Valley Yarns 951 Juniper Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns 951 Juniper Cabled Cowl

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns 951 Juniper is a luxurious cabled neck warmer designed by Julie Turjoman. This cowl is available in two finished sizes: approximately 9¾ inches high by 20¾ inches in circumference for the smaller version, or 13¾ inches high by 20¾ inches in circumference for the larger, extra-cozy option. The design is worked in one piece and finished with grafting, making it an elegant and practical accessory for cooler weather that also serves as a lovely gift.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance. The cowl is worked flat on circular needles, then seamed and grafted for a seamless, professional finish. The construction method uses a provisional crochet cast-on, which allows knitters to easily access live stitches at the beginning of the piece for grafting at the end. This technique ensures speed and ease in completing the project while maintaining clean finishing details.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern featured in the Valley Yarns 951 Juniper is the Double Helix Cable, which repeats over a multiple of 21 stitches plus 6 additional stitches. The cable work incorporates several cable cross techniques:

• 1/1 Right Cross (1/1 RC): Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle
• 2/1 Left Cross (2/1 LC): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front, knit 1, then knit 2 from cable needle
• 2/1 Right Cross (2/1 RC): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit 1, then knit 2 from cable needle

The stitch pattern also incorporates basic knit and purl stitches, including knit through the back loop (K1 tbl) and purl through the back loop (P1 tbl) variations, which add texture and definition to the cable design.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Valley Yarns 951 Juniper is designed to showcase the luxurious qualities of Valley Yarns Wachusett yarn. The smaller cowl requires 1 skein of Wachusett, while the larger version calls for 2 skeins. This yarn is a premium blend of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Cashmere, offering both warmth and softness. Each skein contains 50 grams and provides 163 yards of yardage.

For construction, knitters will need US 7 (4.5mm) circular needles in a 16-inch (40 centimeter) length, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. Additional materials include scrap yarn for the provisional crochet cast-on, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for grafting and weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured over the Double Helix Cable pattern on blocked fabric. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements specified in the pattern, ensuring the cowl will fit comfortably around the neck.