Hey ya'll! Happy New Year! Today I have a new (to my blog) free pattern for ya'll! My Kanga Ruana was previously a Lovecrafts exclusive pattern only but now it is free on my blog! Scroll down for the free crochet pattern!
This ruana can be worn with so many different outfits and I love having it in my closet as an option. I love to pair mine with a simple long sleeved shirt, jeans and my favorite boots. One of my testers paired it with her Sunday dress and it looks absolutely lovely!
YARN
When looking for a yarn for this design, I knew that I wanted it to be a very lightweight yarn. I do not mean lightweight as in the weight of the yarn (ex: dk, worsted, etc) but as in the weight of the project when completed and how heavy it is. I definitely did not want a ruana that when worn would be heavy and uncomfortable, but instead light, airy and still extra warm.
Lovecrafts.com sent yarn support for this design and I was thrilled with the yarn that I chose. Rico Fashion Cotton Light and Long DK is a chainette yarn that comes in a variety of beautiful colors. I chose the color way, aqua, and it turned out absolutely stunning for the Kanga Ruana.
Rico Fashion Cotton Light and Long DK is 47% cotton, 46% acrylic, 7% polyamide and it is a dk weight/light worsted weight yarn. If subsituting yarn, try to find a yarn that has similar fiber contents to be sure that the yarn will not be too heavy. My testers used cotton and or acrylic blended yarns.
KANGA RUANA
purchase the pdf for offline and printing purposes on lovecrafts or on ravelry
US TERMINOLOGY
DIFFICULTY
Easy/Advanced Beginner
You will need to know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and seam.
DESCRIPTION
The Kanga Ruana is oversized and cozy, which makes it perfect for it's name because kanga means a large piece of fabric which is used to wrap around the body. This simple yet elegant design uses the lemon peel stitch to create a subtle and beautiful texture that has perfect drape. Worn with or without the included cowl pattern, this ruana is extra warm but also lightweight, and is the perfect addition to any wardrobe!
SIZE
Ruana: 44" wide and 60" long.
Cowl: 27" circumference and 13" tall.
FIT
Model is 5'3" tall and has a 34.5" bust.
This size has been tested on smaller and larger models as well, but the size can also be adjusted.
TO ADJUST SIZE
To make the ruana shorter or wider, chain a multiple of 2 plus 1 for the desired width. To make the ruana longer, add more rows and to make the ruana shorter, do less rows. If making the ruana longer or shorter, make sure both the front panels and the back panel will be the same amount of rows/length.
To make the cowl shorter or wider, chain a multiple of 2 plus 1 for the desired width. To make the cowl taller, add more rows and to make the cowl shorter, do less rows.
If adjusting for size, consider how much yarn will be needed. If making a larger ruana or cowl, more yarn will be needed.
GAUGE
11 sts and 10 rows = 4"
GAUGE SWATCH PATTERN IN LEMON PEEL STITCH
(chain a number that will be larger than 4" wide)
R1: ch a multiple of 2 plus 1, sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, dc into the next ch, *sc into the next ch, dc into the next ch. Repeat from the * across.
R2: ch 1 (does not count as a st) and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across.
Repeat R2 until the desired length (over 4" tall).
Measure for gauge. If needed, go up or down a hook size to get the correct gauge.
MATERIALS
- 2000-2200 yds Rico Fashion Cotton Light & Long DK or suitable DK weight yarn
- each ball is 50g/219yds/47% cotton, 46% acrylic, 7% polyamide
- Size J (6.00 mm) crochet hook
- Darning needle
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Stitch marker (optional)
ABBREVIATIONS
- ch: chain
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
NOTES
- The cowl is worked flat and then seamed up the back to complete.
- The ruana is worked by first making the back panel, then continuing to create the first front panel, the yarn is then cut, new yarn is added to make the second panel before adding a border to complete.
DIAGRAM
The Ruana:
R2: ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout the pattern) and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across. =124
Should measure approximately 44” wide.
Repeat R2 until it measures 30” tall. Do not cut the yarn.
Right Panel:
R1: ch 1 and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across until there are 60 sts total. =60
R2: ch 1 and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across. =60
Repeat R2 until it measures 30” tall. Cut the yarn, pull through the last stitch and weave in the ends.
Left Panel:
Lay the ruana out flat, with the right panel on the right side.
Find the middle of the shawl where the right panel starts, skip 4 stitches and in the 5th stitch, insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop.
R1: ch 1 and do not turn your work, sc into the same st as the ch 1, dc into the next st, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across. =60
R2: ch 1 and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across. =60
Repeat R2 until it measures 30” tall. Do not cut the yarn.
The Border:
R1: ch 1 (do not turn your work), sc evenly around the ruana and (sc, ch1, sc) into each corner, sl st to the first sc of the border.
Cut the yarn, pull through the last stitch and weave in all the ends.
The Cowl:
R1: ch 81, working in the back hump of each ch: sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, dc into the next ch, *sc into the next ch, dc into the next ch. Repeat from the * across. =80
R2: ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout the pattern) and turn your work, *sc into the next st, dc into the next st. Repeat from the * across. =80
Should measure approximately 27” wide.
Repeat R2 until it measures 13” tall or the desired length.
Cut the yarn leaving the tail end long enough to whip stitch the 2 sides of the cowl together, and pull through the last stitch.
Fold the cowl in half and whip stitch the 2 sides together to seam up the back of the cowl.
Weave in the ends.
The End!
POLICIES/COPYRIGHT
