This wrap was created with accessibility in mind – I wanted it to be simple to knit, and incredibly wearable. It’s made with Quince & Co. Kestrel, a 100% organic linen that’s easy to knit with, comfortable to wear, and super easy to wash (throw it in the machine in a delicate bag). The linen is heavy enough to keep you warm on spring and summer nights, but will never leave you sweating.
The simple welted texture is random, completely reversible, and creates a classic, timeless look. The pattern is knitted on the bias, increasing in width as you go, so you can make it any size you like and you never have to worry about running out of yarn. We’ve written the pattern with a line-by-line chart, to help you keep track of your rows (a beneficial thing for everyone, but especially helpful for people with learning disabilities). And the final bonus – it’s a FAST knit on 6mm/US10 to 7mm/US10.75 needles (think quick mother’s day gift)!
I loved out first version of the Quaker Yarn Stretcher that we made a second in a lighter, springier colour. We used the same yarn, one skein of Handmaiden Maiden Hair, but we tried some larger (7mm/US10.75) needles this time and got an even lighter, airier effect. It still makes a great, light-as-air scarf, but you can see in the pictures below it’s a perfect wrap for cool summer evenings and chilly wedding halls everywhere. Or just drape it on things around your hose and enjoy the prettiness all year (I seriously used to have a friend who did this – she used to art-direct her apartment long before blogging and the internet. Her for-display-only yarn basket was what got me into knitting).
The yarn, Handmaiden Maiden Hair, is just gorgeous, I absolutely adore working with it before, during, and after the project. Apparently you do to, so we have ordered more in some springier colours and it is on it’s way!
Notes
We accidentally changed the pattern and worked e rows of garter stitch instead of reverse-stocking stitch, but it isn’t highly noticeable (see modifications below)
I splurged and got myself a second set of Knitter’s Pride Knit Blockers, because I absolutely freakin’ LOVE THEM. Blocking the shawl was a dream with them, they are my favourite new thing.
Modifications
R 1 to 12: Work Rows 1 to 12 as written in pattern
I just finished a third Nuvem and it was a total win! It’s light and airy as a cloud and cozy as hell. It’ll be an awesome spring/fall wrap, I just want to cocoon in it. I used Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk and 4.5mm/US7 needles, so it also didn’t take a super long time (I took about a month, but I totally dawdled because I wasn’t into any tv shows or audiobooks). Anyway, everyone who picks it up says they they feel compelled to make one – especially after I tell them the yarn only cost $36 (total).
Notes
The pattern isn’t very complicated, but it does involve a cast-on that some may not be familiar with: Judy’s Magic Cast-on. It’s isn’t hard, and I don’t think you should let it stop you from making this project. Judy’s Magic Cast-on is a very popular technique for making toe-up socks, and there are tons of videos and tutorials for it online, so if you have a hard time with one just skip to the next.
Nuvem Needle Hacks
The last time I made a Nuvem I came up with an easy Knit Hack to help keep track of my needles on this project!
This pattern is worked on two identical circular needles, which can get unwieldy. After I had been working for a while and my Nuvem had grown sufficiently I found that I was able to transfer all of my stitches to a single 60″ circular needle. My preferred type of needles for this project are interchangeables (I have a set of Addis, but Knitter’s Pride are also a great option, their extra cords and tips are affordable), because if I’m going to buy two identical needles of the same size, they might as well be interchangeable tips.
Size
I always wonder why shawls and wraps don’t come in sizes – people comes in different shapes and sizes, and a person with larger shoulders, back and/or bust will need a larger garment, right? Luckily, this pattern is extremely flexible, so it’s very easy to make this wrap smaller or larger. I cast on 143 stitches, which measured 37”/94cm in length after blocking (the end sections each measure about 17″/42cm). I feel like my wrap would fit up to a size large, but if I was an XL or larger I’d make it longer. If you want yours longer you can cast on more stitches (based on my tension, that’s about 3.85 stitches per inch, so if you wanted your wrap to be 4″/10cm longer I’d cast on an extra 15 stitches). If you want it wider you just have to knit extra rounds (or block it width-wise – I blocked mine length-wise).
Width (after blocking length-wise): 23”/58cm
Length (after blocking length-wise): 71”/180cm
Weight: 150g
You can get an idea about the finished size in the picture below. The mannequin is a size 6 and on the small size at that (no booty whatsoever), so I’d say that this is what it would look like on a small person.
I love this new scarfy/wrappy pattern, Orion, from Nick Davis. I adore the simple but elegant welted ribs – they always give a simple air of style to a basic knit. Plus, it’s made with one of my favourite yarns, Malabrigo Rios. Rios is a hand dyed, super soft, machine washable merino wool made in Uruguay by a family owned company that supports local development environmental sustainability (plus they’re really nice, I met them at a trade show last summer and we chatted for a bit). If you want to substitute another yarn, you can use any worsted weight yarn.
