Inspiration
Pattern Scout: Textured Wraps
Dear Kay,
As you know, I like a good pattern hunt. Don’t we all? Today, the mission is to find a few superwoolly shawls and wraps as a vehicle for me to knit up some Winterburn Aran, our latest arrival in the MDK Shop. Time is short, so here are my finds.
Ruched Shawl by Noma Ndlovu
When I saw South African designer Noma Ndlovu’s amazing shawl, I was knocked out.
It uses a technique—ruching—that is one of knitting’s most satisfying tricks. You get a rumply effect by massively increasing across one row, knitting a bunch, then decreasing massively back to the original number of stitches. Those rows of decreases rank right up there with any moment of great relief that you may have experienced.
One of my favorite knits ever, the Citron Shawl by Hilary Smith Callis, introduced me to the idea of ruched knitting—so to see Noma’s utterly original take on this texture makes my day. She’s worked out a proportion and texture for this shawl that brings back ruching for a whole new generation.
Noma’s Ravelry page is full of textures, such a rabbit hole.
And five skeins of Winterburn Aran would be very happy to find their destiny in this clever shawl.
Chalice by Paulina Popiolek
Day in, day out, Quince and Co. publishes some of the most beautiful knitting designs to go with their thoughtfully created yarns. Here, Paulina Popiolek really knocks it out of the park with this modern lace shawl.
It appears in Quince and Co.’s June collection of five patterns, Shawls 2019, and also as an individual download. The yarn shown here is Quince and Co. Whimbrel, an aran-weight cotton. It’s a lovely, summery choice, but of course I’m a dog with a bone now that we have woolly, British Winterburn Aran fuming up the office. So I’m seeing four skeins right now that will find their destiny as this gorgeous piece.
Hometree by Jana Huck
You just want to crawl into this beautiful thing and snooze the day away. But first, I’m itching to get into that openwork business along the edge. And that cable thing up the center? This is one of those patterns that combines nice stretches of easy peasy with moments of high drama. How does that cable work? How low do I have to set the AC in order to wear this thing now? It looks like four skeins of Winterburn Aran will turn my fantasy into reality.
Photo: KnittyLion
Please let me know of any and all aran-weight shawls that I need to add to my queue. I have an endless fascination with all these textures.
Love,
Ann
I’ve had my eye on “Cozy Winter” by Melanie Mielinger. Always love a good pattern hunt.
Friendship by Sylvia McFadden is another good one.
I am a big fan of Kouyou by Angela Tong. It is a stockinette with a deep lace border that I absolutely love. It is worsted but I’m sure can be knit up in Aran. It would be luscious!
Hmmm…really like the Hometree design. But wearing Winterburn Aran here in San Antonio? Maybe gifts for friends in Seattle!
Oooh, I think Churchmouse just came out with a basketweave textured wrap that would fit the bill nicely. It is called the Big and Bigger Baketweave Wrap, with the aran weight version being the “bigger”.
Does fringe count as texture? This has long been a favorite:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Knitting4Nathan/flora
British Spring by Ashley Knowlton deserves to be more popular.
Alice Starmore’s St. Brigid Stole (from the newer Aran Knitting) would look lovely. I’d make it without the fringe.
It is written for dk but I think Guernsey would be great in worsted or Aran also. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/guernsey-wrap
Knitting Lynn Nilges Hap “Rapt” was great fun. It’s knitted in the round increasing every other row, in vertical stripes, then steeked to produce a kite shaped shawl with a fringe. Lovely and snuggly in Aran weight.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hap-rapt
Not a wrap. But how about Elizabeth Doherty’s Bodie? A fabulous sweater with texture to die for.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bodie-3
Anything by Mailha Designs: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/maliha-designs
I like A Gentle Wind and I just finished the Almina.
No reason this couldn’t be made in aran weight. I made mine in worsted.
https://ravel.me/juneberry-2
A new pattern, Raven’s Roost, is designed by a great person at my LYS, Scratch in Lebanon NH. This is Cassidy Seidler’s first design and it is really an interesting shawl pattern.
Andrea Mowry’s Range shawl knits up beautifully in Winterburn Aran.
Thank you for introducing me to Noma! I just bought four of her patterns — whee!
How can I get the Hometree Pattern? I checked the link on Ravelry, but it looks like its just a test knit so far. I’ve already got the perfect yarn and am dying to cast on!