Portales Sunset

Portales Sunset Cowl by Crystal

Project Overview

Portales Sunset is a knitted cowl designed by Crystal Hiatt, inspired by the stunning Arizona sunsets viewed from her family winter home. This intermediate-level knitting project features a magical color palette that captures the warmth and beauty of the southwestern landscape. The cowl is worked in the round using worsted weight yarn in three coordinating colorways: Slate (main color), Rose Gold, and Pearl.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a cowl—a circular neckwear accessory knit seamlessly in the round. The finished cowl uses a total of 235 yards (215 meters) of worsted weight yarn across three distinct colors, allowing for a sophisticated colorwork design that evokes the layered hues of a desert sunset.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Circular knitting: The entire cowl is worked in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless, professional finish
• Colorwork: The design incorporates multiple yarn colors (three colorways) worked together, creating visual interest and depth
• Gauge consideration for colorwork: The pattern notes that knitters often work tighter tension when working with multiple colors compared to single-color knitting, and recommends potentially going up a needle size to accommodate this natural tendency

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The fundamental stitch used throughout the project
• Purl stitch (P): Used in combination with knit stitches
• Broken Rib stitch pattern: The primary stitch pattern, worked as follows:
  • Round 1: *Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end of round
  • Round 2: Knit all stitches
  • This two-round pattern is repeated to create the textured broken rib fabric

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in three colors from Fuzz Family for Kraeo Auntie Afghan Worsted (100% superwash merino):

• MC (Main Color) - Slate: 118 yards (108 meters)
• CC1 (Contrast Color 1) - Rose Gold: 39 yards (36 meters)
• CC2 (Contrast Color 2) - Pearl: 78 yards (71 meters)
• Total yardage required: 235 yards (215 meters)

Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) circular needles in either 16-inch (41cm) or 20-inch (51cm) length, depending on preferred fit and working style

Additional tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working in the round and managing multiple yarn colors. The combination of circular needle work and colorwork techniques requires foundational knitting skills and familiarity with tension management.

Pattern Format

Portales Sunset is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing immediate access to the complete pattern instructions for digital viewing or printing.