Valley Yarns Icewine Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Icewine Knit Sweater Pattern

Garment Overview

The Icewine is a graceful scoop neck tunic designed by Julie Turjoman, crafted from soft, heathered alpaca yarn. This intermediate-level knitting project features a sophisticated design combining alternating garter and lace stripes throughout the body and sleeves, with a lace yoke that finishes the neckline. The tunic is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 35 inches to 62½ inches, designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease.

Construction Techniques

The Icewine is worked using a bottom-up, seamless construction method, which allows knitters to try on the garment as they progress and make adjustments as needed. The body is knitted in the round from the hem upward to the armholes, maintaining the lace and garter stripe pattern throughout. The sleeves are worked separately in the round from the wrist to the underarm, then joined to the body using a seamless join technique. This approach eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, professional finish. The pattern concludes with a lace yoke worked in the round, which elegantly frames the scoop neckline.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The primary stitch work combines two distinct techniques:

• Garter Stitch Sections: Worked in the round using knit stitches to create horizontal ridges and texture. The pattern specifies knitting 2 rounds of garter stitch in repeating sections.
• Lace Pattern: An intricate lace motif is worked over 16 rounds, creating openwork details that alternate with the garter stitch sections. The lace pattern is repeated from the body hem until the piece measures approximately 15 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a decreased knit round of the third garter stitch section.

Key knitting abbreviations used include K2tog (knit 2 together) for decreases, and the pattern employs standard decrease techniques to shape the garment at the underarms and during yoke shaping. Stitch markers and locking stitch markers are essential tools for tracking pattern repeats and marking increases and decreases throughout the construction.

Yarn and Materials

The Icewine is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Sunderland, a luxury yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. The pattern requires 9 to 15 skeins depending on size, with each skein weighing 50 grams and providing 109 yards of yardage. The sample shown was knitted in color #838 Winter Sky, a heathered tone that complements the lace and garter stripe design.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern is worked on US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in three lengths: 16-inch, 24-inch, and 32 to 40-inch needles to accommodate the increasing stitch counts as the body widens. Circular needles are essential for working seamlessly in the round. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rounds equal 4 inches when measured in garter stitch, which is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements. Knitters should always swatch and measure gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and joining yarn when necessary. Stitch markers—both regular and locking varieties—are used throughout to mark pattern repeats, side seams, and underarm placement points, making it easier to track progress and maintain pattern alignment.