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:

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?