Valley Yarns All Dressed Up Stole Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns All Dressed Up Stole

What Is Being Made

The All Dressed Up Stole is a long, collared wrap designed by Susan Villas Lewis. This sophisticated accessory features a rectangular stole body measuring 22 inches by 68 inches, paired with an attached collar measuring 23 inches by 5 inches. The stole is designed to be worn as an elegant layering piece, with the collar providing structure and definition to the neckline area. The finished garment combines a substantial main body with a refined collar detail, making it suitable for both casual and dressy occasions.

Techniques Used

The All Dressed Up Stole is constructed using seamless, worked flat knitting techniques. The stole body is knitted flat from the cast-on edge to the bind-off, creating a single rectangular piece without seams. The collar is then picked up from the side edge of the completed stole body and knitted perpendicular to the main piece. This pickup method ensures a secure, integrated connection between the collar and stole body.

The pattern includes an optional shaping section for the collar that uses short rows to create a subtle, tapered shape at the corners. This advanced technique involves turning the work before reaching the end of a row and working back in the opposite direction, with the turns strategically hidden within the stitch pattern. For knitters preferring a simpler construction, the short-row shaping can be omitted in favor of a more square collar design.

Stitches Used

The All Dressed Up Stole employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Garter Stitch: Used for the border sections at the beginning and end of the stole body, as well as for the initial rows of the collar. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row, producing a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. This stitch provides a stable foundation and frame for the main pattern.
• Lace Pattern Stitch: The central body of the stole features a four-row repeating lace pattern. Row 1 (right-side) begins with knit 1, then alternates slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together, yarn over across the row until 2 stitches remain, finished with knit 2. Row 2 (wrong-side) is worked as knit 1, purl to last stitch, knit 1. Row 3 (right-side) begins with knit 2, then alternates yarn over, slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together across the row until 1 stitch remains, finished with knit 1. Row 4 (wrong-side) mirrors Row 2. This lace pattern creates an open, airy texture with a subtle directional quality, as the yarn overs and decreases shift position between odd-numbered rows.

The combination of garter stitch borders with the central lace pattern creates visual interest while maintaining structural integrity. The slip-stitch decreases paired with yarn overs produce elegant eyelets that contribute to the stole's sophisticated appearance.

Materials

The All Dressed Up Stole requires 12 skeins of Valley Yarns Goshen yarn in color 26 Steel. Goshen is a premium blend fiber composed of 48% Peruvian cotton, 46% modal, and 6% silk. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 92 yards, providing a total yardage of approximately 1,104 yards for the completed project. This fiber blend creates a fabric with excellent drape and a subtle sheen, making it ideal for a stole that will hang elegantly.

The pattern is worked on US size 8 (5.00 mm) needles, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The recommended gauge is 4.5 stitches per 1 inch in garter stitch and 4.25 stitches per 1 inch in pattern stitch, measured over stockinette or the lace pattern as appropriate. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the finished measurements and ensuring the stole drapes correctly.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced beginner difficulty. While the fundamental techniques—casting on, knitting, purling, yarn overs, and decreases—are within the reach of intermediate knitters, the pattern introduces more complex elements. The four-row lace pattern requires attention to stitch placement and sequence, particularly with the alternating decrease and yarn-over positions. The collar pickup and optional short-row shaping add additional technical considerations. Knitters at this level should be comfortable reading pattern repeats, managing stitch counts, and understanding how to pick up stitches from a finished edge. The optional short-row shaping can be om