Valley Yarns Cockatiel Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Cockatiel Knitted Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Cockatiel is a relaxed, cropped knitted sweater designed by Julie Turjoman. This elegant topper features a modern silhouette with generous positive ease (4–6 inches) and a cropped length, making it versatile for wearing alone as a date-night piece or layering over a blouse during cooler weather. The sweater is available in sizes ranging from XS through 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 35½ inches to 65½ inches and lengths from 22 to 25¾ inches.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated construction techniques. The sweater is worked flat on circular needles in a bottom-up construction method, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edge upward before being seamed together. The defining feature is an all-over lace pattern that showcases the beauty of the yarn throughout the garment. The lace stitch is worked over a 20-stitch multiple, creating an intricate and elegant fabric that requires experienced knitting skills to execute properly.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Cockatiel uses a specialized Lace Pattern stitch as its primary stitch structure. This pattern incorporates several advanced knitting techniques including:

• Yarn overs (yo) to create the openwork lace effects
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases to shape the lace motifs and maintain stitch count
• Purl 3 stitches together (p3so) for more dramatic decreases within the lace pattern
• Knit 3 together (k3tog) for additional shaping
• Purl through the back loop (p1 tbl) for textural variation and stitch definition
• Standard knit (k) and purl (p) stitches to create the base fabric and edge details

The lace pattern is worked over right-side and wrong-side rows, with the wrong-side rows featuring purl through the back loop stitches and knit stitches to create a balanced, reversible appearance in the openwork sections.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Cockatiel is designed to showcase Valley Yarns Deerfield, a luxurious blend of 80% baby alpaca and 20% silk. This fiber combination creates a soft, lustrous fabric that beautifully displays the lace pattern. The yarn is provided in 50-gram balls with approximately 109 yards per ball. Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 8 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 17 balls for the largest size (4XL). The pattern shown features the colorway Periwinkle.

Needles and Gauge

This project requires circular needles in two sizes. US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles measuring 32–40 inches are used for the main lace stitch fabric. US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32–40-inch lengths are used for ribbed edgings and cuffs. Double-pointed needles in US size 4 (3.5 mm) are also needed for any small circumference sections. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Lace stitch using US size 5 needles and measured after blocking. Achieving this gauge is essential for proper fit and the intended drape of the finished garment.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the project requires standard knitting notions including locking stitch markers for pattern tracking, regular stitch markers for construction points, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in ends.

Skill Level and Construction Notes

The Valley Yarns Cockatiel is rated for experienced knitters due to the complexity of the all-over lace pattern, the need to maintain stitch count across multiple decreases and yarn overs, and the precision required in blocking the finished pieces. The combination of lace techniques