Nothing beats a loose-fitting wrap for showcasing the classic beauty of draped fabric, especially when the fabric is worked from an elegant handspun and plant-dyed yarn. Norah Gaughan has structured her poncho-cum-capelet from a knitted rectangle with a slit that overlaps in front. She’s added a small stand-up neckband and fashioned a closure from two oversized, off-center buttons. The simple construction and luxurious wool-mohair yarn combine to make a wrap fit for a queen—or tzarina.
31" (78.5 cm) wide across lower edge, 20½" (52 cm) circumference at neck (buttoned), and 12" (30.5 cm) long from base of neck to lower edge.
About 666 yd (609 m) of chunky-weight (Bulky #5) yarn.
We used: La Lana Forever Random Obverse Blends (60% Romney wool, 40% yearling mohair; about 74 yd [68 m]/2 oz): tzarina, 9 skeins.
Sizes 8 (5 mm) and 10 (6 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Stitch holders; tapestry needle; two 1¼" (3.2-cm) buttons.
14 sts and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st on larger needles.
K1, P1 Rib: (odd number of sts)
Row 1: (RS) K1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: K1, *p1, k1; rep from *.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.
With smaller needles, CO 81 sts. Work k1, p1 rib until piece measures 1½" (3.8 cm) from beg, ending with a WS row. Change to larger needles. Set-up row: (RS) Work 7 sts in rib as established, [k4, k2tog] 11 times, k1, work rem 7 sts in rib as established—70 sts rem. Keeping the first and last 7 sts in rib, work center 56 sts in St st until piece measures 12" (30.5 cm) from beg, ending with a WS row. Place sts on holder.
Work as left front, ending with a WS row. Do not cut yarn; place sts on holder.
With larger needles and RS facing, work across first 38 sts of left front, keeping first 7 sts in established rib; leave rem 32 left front sts on holder. With same yarn and using the backward loop method (see Glossary, page 146), CO 36 sts for back neck. Place first 32 sts of right front on a holder. Continuing with yarn from back neck, work rem 38 sts of right front, keeping last 7 sts in established rib—112 sts total. Working rib as established on first and last 7 sts, work center 98 sts in St st until piece measures 10½" (26.5 cm) from back neck CO, ending with a WS row. Next row: (RS) Change to smaller needles and work as foll: Work 7 sts in rib, [k5, M1 (see Glossary, page 152)] 19 times, k3, work 7 sts in rib—131 sts. Work even in rib for 1½" (3.8 cm). BO all sts.
Collar: (RS) With yarn attached to right front and larger needles, work across 32 held right front sts as established, pick up and knit 36 sts across back neck, work 32 held left front sts as established—100 sts total; 7 sts at each side in rib; 86 center sts in St st. Work even in patts until piece measures about 2½" (6.5 cm) from pick-up row, ending with a WS row. Next row: (RS) Change to smaller needles and work as foll: Work 7 sts in rib, [k5, M1] 17 times, k1, work 7 sts in rib—117 sts. Work all sts in rib for ½" (1.3 cm), ending with a WS row. Buttonhole row: (RS) Rib 7 sts, BO 2 sts, rib 16 sts, BO 2 sts, rib to end of row. On next row, cont in rib and use the backward loop method to CO 2 sts over each gap formed on previous row to complete buttonholes. Cont in rib until collar measures 4" (10 cm) from pick-up row. BO all sts.
Lay piece flat with right front overlapping left front. Mark position of buttonholes on left front with scrap yarn or safety pins. Sew buttons to left front at marked positions. For an asymmetrical closure as shown, sew the button farthest from the left front opening about 3" (7.5 cm) lower than marked position. Weave in loose ends. Block lightly.
Use a very simple shape and stockinette stitch to showcase fancy yarns.
