Valley Yarns Pitaya Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Pitaya Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Pitaya is an intermediate-level knit sweater designed by Julie Turjoman. This fitted yoke sweater features waist shaping and a feminine scoop neckline, sitting at mid-hip length. Available in sizes XS through 4XL, the sweater is shown in size 35½" with finished bust measurements ranging from 31½" to 58" depending on size. The design accommodates 1–2" of positive ease for a comfortable, tailored fit.

Techniques Used

The Pitaya sweater employs three primary construction techniques that define its modern aesthetic:

• Worked in the Round: This seamless construction method eliminates side seams, creating a continuous tube of fabric from the bottom up. Working in the round produces cleaner lines and reduces finishing work.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knit starting from the hem and progressing upward toward the shoulders and neckline, allowing for easy length adjustments during the knitting process.
• Seamless Yoke Design: The yoke is integrated seamlessly into the body rather than requiring seaming, maintaining the uninterrupted fabric created by circular knitting. This modern approach evolves beyond traditional Fair Isle and Icelandic yoke sweater designs while maintaining their visual appeal.

Stitches Used

The Pitaya incorporates a variety of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to create its textured appearance:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric stitch used throughout most of the sweater body, providing a smooth, classic knit surface.
• Purl Stitches: Used strategically in the yoke pattern to create visual texture and contrast against the knit stitches.
• Twist Stitches: Includes knit through the back loop (k1 tbl) stitches that create a subtle twisted effect, adding dimension to the yoke texture.
• Decreases: The pattern employs knit 2 together (k2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), and central double decrease (CDD) techniques for shaping the yoke and armholes.
• Increases: The pattern uses (k1, p1, k1) in 1 stitch increases to add stitches where needed for shaping.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Pitaya is designed to be knit with Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein weighs 50 grams and yields 109 yards. The yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 11 skeins for the smallest size (XS) to 18 skeins for the largest size (4XL). The pattern is shown in the Juniper colorway. Valley Yarns Amherst is specifically noted for its crisp stitch definition, making it ideal for textured knits like the patterned yoke featured in this design.

Needles: The pattern requires multiple needle sizes to achieve proper gauge and accommodate different sections of the sweater. US size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles in both 16" and 29"–40" lengths are used for the main body and yoke knitting. A set of 4 or 5 US size 7 (4.50 mm) double-pointed needles is needed for working the crown of the yoke. US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles in 16" and 24" lengths, along with matching double-pointed needles, are used for the ribbed cuffs and neckline.

Gauge: The pattern is worked to a gauge of 19 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger (US size 7) needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the sweater to fit correctly.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the Pitaya pattern requires stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends during finishing.

Design Features

The Pitaya represents a contemporary evolution of classic yoke sweater design. Rather than relying on traditional multicolor Fair Isle or Icelandic patterns, this solid-color version achieves visual interest through textured stitch work at the yoke. The combination of purl and twist stitches