The pattern uses basic short-row shaping to create the asymmetrical ribs (something else I love). If short-rows are a technique you don’t already know you don’t need to be afraid, they aren’t difficult and are definitely worth learning. There are LOTS of tutorials online, there’s a good one with photos and video HERE.
Mini Short-Row Knit-Hack
It’s easy to lose track of where you are in most knitting projects, but if you start with a consistent system your chance of success goes up exponentially! The most important thing about how to make short rows successful and fun is to keep track of what you are doing and where you are:
Put a locking stitch marker in your wraps to mark them. Everything is easier when you can see it clearly!
Keep track of your rows as you go. Your system doesn’t have to be fancy, I usually just use paper and pencil to track where I am in the pattern, and I often tick off my progress right on my pattern. Plus, I’m a big fan of pencils, because if I have to rip back my work I can erase and adjust my notes without making a mess that will inevitably confuse me later.
Andrea Mowry came out this super pretty new shawl pattern recently and I thought it would be totally gorgeous made with Cascade’s new marled-ombre yarn, Cascade 220 Superwash Wave! It’s knit on 5mm needles, so it won’t take forever to finish this project, and it will be nice and cozy for the cold winter. The pattern calls for 6 colours but 5 of the Cascade is plenty to make your wrap, and you won’t suffer for lack of colour (the pattern is easy to change up, the designer wrote this into the instructions). I took a picture of a couple of colour combos I thought would look pretty (see below). Plus, Cascade 220 Superwash Waveis very reasonably priced your the project won’t break the bank.
Gradients are beautiful and harmonious, but some of us like a bit more COLOUR in our wardrobes (and our knitting). Our popular Handmaiden Casbah 5Ply Gradient Wrap Kits are now available in colour mixes. These kits are the same as their gradient siblings, they all come with 5 skeins of the same beautiful Casbah 5Ply cashmere blend and 2 patterns. They’re great for knitters of all skill levels, for beginner to more experienced, and make a great gift. The project requires 4mm/US6-36″circular needles (or longer), which are sold separately. Handmaiden Casbah 5ply is soft, squishy, and delicious to knit & wear!
Each kit comes with:
Five 50g skeins (410m) of Handmaiden Casbah 5ply (10% cashmere, 80% merino wool, 10% nylon)
I LOVE this project, the Quaker Yarn Stretcher was definitely a win. When I cast on I wasn’t sure if it was right for the yarn (Handmaiden Maiden Hair) but my intuition told me that it would work out, so I pushed on, and I’m glad I did. By the time I was ready to cast-off, I was wishing I had another ball – not because I thought the project needed to be larger, but because I was just enjoying it so much. The size is just right for a fall scarf. The fabric is light and airy; the silk in the yarn shows up as beautiful highlights of colour, and the kid mohair creates a soft, beautiful halo. If the Handmaiden Maiden Hair is a little out of your budget, or your skin is too sensitive for any type of mohair, try a skein or two of Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino on 4mm/US6 to 4.5mm/US7 needles (2 skeins if you want a larger size) – it’s 100% super soft merino wool and puffs up with a beautiful aura type halo effect.
I’m so happy I stumbled across Ley Lines! I saw this wrap being knitted by a client a while ago, and even in progress, I LOVED the modernity and simplicity of the look. There’s just something about ribbing going in different directions that makes me thankful that I’m a knitter (cables do this to me occasionally too). To make the most of the ribbing, use a semi-solid or solid coloured yarn, like Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light (a single ply merino), Manos del Uruguay Alegria (a hand-dyed semi-solid), or if you prefer the crisp look of a mechanically dyed yarn, try Cascade Heritage (also easier on the budget).
Size
One size. Finished measurements: 90” (225 cm) from side to side and 34” (85 cm) from top to bottom at deepest point.
Photos: Ivory Eve
Yarn Options
All the yarns below are ON SALE TO SEPT 6! The number of skeins you’ll need depends on the size desired, but you can definitely eke out a sizeable Ley Lines with two skeins (see IvoryEve’s, it’s beautiful).
So it’s the end of the summer, you aren’t ready yet to let go and drift into fall, but you’re over summer projects … so make a little one-skein, scarfy-wrappy thingy that you’ll be able to wear in fall and spring. Close to You is a great little pattern, it’s got a little bit of detail to keep you involved, but it also has enough straight knitting that you don’t have to commit too much brain power. It uses one skein of fingering weight yarn, so it’s a perfect little project for a mini-splurge, or dig into your stash. It should knit up beautifully in a solid, semi-solid, variegated, or self-striping yarn like Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light, Manos Alegria
Yarn Options
1 skein of any of these yarns is perfect to make Close to You :
We’ve restocked these super popular kits with your favourite bright, springy colours! They’re great for knitters of all skill levels, for beginner to more experienced, and make a great gift. The project requires 4mm/US6-36″circular needles (or longer), which are sold separately. Handmaiden Casbah 5ply is soft, squishy, and delicious to knit & wear!
Each kit comes with:
Five 50g skeins of Handmaiden Casbah 5ply (10% cashmere, 80% merino wool, 10% nylon)
