Review: Weekend Wraps

I loved Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre’s previous collaboration Weekend Hats, so I was happy to see them join forces again in a book with a similar concept but a bigger scale.

Weekend Wraps is all about shawls, cowls and wraps that you might want to wear on a stroll through the woods (or anywhere else) in the fall. But the projects are also made with worsted weight or bulkier yarn, so it’s possible you could knit many of these projects in a weekend, too.

And there are lots of them that I would like to try, such as Angela Tong’s Interlock Cowl, a twisty, bulky, brioche loop that’s almost more like a necklace than a cowl, and her Turkish Lace Shawl, a long, shallow triangle worked in a simple two-sided lace pattern.

From LaBarre I love the Hiker’s Shawl, a ribbed triangle that’s constructed in a really interesting way, and the Getaway Poncho, a super bulky warmer with a large Garter Stitch Cowl that’s simple, striking and super warm.

I also like the Gansey Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn, which uses traditional gansey designs in a warm, generously sized shawl that would be perfect for every day but is still pretty, and the giant cable and picot Caeryleus Wrap by Tanis Gray. Check out all the projects on Ravelry.

You can also get a free digital download of the Woodland Cowl, which didn’t make it into the book, when you order. Check out the details at Interweave.

About the Book: 128 pages, paperback, 18 patterns. Published by Interweave/F+W, August 2016. Suggested retail $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Knitters are always looking for ways to continue to knit and to wear their knits even when it’s hot outside, so there are tots of great T0shirt knitting patterns to choose from. I love knitting short-sleeved shirts because they feel so much faster than sweaters, and you can wear them on top of dresses or even longer-sleeved items when it gets cooler.

There are lots of different styles of knit tops, from the basic to the more detailed. On the more basic side are things like the Perfect T-Shirt from Originally Lovely, a basic raglan tee with nine sizes and worked in worsted weight yarn; Paper Bloom by Yvonne Hugo (free on Ravelry), available in six sizes and worked with cotton and silk yarn for extra coolness; or Iris H’s Amelia Top, also on Ravelry, a slim fit, DK weight top with nine size.

Jazz it up with a bit of lace like on the Athens Lace Hem top by Sarah Hatton (Ravelry). This otherwise simple project has a bit of lace at the bottom, which is an easy way to make a project more interesting without a ton of work. This one uses fingering weight yarn and comes in nine sizes.

Another simple embellishment is to emphasize the lines of your top with different stitches. The Spring Lines top uses twisted ribbing at the center front and V-neck and along the raglan lines to give it a slimmer fit and more interest. This design from Turquoise Toque Designs has 11 size options and is available on Ravelry.

Silfurberg by Joji Locatelli uses both of these elements, with lace panels at the center front and back and purl ridges throughout to make it a little more fun to knit and to wear. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Learn more on Ravelry.

Keep it simple or add puffed sleeves (and/or long sleeves) to the slim fit Knitty Committee top by Lily Kate France. This one has two length options, waist shaping and optional bust darts to fulfill all your curvy top dreams, and it comes in nine sizes. You’ll find it on Ravelry.

Take it even more romantic with the Daphne Top from Friday Knits, which has puffed sleeves and applied I-cord to emphasize the bust and sweetheart neckline. It comes in eight sizes and uses DK weight yarn.

Or add some sweet flowers with the Gigio pattern from Emilie Luis. This pretty pattern found on Ravelry has cable panels running up the front with the option for adding sweet embroidered flowers. You can also add decorative buttons if you like. It comes in 11 sizes and calls for sport weight yarn.

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