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| Cool for the Summer Wrap |
Well, there's not much to say for this wrap, other than HELLLOOOO, color! Because, while you could of course work your own project in two colors rather than my four, this lightweight, summery cotton wrap really pops with a multitude of hues. And since my goal for the pattern was to make an easy lace (ladders are used to create a mesh effect that only needs one row of hand manipulation per panel), changing color is also one of the most difficult things you'll need to do in order to finish it! :)
Oh, and one note about weighting: if you're using a cotton yarn like me, it will not need nearly as much weight as a wool. In fact, if your machine is dropping stitches (and it's weighted), it's more likely that it's OVER weighted rather than UNDER, so try to remove weights until things sort out.
Finished Dimensions: 72" x 18", roughly
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| Another look. |
Machine: Standard gauge single bed
Gauge: 36 stitches = 4 inches, 48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette on tension 4
So let's make a wrap! Since I'm working in cotton and it can be fussy to cast on, I recommend a rip cord cast on with waste yarn instead of casting on straightaway with your project yarn - you can see a video of the technique here, or watch any of the other videos I've embedded below for any other part of the process. Using waste yarn, then, and your machine set to tension 6, cast on 162 stitches across needles Left 81 - Right 81 (use a weaving cast on or comb cast on). Knit about ten rows, ending with carriage on left (COL). Set machine to tension 10 and work one row with your ravel cord. Finally, beginning on left and using color A yarn, e-wrap cast on all 162 needles. Set machine to tension 4. Then, knit 16 rows, ending with COR. Clip yarn tail. Pull out your rip cord to separate the finished work from the waste cast on now, or at the end of the project. Then we'll begin our ladder rows with a few set-up rows, as follows. I have also made a video with the general techniques needed for this section of the wrap, which you can watch here. Also, notice that, although we are working short rows (or in other words, with the machine in holding position), you do not need to do any needle wrapping or anything else special in order to prevent holes in your work; the ladders create holes already, and after experimenting both ways, I think it's preferable to do nothing (and if you're a beginner and that went over your head, don't worry! Just follow the instructions below and you'll be fine). Anyway, we'll proceed like so:
