Valley Yarns Mistletoe Set Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Mistletoe Set

Overview

The Mistletoe Set is a coordinated collection of home décor items designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a cushion cover and lap throw that work together to create a cohesive, textured aesthetic. Both pieces showcase cable and textured stitch patterns that add visual interest and a polished finishing touch to any interior design scheme. This set makes an excellent gift for weddings, new babies, or housewarmings, and is suitable for beginner-level knitters.

What Is Being Made

• Mistletoe Lap Throw: A cozy blanket measuring 38¼" × 61¼" when finished, designed to keep laps warm during cold winter evenings and beyond. The throw is worked in one piece from the bottom up.
• Mistletoe Cushion Cover: A decorative pillow cover measuring 21¼" × 18" when finished. The cushion cover is worked in two separate pieces and then sewn together, requiring a pillow form for completion.

Techniques Used

Both garments in the Mistletoe Set employ seamed construction and are worked flat in rows using back-and-forth knitting rather than circular knitting. The cushion cover specifically requires seaming to join the two pieces together after they are completed. The lap throw is worked in a single piece, eliminating the need for seaming the main body.

The designs feature cable techniques, including 2/2 Left Cross cable stitches that create dimensional texture and visual depth. Both pieces incorporate seed stitch borders on all sides—the lap throw features 1½" seed stitch borders, while the cushion cover includes a lower seed stitch border worked at the beginning of construction.

Stitches Used

The Mistletoe Set utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable work:

• Seed Stitch: An alternating knit and purl pattern (K1, P1 on right-side rows; P1, K1 on wrong-side rows) that creates a textured, bumpy fabric. This stitch forms the borders on both pieces.
• Mistletoe Pattern: A specialized stitch pattern that combines cables and textured stitches to create the main design element. The pattern is worked in repeats of 20 stitches.
• Cable Stitches: Specifically, 2/2 Left Cross (2/2 LC) cables, created by slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle, holding them to the front, and working the cable cross. These stitches add dimension and visual interest.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together) and Ssk (slip, slip, knit) are used for shaping.
• Yarn Overs (YO): Used to create lace elements within the pattern.

Materials and Specifications

The Mistletoe Set is worked using Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky, a durable yarn blend composed of 60% Superwash Merino Wool and 40% Acrylic Microfiber. This fiber content provides easy-care properties and the ability to withstand many years of use, making it ideal for frequently used home items.

• Yarn Weight: Bulky weight
• Yardage per Skein: 109 yards per 100g skein
• Color: Color 18 Sage, a neutral tone suitable for various interior design schemes
• Yarn Quantity: 6 skeins for the cushion cover or 12 skeins for the lap throw
• Needles: US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle, 40" length (used for working flat in rows)
• Gauge: 14 stitches and 18 rows = 4" in the Mistletoe pattern, blocked, using US 9 (5.5mm) needles
• Additional Materials: Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and a pillow form for the cushion cover

Construction Notes

The lap throw is constructed as a single piece, beginning with a cast-on of 74