TAKE ME TO RHINEBECK
I designed Take Me to Rhinebeck because I love, love, love circular shawls, but I find them hard to wear. If the design is spread out for everyone to see, the shawl doesn’t stay on my shoulders, and if it is bunched up or folded, you don’t see the design. I decided to solve this problem with a cocoon sweater. Knit as a giant octagon, the expansive vintage lace panel is knit entirely in the round. Once the lace is finished, all the stitches remain live and put on waste yarn, and the piece is blocked to shape. From there, some of the live stitches are seamed with a three needle bind off for the sleeve, and the ribbed cuffs and collars are finished in the round. No picking up stitches! Check out my introductory video to learn more about the construction.
DIMENSIONS
46” (115 cm) diameter from edge to edge in any direction. Can be knit larger or smaller.
YARN
A fingering weight yarn at approximately 4 yds (3.7 m) per gram with enough yardage to obtain your desired size. The sample was knit with 1220 yards (1116 meters) of yarn.
The sample was knit with three skeins of Fiber Optic Yarns Kashmir base (80% sw merino / 10% cashmere / 10% nylon) in the gradient Pink Armadillo (470 yds / 430 m) with one skein of Mink (420 yds / 385 m) continuing the gradient and one skein of Fairytale (330 yds / 302 m) for the contrast ribbing.
GAUGE
24 stitches by 32 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm), knit on a US 4 (3.5 mm) needle, blocked.
NEEDLES
US Side 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs (optional)
US Size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles with a 24” (60 cm) cable, using magic loop if desired
US Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles with a 32” (80 cm) cable
US Size 6 (4 mm) circular needles with a 60” (120 cm) cable
For larger sizes only, a US Size 8 (4.5 mm) circular needle with a 60” (120 cm) cable.
TECHNIQUES
- Circular cast on
- Lace knitting
- Knitting in the round
- Three needle bind off
NOTIONS
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8 stitch markers, one unique for BOR
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Tapestry needle
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Blocking materials, including optional blocking wires
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Scrap yarn
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