Valley Yarns 40th Anniversary Clivia Hat and Mitt Set

Valley Yarns 40th Anniversary Clivia Hat and Mitt Set

Project Overview

The Clivia Hat and Mitt Set is a coordinated knitting project featuring a sleek hat paired with matching mittens, both showcasing the subtle, rippling pinks and purples of the Victoria colorway. This intermediate-level pattern offers versatility with finished sizes available in medium and large, and includes an optional fingerless mitt variation for year-round wear. The set is designed to be worked as a cohesive unit, with a distinctive cable and eyelet band that serves as the foundation for both pieces.

What Is Being Made

• Hat: Finished dimensions of 20 (22)" around with 7" height, worked in the round from a sideways-constructed band
• Mittens: Finished dimensions of 7.5 (9)" around, constructed to match the hat design
• Optional Fingerless Mitt Version: An alternative construction included in the pattern for those preferring open-hand mittens
• Decorative Button Flap: An optional embellishment for the hat featuring three ½" buttons

Construction Techniques

The Clivia set employs a distinctive sideways construction method for the cable band, which forms the decorative foundation of both the hat and mittens. This technique involves working the band horizontally across its width rather than vertically. Once the band is complete, stitches are picked up from the band edges on either side, allowing the knitter to then work downward for the ribbing and hand sections of the mittens, and upward for the crown of the hat. This pickup method creates seamless transitions and eliminates the need for seaming in most areas, though the pattern is classified as seamed, indicating strategic seaming may occur in specific construction areas. The pattern is worked using both worked flat construction for the band section and worked in the round techniques for the hat crown and mitt bodies.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern showcases several intermediate-level knitting stitches and techniques:

• Cable Stitches: The featured cable band includes back cross (BC) and front cross (FC) cable maneuvers that create the dimensional, textured appearance characteristic of cable knitting
• Eyelet Stitches: Yarn overs (yo) combined with decreases (k2tog and ssk) create decorative openwork eyelets integrated throughout the cable band, adding visual interest and a lace-like quality to the design
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the hat and mittens, providing a smooth, classic fabric
• Ribbing: Used for the cuff and finishing sections to create elasticity and structure
• Knit and Purl Combinations: The cable band pattern alternates between knit and purl stitches to frame and define the cables and eyelets
• Twisted Stitches: Knit through the back loop (k1b) and purl through the back loop (p1b) stitches add subtle texture and definition to the band edges

Cable Band Pattern Details

The cable band is worked over a 17-stitch panel and features a 26-row repeat (with variations for the larger size). The band combines two-stitch cables that cross over each other with integrated eyelet sections, creating a sophisticated visual pattern. The cable crosses occur at regular intervals, with the eyelets positioned to echo and complement the cable movement. For the larger size, the pattern extends beyond the standard 22-row repeat with additional rows to accommodate the size increase. The band's construction allows for optional decorative button placement, adding a functional and aesthetic element to the finished hat.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand-Dyed by Dream in Color, a premium yarn blend consisting of 60% Fine Superwash Merino, 20% Mulberry Silk, and 20% Polyamide. One 100-gram skein provides 439 yards of yarn, sufficient for completing the entire hat and mitt set. The Victoria colorway features the subtle, rippling pinks and purples that give the finished pieces their distinctive appearance. The fiber blend combines the warmth and breathability of merino wool with the luxurious sheen and drape of mulberry silk, while polyamide adds durability and elasticity to the finished fabric.