A great new design from Jane Thornley, this Tuscan Wall Cowled Tabbard is a fairly simple knit, designed to allow you to play with your yarns and create a most pleasing piece.
Jane describes it so well:
"Free-range knitting is all about change and color. Since we never stay with one yarn for an entire project, this non-yarmogamous knitting style offers excitement and stimulation every few rows. What will this yarn look like next to that one? How about mixing smooth with texture? It's question and answer, adventure and speculation, with an ever-changing conversation between you and the yarn, deeply satisfying especially when the yarn talks back.
"Maybe you love the look of free-range but are nervous about anything mixing diverse elements into a single piece? Here's a new pattern which offers a gentle introduction to mixing colors and textures with varying weights of yarn. I'm calling it the Tuscan Wall Tabbard since the play of texture reminds me of foliage growing against a Tuscan wall. Or an adobe wall. Or maybe your backyard.
"A loose garment held together by a single button on each side, it's meant to be worn over sweaters or shirts during transition seasons. Though one-size, I offer suggestions for petite and plus sizes . Consider sewing up the seams for a more tailored look or making it shorter to just above the waist for yet another look. Rich in color and texture, it just might prove to be your go-to piece on days when it's neither cold enough for a jacket nor warm enough for full exposure."
This is a real beauty. The tabbard has a cowled neckline that will drape softly around your neck and which (if you so choose) could grow into a hood.
The original shown here was done with a mix of autumn hues -- mirroring the Tuscan wall that Jane references (behind her in the first photo) -- but it can be done in any mix which appeals to you. It is created for a mix of smooth and textured yarns. Overall, you will need a total yardage of about 500 yards, to get a gauge of about 4 stitches to the inch. Jane recommends handpainted yarns with subtle color nuances and even specialty yarns like ribbons, lashes, beaded, or the like. Or you can go with lighter yarns and figure a bit more yardage; Jane allows that in the pattern as well.
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Fun!
