Winter Ruana Concept
First,
What is a Ruana?
A ruana is a soft and sleeveless square or rectangular blanket like garment with an opening in the center for the head to go through with a slit down the front to the hem. They can be made in a variety of weights, from a heavier fabric for warmth or a thinner material that is great for spring weather. The are perfect to wear in the fall or early winter because they can be very warm and something quick to throw on that isn’t as bulky as a coat.
Examples of Ruana:
My Design
For my design, I want to create a pattern for a garment that will be both classic and versatile. This pattern will be for a ruana that is warm and cozy, but without being stiff and bulky, a piece with a nice drape. I plan to use a neutral base so the garment can be compatible with as many different outfits as possible. It will constructed as one piece, separating with a split at the neckline/collar.
As for design elements, it will have a simple double stripe pattern towards the bottom of the garment either in the same stitch as the entire body, or possibly a contrasting stitch (I have not decided this yet). The garment will also have tassels along the bottom.
As for sizing, I plan to have 4 sizes: S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL, and 4XL/5XL in order to encompass sizes as many sizes as possible for size inclusivity.
The Stitch
image from: The Unraveled Mitten
Because I want this ruana to be soft and flow around the body, I will be using an oversized hook to create a more draped and loose fabric.
I plan to use a simple but interesting textured stitch for the main body of the ruana. The floret stitch would work very well for the base stitch, because it’s a simple but nicely textured stitch.
The stripes may be a contrasting textured stitch, or possibly a very easy and basic lace stitch to add a little flair.
The Yarn
Right now in the planing phase, I have 2 ideas in my head about color.
The base color will be taupe and the stripes will be grey. I really like how Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca in colorways Taupe and Oxford Grey go together. And, I do really enjoy the texture of Touch of Alpaca.
The base color will be taupe and the stripes will be burnt orange. I also like Lion Brand Pound of Love in Taupe and their Pumpkin Spice together. Also, Pound of Love is a great quality easy care bargain yarn, which will be attractive to a lot of crocheters.
