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.

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When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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