Valley Yarns Amaranth Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Amaranth Knitted Sweater

What is Being Made

The Amaranth is a women's knitted sweater designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a minimalist colorwork yoke with a single contrast color. This intermediate-level pullover is available in eight sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 33½" to 61". The sweater is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, making it a comfortable, relaxed-fitting garment suitable for various body types.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several advanced knitting techniques that make it an excellent project for refining colorwork skills. The garment is worked seamlessly in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish. The construction uses a bottom-up approach, where knitters begin with the body and add sleeves afterward. The signature design element features stranded colorwork on the yoke, a technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work to create the contrast pattern. Short-row shaping is incorporated into the sleeve cuffs for a custom fit, and the yoke is worked using the stranded colorwork method to add visual interest while maintaining the minimalist aesthetic.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Amaranth is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing the colorwork yoke. The gauge is 22 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needles, providing a fabric with good drape and structure. The colorwork yoke utilizes stranded knitting, where stitches are worked with both the main color and contrasting color to create the pattern. Ribbing is used for the cuffs, though specific rib details are referenced in the pattern abbreviations section.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Amaranth is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Northfield, a luxury blend yarn composed of 70% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca, and 10% Silk. This fiber content creates a soft, breathable fabric with excellent drape and a subtle sheen. The main color is Northfield in Color #27 Tranquil Blue, requiring 10 to 15 skeins depending on size (50g per skein, 124 yards per skein). The contrasting color for the yoke is Northfield in Color #01 Natural, requiring 1 to 2 skeins depending on size.

The pattern calls for US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 29-40 inch lengths, as well as double-pointed needles in the same size for working the yoke and sleeves. US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in 16-inch and 29-40 inch lengths, plus double-pointed needles, are used for the ribbed cuffs and ribbed edgings. Additional materials include stitch markers, locking stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing.

Pattern Features and Construction Details

The sweater body is constructed first, working in stockinette stitch in the round from the cast-on edge upward. The body is worked until it measures 15 to 17 inches from the cast-on edge, depending on size. The sleeves are made separately using a similar construction method, with cuffs worked in ribbing on smaller needles before switching to larger needles for the main sleeve body. Short-row shaping is used in the sleeve cuffs for a custom fit. The yoke features the minimalist stranded colorwork pattern, where the contrast color adds a visual pop against the main color. This design trend emphasizes simplicity and elegance while providing an opportunity for knitters to practice and refine their colorwork techniques in a manageable, focused area of the garment.