KE003 Siesta Key - Tunic Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Westhampton by Valley Yarns

KE003 Siesta Key – Women's A-Line Tunic Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns

The Siesta Key tunic is a beautifully designed women's popover knitting pattern created by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns as part of their Gulf Coast collection. Worked in the luxuriously soft Valley Yarns Westhampton, a 100% Pima Cotton DK-weight yarn, this pattern produces a figure-skimming, warm-weather tunic with graceful drape, breathability, and timeless elegance. The silky sheen and fluid hand of Westhampton make it an ideal choice for a garment designed to float lightly over the body in warmer months.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is an A-line popover tunic featuring a V-neckline with a center front seam, a high-low hem, and elbow-length sleeves. The front hem falls at mid-hip length, while the back hem extends to full tunic length, with the difference created through short-row shaping to produce smooth, natural curves. The A-line silhouette is shaped with decreases along each side, providing a looser, more relaxed fit at the hips and a closer, more defined fit at the bust. A visible yet subtle center seam runs down both the front and back pieces, functioning as an intentional design detail rather than simply a construction necessity.

The tunic is available in eight sizes — XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL — with finished bust measurements ranging from 32¾" to 60¾" and hip measurements from 35¼" to 63¼". The pattern is designed to be worn with 4" to 6" of positive ease, contributing to its relaxed, floaty silhouette. Front hem-to-underarm lengths range from 16" to 17", and back lengths from 16¾" to 18½" depending on size. The pattern also notes that additional length can be added if desired, with the understanding that extra yarn will be required.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat (back and forth in rows) – The front and back body pieces are each knitted flat in two separate panels, allowing for precise seam placement and the center design detail.
• Seamed construction – All pieces are joined using seaming techniques, giving the finished garment structure and a clean, polished finish characteristic of traditional tailored knitwear.
• Short-row shaping – Used specifically to create the curved high-low back hem, short rows allow the back to be longer than the front without any visible interruption to the fabric, producing smooth, organic curves.
• A-line body shaping with decreases – Side decreases are worked progressively up the body to transition from the wider hip circumference to the narrower bust measurement, creating the classic A-line silhouette.
• V-neck shaping – The front neckline is shaped to form a V, with the two front panels worked separately and then joined or seamed at the center front.
• Worked in the round – Circular needle and double-pointed needle usage is indicated, suggesting that certain elements such as sleeves or finishing details may be worked in the round.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – The primary stitch pattern throughout the body and sleeves, showcasing the natural sheen and drape of the Pima Cotton yarn. Gauge is measured in stockinette: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches, blocked, on the larger needles.
• Ribbing or edging stitches – Implied by the use of the smaller needle size (US 5 / 3.75 mm), typically employed for neckline, hem, or cuff finishing details.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Westhampton (100% Pima Cotton, 50g / 109 yards per ball) in the colorway Arctic (08). The yardage requirement ranges from 8 to 14 balls depending on size. Pima Cotton is prized for its extra-long staple fibers, which produce a smoother, softer, and more lustrous yarn than