West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap

1-17-13      As I was wrapping up holiday projects, I knew I wanted to start the new year by knitting something special for a friend in our LYS Creative Beginnings knitting group. I placed an order with Yarnia for 800 yards of just 3 strands: cotton/lurex, wool, and variegated acrylic chenille. It arrived beautifully blended by New Year’s Eve. I knitted a swatch, and started the project New Year’s Day.  Taking inspiration from the West Coast Wave Hat & Scarf Set, April 2013, I decided to develop, and knit a wrap & watch cap. I also found inspiration in  Hometeam Warmup Shawl/Wrap by Tandy Inoff  available on Ravelry(login needed), and Versatile Chemo Shrug by Janet Rehfeldt available in Crochet Pink , but I really want to knit my own design because she is my friend.   Let me present the West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap.   

  West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap

Marilynn Blacketer '14

Taking inspiration from our view of the North Oregon Coast, I have developed the West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap . If West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap are knit in a cotton blend, perfect for cool spring and summer evenings. If knit in blended wool, great for the blustery winter.  The wrap takes a few evenings or weekends to complete, but the watch cap can be knit in just a few hours making the set a perfect gift or accessory.

Finished size:

Wrap: 22” width;      cowl: 42” length;      shawl: 60” length

Watch Cap: adult: brim 16”flat, stretch 22”circumference; height 10”

Gauge: smaller needles 4.5stitches = 1”; larger needles 3.5stitches = 1” to create loose soft fabric

Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials: Yarn: Cotton or wool blend in worsted weight

Photo:West Coast Wave Wrap (cowl) & Watch Cap are knit in Yarnia custom blend:

30%cotton/lurex, 32%wool, 38%acrylic chenille;      800 yards/ two 8oz cones

Watch Cap: 150 yards/ 3oz

Wrap: 650 yards/ 13 oz cowl;      1050yards/ 21 oz shawl

Needles: Size US#8, 16” circular needles, and set double pointed needles; 

     Size US#9, 24” circular needles

(Photo project required size US#10, and size US#10.5 needles.)

Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle, 9 - 20 (1”-1.5”) buttons, sewing needle, matching thread

Abbreviations: CO=cast on       BO= bind off      k = knit       p= purl       k2tog=knit 2sts together

RS=right side      WS=wrong side      pm=place marker      Rnd/s=round/s       sts=stitches               yo= yarn over      yo2= yarn over twice, drop the second yo in the next round

Special Stitches: Wave – Wrap  
(working flat: 12 stitches and 4 rows make the West Coast wave)

WS Row 1: Purl(dropping 2nd yarn overs as you purl)

RS Row 2: Knit

WS Row 3: Purl

RS Row 4: (k2tog)4times, (yo2, k1)4times

Special Stitches: Wave-Watch Cap 
(working in the round: 12 stitches and 4 rounds make the wave)

Rnds 1, 2, 3 : Knit

Rnd 4: *(K2tog)4times, (yo, k1)4times; repeat from * to end

West Coast Wave Wrap

The West Coast Wave Wrap is designed as a companion, but not a perfect match to the watch cap. The garter stitch binding works well for attaching buttons, and garter stitch ridges add interest to the field. The wrap is knit back and forth, requiring rows of purl, and the yo2 creates larger lace openings and peaks/waves. I like the flow and wave of the wrap.

I really like the button option, making the wrap very versatile as a cowl, shawl or a shrug.

Special Stitches: Wave–Wrap  
(working flat: 12 stitches and 4 rows make the West Coast wave)

WS Row 1: Purl (dropping 2nd yarn overs as you purl)

RS Row 2: Knit

WS Row 3: Purl

RS Row 4: (k2tog)4times, (yo2,k1)4times

 

Directions:

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with larger 24” circular needles.

Cast on 84 stitches. Do not join, turn, and work.

Edge Rows 1- 11: Knit

Edge Row 12: Knit 6, pm, (k12, pm) 6 times, k 6

Work wave pattern and ridges sequence until the wrap is the desired length.

WS Row 1: K6, p 72 (dropping 2nd yarn overs as you purl), k 6

RS Row  2: Knit

WS Row 3: K6, p 72, k 6

RS Row 4: K6, [(k2tog)4times, (yo2, k1)4times]6 times, k 6

Work rows 1-4 wave pattern ten times,
Rows 5-8: Knit (knit 4 rows to create garter stitch ridges.)

Repeat the wave and ridges sequence to desired length ending on a row 4.

