Always on the lookout for interesting garments that are easy to execute, Leigh Radford has designed this two-piece ensemble with her favorite laceweight mohair. Leigh’s “wrap” is really two separate sleeves, one of which extends into a long, lightweight scarf that can be draped around the neck and shoulders with dramatic flair. The idea couldn’t be simpler, yet the garment is elegant enough for an evening at the opera or a night of dancing cheek to cheek.
Wrap: 11¼" (28.5 cm) circumference at widest part of upper arm, 12" (30.5 cm) wide at widest point of straight wrap section, and 112" (284.5 cm) long overall. Sleevette: 9½" (24 cm) circumference at upper arm (will stretch to about 12¾" [32.5 cm] circumference) and 13" (33 cm) long.
About 916 yd (838 m) of fingering-weight (Super Fine #1) yarn.
We used: Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% mohair, 30% silk; 229 yd [209 m]/25 g): #583 blushes (medium pink), 4 balls.
Wrap and Sleevette—Size 9 (5.5 mm): Sleevette ribs—Size 7 (4.5 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Tapestry needle; coil-less safety pins or waste yarn for marking rows.
18½ sts and 19 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st, after blocking.
Sleeve Rib: (multiple of 12 sts)
Row 1: (RS) K3, *p2, k2, p2, k6; rep from * to last 9 sts, p2, k2, p2, k3.
Row 2: P3, *k2, p2, k2, p6; rep from * to last 9 sts, k2, p2, k2, p3. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.
Shawl Rib: (multiple of 15 sts + 10)
Row 1: (RS) K2, *p2, k2, p2, k9; rep from * to last 8 sts, [p2, k2] 2 times.
Row 2: P2, *k2, p2, k2, p9; rep from * to last 8 sts, [k2, p2] 2 times.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.
Right sleeve: With larger needles, CO 36 sts. Work Row 2 of sleeve rib patt (see Stitch Guide) once in order to begin with a WS row. Rep Rows 1 and 2 of patt until piece measures 4" (10 cm) from beg, ending with Row 2 (WS). Change to St st. Inc row: (RS) Knit, inc 1 st each end of needle—2 sts inc’d. Work 7 rows even in St st. Rep the last 8 rows 6 more times—50 sts. Rep inc row once more—52 sts; piece should measure about 16" (40.5 cm) from CO. Cont even in St st until piece measures 18½" (47 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row. Mark each side of work with coil-less safety pins or waste yarn.
Shape front edge of upper arm:
Row 1: (RS) K2, p2, k2, p2tog, p1, work in St st to last 8 sts, [p2, k2] 2 times—1 st dec’d.
Row 2: [P2, k2] 2 times, purl to last 8 sts, [k2, p2] 2 times.
Rep these 2 rows 6 more times—45 sts rem; all decs will have been made at beg of RS rows; shaping is deliberately not symmetrical (see Notes for left sleeve modification). Cont even, working 8 sts in established k2, p2 rib at each side and center 29 sts in St st, until piece measures 9½" (24 cm) from markers, ending with a WS row. Inc row: (RS) [K2, p2] 2 times, M1 (see Glossary, page 152), work in St st to last 8 sts, M1, [p2, k2] 2 times—2 sts inc’d; 47 sts. Next row: [P2, k2] 2 times, work in St st to last 8 sts, [k2, p2] 2 times. Work even in established patts for 6 more rows, then rep inc row—2 sts inc’d; 49 sts. Work 7 rows even in patt, then rep inc row—51 sts. Rep the last 8 rows 2 more times—55 sts; 8 sts at each side in k2, p2 rib, 39 center sts in St st; piece should measure about 35" (89 cm) from CO. Cont even as established until piece measures 108" (274.5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row. Change to shawl rib patt (see Stitch Guide), and work even in shawl rib for 4" (10 cm), ending with a WS row. Using the sewn method (see Glossary, page 145), BO all sts.
With smaller needles, CO 44 sts. Work in rib patt as foll:
Row 1: (WS) P1, *k2, p2, k2, p6; rep from * to last 7 sts, k2, p2, k2, p1.
Row 2: K1, *p2, k2, p2, k6; rep from * to last 7 sts, p2, k2, p2, k1.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 of sleeve rib until piece measures 3½" (9 cm) from CO, ending with Row 1 (WS). Change to St st and larger needles. Dec row: (RS) K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—2 sts dec’d. Work 5 rows even in St st. Rep the last 6 rows 4 more times—34 sts rem. Work dec row once more—32 sts rem; piece should measure about 10" (25.5 cm) from CO. Cont even in St st until piece measures 11¾" (30 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row. Change to smaller needles and work in rib as for top of sleevette for 1¼" (3.2 cm), ending with a WS row. Using the sewn method, BO all sts.
Knit laceweight mohair on large needles to give a lacy look to simple stockinette stitch.
Block to measurements. With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, sew sleeve seam of wrap piece from CO edge to markers (18½" [47 cm] from CO). Sew sleevette seam, leaving a 2" (5-cm) gap in the seam about 1" (2.5 cm) from BO edge for thumb hole, if desired. Try on sleevette and gather upper edge slightly to achieve a closer fit, if desired, as foll: With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle and beg at seam, weave across CO edge going over 1 st, under 1 st, ending at the seam where you began, and leaving 8" (20.5-cm) tails at each end of the gathering yarn. Draw up the gathering yarn to achieve the desired fit, knot the ends together, and trim to 2" (5 cm). Weave in loose ends.
