880 Grenache - Top Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Amherst

Pattern 880 Grenache: A Detailed Look at This Women's Knitting Pattern by Valley Yarns

Pattern #880 Grenache, designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns, is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for a beautifully detailed women's tunic. Worked in Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% Merino Wool worsted-weight yarn, this garment combines striking colorwork, elegant lace, and thoughtful construction into a versatile cold-weather layering piece. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for knitters ready to cast on.

What Is Being Made

The Grenache tunic is a women's pullover of generous, flattering proportions. Its full sleeves and extended length are designed with layering in mind, making it an ideal addition to a cold-weather wardrobe. The finished garment is sized to fit with 5 to 6 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed, comfortable silhouette. Sizes range from XS through 3XL, designed to fit bust measurements of 32 to 58 inches, with finished bust measurements of 37 to 63½ inches. The photographed sample is shown in size 41½ inches.

The tunic's design is anchored by two companion Argyle-inspired textures: a slip-stitch colorwork yoke and an oversized lace hem. These two elements work together to create a cohesive, visually rich fabric that feels both classic and distinctive. The full sleeves add volume and warmth, reinforcing the garment's role as a practical yet stylish layering piece.

Construction and Techniques

The Grenache tunic is constructed using a combination of techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate difficulty category. Knitters comfortable with colorwork, lace, and seaming will find this pattern a satisfying and engaging project.

Provisional Cast-On

One of the defining construction features of this pattern is its use of a provisional cast-on. This technique allows the knitter to separate the bodice and sleeves from the body of the tunic, working each section independently before joining or finishing. A provisional cast-on creates live stitches that can be picked up and worked in the opposite direction later, offering flexibility in construction and a clean, seamless-looking join between sections.

Worked Flat and Seamed

The tunic is worked flat, meaning the pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. Once the individual pieces are complete, they are seamed together. This traditional construction method gives the finished garment structure and stability, and is a familiar approach for knitters who enjoy the process of assembling a garment from its component parts. Seaming also allows for precise shaping and a tailored fit.

Slip-Stitch Colorwork

The yoke of the Grenache tunic features slip-stitch colorwork, a technique that creates the appearance of intricate stranded colorwork without ever carrying two yarns in the same row. Instead, stitches from a previous row are slipped without being worked, allowing the color from that row to show through on the current row. This technique is approachable for knitters who may not yet be comfortable with traditional stranded colorwork, while still producing a richly patterned, multi-colored fabric. The result here is an Argyle-inspired texture at the yoke, achieved through the interplay of the three yarn colors.

Stripes

The pattern incorporates stripes as part of its colorwork design, contributing to the structured, geometric aesthetic of the yoke section. Stripes in combination with slip-stitch colorwork create depth and visual complexity, with each color playing a distinct role in the overall pattern.

Oversized Lace

The hem of the tunic showcases oversized lace, another expression of the Argyle-inspired motif that runs throughout the design. Lace knitting involves working intentional yarn-overs and decreases to create decorative holes and openwork patterns within the fabric. The term "oversized" suggests that the lace motifs are bold and large-scale, making a strong visual statement at the hem. This lace section balances the denser, more structured colorwork of the yoke, giving the tunic a sense of lightness and elegance at its lower edge.