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.

If your family is the sort to do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving, or even just to take family pictures, you’ll want to get started knitting up some Turkey Sack Hats with this pattern from Underground Crafter.

The pattern uses super bulky yarn and is rated easy. It’s knit flat but there are a few skills in here around the shaping of the eyes, which includes changing colors, working bobbles and doing a wicked purl 3 together decrease. Twice.

But that’s all in one row, and the rest of it is pretty simple. The beak is worked separately and sewn on, and the side of the hat is stitched up to make it into a hat.

What’s great about this one is that it comes in 10 sizes, ranging from newborn to adult large, so you really can make one for everyone in the family. And because it uses super bulky yarn you can knit a bunch pretty quickly if that’s a thing you’d like to do.

It’s also fun because you could use this base pattern to make different animals or for different holidays. Make it all in orange and stitch on a jack o’lantern face for Halloween, or make a white one that’s a snowman, for example.

In any style this would also be a fun gag gift for that person in your life who has everything or doesn’t want gifts, or if you do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange at work or elsewhere.

And make sure whether you’re making it a turkey or some other character that you include the pom poms at the top! They’re just so cure and a great way to add a bit more color to the project, and they’re easy to make. (See also: ways to make a pompom with yarn.)

You can grab the free pattern at the Underground Crafter website.

[Photo: Underground Crafter]

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