“If you can knit a tube, you can knit a garment,” says longtime knitwear designer Deborah Newton. For this romantic little wrap, Deborah casts on enough stitches to accommodate her approximate shoulder circumference, knits them in the round until the piece reaches from elbow to shoulder, then binds off. What could be easier? Worked in a sumptuous merino-cashmere yarn and a spiraling lace stitch, this wrap transforms a simple idea into an elegant garment.
43½ (48, 52½)" [110.5 [122, 133.5] cm) circumference at lower edge, 36 (39½, 43)" (91.5 [100.5, 109] cm) circumference at neck edge, and 12½ (13, 13½)" (31.5 [33, 34.5] cm) long. Sized to fit bust measurement of about 32–34 (36–38, 42–44)" (81–86 [91–96, 107–112] cm). Capelet shown measures 43½" (110.5 cm) at lower edge.
About 588 (686, 784) yd (538 [627, 717] m) of aran-weight (Medium #4) yarn.
We used: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (55% merino, 33% microfiber, 12% cashmere; 98 yd [90 m]/50 g): #603 pale pink, 6 (7, 8) balls.
Size 7 (4.5 mm): 16" (40-cm) and 24" (60-cm) circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Marker (m); tapestry needle.
22 sts and 27 rows = 4" (10 cm) in spiral lace pattern, with rows measured diagonally along a column of purl sts.
Spiral Lace Pattern: (multiple of 12 sts)
Rnd 1: *P3, yo, k4, k2tog, k3; rep from *.
Rnd 2: *P3, k1, yo, k4, k2tog, k2; rep from *.
Rnd 3: *P3, k2, yo, k4, k2tog, k1; rep from *.
Rnd 4: *P3, k3, yo, k4, k2tog; rep from *.
Repeat Rnds 1–4 for pattern.
With longer needle CO 240 (264, 288) sts. Place marker (pm) and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Work Rnds 1–4 of spiral lace until piece measures 11 (11½, 12)" (28 [29, 30.5] cm) from CO, measured diagonally along a column of purl sts. Dec rnd: *P1, p2tog, work 9 sts as established; rep from *—1 st dec’d in each p3 rib; 220 (242, 264) sts rem. Cont even in patt, working p2 instead of p3 in first 3 sts of every patt rep, until piece measures about 2½" (6.5 cm) from dec rnd, measured diagonally along a column of purl sts. Work k1, p1 rib across all sts for 3 rnds. BO all sts in rib.
Look in encyclopedias of stitch patterns for other diagonal 12-stitch lace motifs that could be substituted.
Weave in loose ends. With WS facing, steam lower half of capelet lightly, flattening fabric with fingers gently, and coaxing the lower edge into gentle scallops. Do not steam upper half or ribbed section at BO edge.