Edge Rows 1-12: Knit                                                                             cowl 42” or  shawl 60”

Finishing: Bind off loosely in knit (for a neater finish, k2tog last 2sts, bind off). Sew buttons to the long edge and shorter end, without the lace holes. Place buttons at 5” apart. The lace will be uses as the button holes.

West Coast Wave Watch Cap

Marilynn Blacketer '14

The West Coast Wave Watch Cap is designed as a companion, but not a perfect match to the wrap. The garter stitch brim is knit in the round requiring rows of purl, and looks great folded up. The yo creates smaller lace openings for a snugger fit.

Special Stitches: Wave -Watch Cap 
(working in the round:12 stitches and 4 rounds make the wave)

Rnds 1, 2, 3: Knit

Rnd 4: *(K2tog)4times, (yo, k1)4times; repeat from * to end

Directions:

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with smaller 16” circular needles. Cast on 72 sts.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Brim

Brim Rnds 1- 23 odd: Knit

Brim Rnds 2- 24 even: Purl                                                 Work garter stitch brim for 4” from CO

Hat

Complete wave pattern rounds 1-4 six times.

Rnds 1-3: Knit      (first rnd: * k12, pm; repeat from * to end)

Rnd 4: *(K2tog)4times, (yo, k1)4times; repeat from * to end

After working wave pattern rounds 1-4 six times, set up for crown decreases.                8” from CO

Crown Decreases:

Change to double pointed needles when needed.

Rnds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: Knit

Rnd 2: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end                                                                      60sts

Rnd 4: *(K2tog)4times, (yo,k1)twice; repeat from * to end                                       48sts

Rnd 6: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end                                                                      36sts

Rnd 8: *(K2tog)twice, yo, k2tog; repeat from * to end                                              24sts

Rnd 10: *K2tog; repeat from*to end                                                                            12sts

Rnd 12: *K2tog; repeat until 3sts remain.

Finishing: I-cord finial.

Knit a 3 stitch I-cord for 10 rounds. (2”)

Work the I-cord as follows: Knit, do not turn work, and slide to other end of needle.

Repeat until cord is the desired length.

Bind off, leaving 6” yarn. Fold the I-cord into a loop and secure end to the top of the watch cap.

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com

Copyright 2014, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 1-15-14

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

The West Coast Wave Hat, Cowl, Mitts, and Scarf Set pdf is
available on Ravelry (login needed).

 Here are a few photos of the process:

Using the Yarnia Custom Creator, I placed an order with Yarnia for 800 yards of custom blended yarn with just 3 strands: Blue Cotton/Lurex(Robin's Egg Blue), Blue Wool, and Variegated Acrylic Chenille(Light Blue/Dark Blue/ Grey). It arrived beautifully blended by New Year’s Eve.

To knit a swatch,  I cast on 24 stitches, and worked 20 rows.  Rows 1-4: Knit.      Rows 5- 16: K6st border, 12st wave, k6st border.       Rows 17-20: Knit.  I worked a small sample of the pattern.  I noticed it was not square, but that is the wave. 

I loosely measured, and traced around the finished swatch.  Then I put it in the washing machine.  Washing in warm water didn't seem to effect the size.

The dryer!  Let's say, "Machine wash OK. Lay flat to dry."  I also mailed the swatch to NH to have buttons custom made.

I started the wrap.  I believe this photo was taken after the border and one repeat of the wave were knit.

I was having difficulty getting the stitches, for Row 1, to slide smoothly over the join of the circular needles.  I solved that problem by working "RS Row 4: (k2tog)4times, (yo2,k1)4times" onto straight needles, then working the stitches back to circular needles for Row 1.  That made working Row 1 much more comfortable, and  I also enjoyed using  many needles while working on the project.

I kept working on the wrap until I was nearing the end of one cone.  I stopped at the end of  Row 8.  I decided to start knitting the hat with the other cone. 

I finished the hat with an I-cord finial.  Then I worked a few more rows of the wrap, and joined the remainder of second cone of yarn to complete the project.  I am sorry I forgot to take photos of the progress.

Once the wrap was finished,  I placed the buttons about 5" apart, and stitched them into place with matching thread.

We are having beautiful weather, and arrived at the beach just after sunrise for the modeled photos.

Now, to place the West Coast Wave Wrap & Watch Cap into a gift bag, and give it to my friend!

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com

Copyright 2014, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 1-15-14

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

 West Coast Wave Hat, Cowl, Mitts, and Scarf Set pdf is
available on Ravelry (login needed).