In addition to my shawl-collar vest idea and the navy pullover I still haven’t quite sorted out, the other thing I’ve had in mind to possibly knit for myself this year — making alternative use of a sweater quantity of wool in my stash — is a textured wrap. I’ve still never knitted a scarf, but have always wanted to knit a big blankety wrap of one sort or another. Some contenders:
TOP: Holmes Wrap by Michele Wang, pure cabley goodness
MIDDLE LEFT: Ridgeline Baby Blanket by Purl Soho, with just a slight tweak to the proportions (free pattern)
MIDDLE RIGHT: Castlemilk by Cecelia Campochiaro, sequence knitting which could be easily scaled wider
BOTTOM: Heure d’Hiver by Emilie Luis, I’d leave off the fringe and elongate the ribbing
BELOW: En Voyage by Espace Tricot, just shortened a bit
Plus there’s still Julie Hoover’s Wallace from last year’s Favorite New Favorites, which is probably in the lead. But I’m also recalling how much I loved knitting the stitch pattern of my Channel Cardigan, and thinking that could make a lovely wrap as well.
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Ah! These are so beautiful! I’ve been plotting a bigger project than knitting hats and a blanket and a big scarf are the plan. Definitely been eying Castlemilk in the Daughter of a Shepard’s ebook. (Beautiful book.) Also ready to start Welcome Relief by Stacie Collier for odds and ends of yarn/stash busting.
I need to knit some of these and sew or buy long sleeve shirts. We moved offices at work and now it’s chilly everywhere else but our office turns into a little greenhouse when more than three people are there. How lovely to throw off a wrap rather than wriggle out of a sweater! Plus, what fun stitch patterns!
Ah… but that “En Voyage”… I am “en amour”…
I love how big wraps look on pictures, but when it comes to the real object, I must admit I can’t stand wraps (or scarves or shawls) that are not beautiful on both sides. So it’s no cables for me, and I prefer garter stitch or knit-purl texture. My favourite is definitely Ludlow.
I agree on two good sides! Check out “Vesta” by Norah Gaughan – it’s a scarf with nice dense cables on both sides.
Thanks for the reminder ! I totally overlooked this one !
Wickerwork by Lori Versace made a lovely, snuggly wrap in Woolfolk Tov – it feels like pure cashmere.
They’re all gorgeous. In terms of wearability, however, I’d go for En Voyage. In order to look and feel good when worn, a wrap needs to, well, wrap with ease, and nothing beats a large expanse of stockinette for that degree of drape.
I’d say pick a wrap that is challenging and/or requires paying attention. They get reeeealllll boring real fast! I have a seed stitch wrap that I love and adore and wear all the time in the winter, but it took forever and ever to knit because it was just so boring!
wow i REALLY love both Holmes and En Voyage…those cables and expanse are beautiful. (though i am not advanced enough to knit them yet!) also love the warmth and softness and relative lightness:warmth ratio of yak.
You could knit En Voyage. It’s one cable. Really not that difficult. It’s a free pattern so download it and knit a swatch. You’ll be surprised at what you can do.
Very nice! I love the curving cables of the Wang pattern.
I had a lot of fun knitting Michell Wang’s Binary last fall. I made the scarf version, and I bet it’d make a great wrap as well.
One of the best projects that I have ever knit was Aquinnah by Kerry Robb.
I live to knit big wraps – love them. And En Voyage is a great travel piece – there’s rarely a time I travel when I don’t wish I had a big wrap with me – of course, I’m Canadian so there’s that – the weather calls for warm, wooly things!
I agree about traveling with a big wrap. You never know what the heating situation will be in a hotel, and a big wrap can double as a little blanket. It’s practical and for me, comforting as well.