex lace patterns visible in the finished pieces.

Shaping and Decreasing: The pattern demonstrates progressive shaping through strategic placement of decreases. Stitch counts decrease significantly throughout the rounds—for example, the beret progresses from 160 stitches down to 20 stitches by the final rounds—creating the fitted crown shape. This graduated decrease method is essential for achieving proper fit and silhouette in seamless, in-the-round projects.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Tempest collection requires 5 skeins of Valley Yarns Deerfield in the color Stone Blue. The yarn composition is 80% Baby Alpaca and 20% Silk, with each skein providing 109 yards at a 50-gram weight. The material distribution across the three pieces is as follows: 2 skeins for the beret, 1 skein for the gauntlets, and 2 skeins for the cowl. This fiber blend offers softness, drape, and a subtle sheen characteristic of silk-blended yarns, making the finished accessories both luxurious and practical for everyday wear.

The combination of baby alpaca and silk creates a yarn with excellent stitch definition, which is particularly important for displaying lace patterns clearly. The yarn weight and yardage allow for the intricate stitch work and shaping required by the Tempest designs while maintaining comfortable wearing properties.