Do you have a favorite team? One that you love and support regardless how they did last season? Or maybe your kid’s are advancing into high school or college and you need something to keep you warm during those football games. Well, how better to show your team spirit than with a nice cozy wrap to keep you warm that shows off the team colors. Or maybe you just like the style and you want to make it for every day wear around town or at the office. No matter your motivations this ruana is for anyone.
What is the different between a wrap and a ruana? I got that question a lot when I was creating this item. People weren’t as familiar with the term ruana so I thought I would clarify. A ruana is a poncho-style outer garment typical of the Andes region of Columbia. Similar to other poncho-like garments a ruana is very thick, soft and sleeveless square or rectangular blanket with an opening in the center for the head to go through with a slit down the front to the hem. A ruana may or may not come with a hood to cover the head. Conversely, a wrap is more in the family of being a shawl. Typically they are rectangular or triangular in shape and go around your shoulders.
Although I love and have made many ruanas and wraps throughout my fiber filled years I prefer a ruana in the winter months. They cover more of my body and it feels like you are wearing a blanket that is shaped in such a way it drapes perfectly over your body. This piece does just that. Between the yarn chosen for the project and the size it is so comfortable and cozy to wear. Wraps I typically make in lighter weight yarns and use them as transitional pieces in the spring, fall or even summer at the office or in a movie theater to fend off the chill of an over used air conditioner.
One of the fun things about creating this piece, as I have mentioned before, is that I recently moved back to Kentucky. If you have spent any amount of time in Kentucky you know they bleed royal blue and white. The University of Kentucky is in the heart of Lexington. People here wear these colors all the time whether they attended UK or not. Then again I have yet to meet anyone who grew up here that didn’t go to UK.
As I have been building up my wardrobe to include more royal blue and white pieces I found the Lion Brand Woolspun yarn. I had used it in the past and found out they were closing out the line. I was pretty disappointed as it is pretty hard to find a good quality category 5 weight yarn in a lot of beautiful colors. Woolspun is a nice wool/acrylic blend which made it a great option for this type of project. On a side note: If you want an additional Kentucky themed crochet project check out the Kentucky Bluegrass Scarf.
So if I can’t buy it anymore why would you chose to use it for this project? (You might ask.) First, there is still Woolspun yarn out there to be purchased and if you find it they are selling it at a discounted price. Some Michael’s stores still have it on their shelves which is one option and I scored everything I needed for this project on Amazon.com at $3 per skein. (HINT: If you call Michael’s locations in warmer states like AZ, NM, NV you may have a better chance of finding it because people there don’t work with as much wool.) I have also found it on Ebay. Of course you are going to be limited on colors.
Then I found out Lion Brand was replacing the Woolspun line with an 100% acrylic category 5 weight yarn called Color Made Easy. It launched in 22 different shades. There are so many combinations of colors you could choose to make this ruana for everyday use that would be gorgeous! I have already been thinking of making this in the Smokey Quartz with Wheat trim as I am sucker for anything in the fall color palette (hence the name of my blog). Or if you are thinking of spring I think the Horizon with Birch would be really pretty too. Because it is 100% acrylic it will work well transitioning into spring as it won’t be as warm as the Woolspun.
So get out there and pick some colors you love and let’s get started!
- SKILL
This crochet pattern is very beginner friendly as the stitches are basic and repetitive. Weaving in and out of the double crochet stitches in done with a tapestry needle, again, very simple.
- DIMENSIONS
The finished ruana measures 62″ long (from bottom of edge of front to bottom edge of the back) and 35″ wide. Your individual panels will measure 62″ long and about 17 3/4″ wide. You loose a tiny bit of width when you whip stitch the seam. This piece can be altered to accommodate any length of width. If you are tall and you want it to be a few inches longer just go for it and know your stitch count.
- MATERIALS NEEDED
Yarn
- Color A uses 1,350 yards of category 5 weight yarn. In Woolspun yarn that = 11 skiens. In the Color Made Easy yarn that = 6 skeins.
- Another alternative I would like to mention that would also look great – especially if you want this items for Team Spirit – use the Lion Brand Hometown USA yarn. It is a category 6 weight yarn so it might make your finished piece a little wider but the many of the colors are named after teams. That yarn focuses on NFL teams, for example: Green Bay green, Tampa Spice, Minneapolis Purple so you could really nail your Team Spirit in this piece using that yarn. Just make sure to check the yardage on each skein and purchase appropriately.
- Color B (trim) uses approx. 130 yards of category 5 weight yarn. For either the Woolspun or Color Made Easy yarn you would only need one (1) skein. (You could also use a category weight 6 yarn for the trim work. I needed a true white yarn and happened to have a skein of Lion Brand Hometown USA in New York White. That is what I used and it worked just fine.)
Hook – 10 mm/ N/P 15
Tapestry Needle
All Autumn & Embers patterns are written in standard US terms
- ABBREVIATIONS
FSC = Foundation Single Crochet
Ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
sts = stitches
(Note about the pattern: Starting in each row the Ch one in each turn does NOT count as a stitch throughout the pattern.)
To Begin Panel 1:
FSC 115 sts. Ch 1 and turn work. If you don’t know how to do a FSC click here to watch a short tutorial.
Optional Start:
If you are not comfortable with the FSC stitch you can also simply Ch 116 sts and then turn and sc starting in the second chain from the hook until you reach the end (115).
Row 2-4:
SC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 1 and turn work.
Row 5:
SC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 2 and turn work.
Row 6:
DC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 2 and turn work.
Row 7:
DC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 1 and turn work.
Row 8-20:
SC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 1 and turn work. At the end of Row 21 fasten off your work.
Row 21:
SC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 2 and turn work.
Row 22:
DC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 2 and turn work.
Row 23:
DC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 1 and turn work.
Row 24-28:
SC all the way across (115 sts). Ch 1 and turn work. At the end of Row 28 fasten off your work.
To make Panel 2 repeat all the steps you followed for Rows 1-28.
Now you have two identical panels.
To combine these panels you will use a whip stitch method. If you are not familiar with the whip stitch please link to the short video on how to do it.
Lay your panels side by side so that the FSC row is on the outer edge of both sides. You will whip stitch from the bottom up for 56 stitches. Before you fasten off try it on and see if it is comfortable for you. You may find you want to stitch together a little more (or less) and that is ok. What’s important is that t feels comfortable on.
TRIM WORK:
Using Yarn B you will measure out 24 strands that are 67″ long. You will use three (3) each to weave in and out of the rows of double crochets from the front side to the back (or vice versa – it will look the same regardless which side you start on). I did this process while it was hanging on my mannequin stand which helped to keep it straight and have even tension. If you don’t have a mannequin stand then I would suggest laying it out on a flat surface. Obviously you can’t do this tightly or your ruana will bunch up and that would look funny.
Thread one strand of Yarn B into your tapestry needle and starting at the bottom go under the first double crochet and over the second, under the third and over the fourth, and repeat all the way to the end of the row. I did each strand separately. If your try to do all three at once they may twist and not lay side by side in the row. But that could also be your preference. You can work with it and decide what you think looks best.
When you are done with threading these through you can weave in the ends on the backside tucking the excess length under each double crochets you went over instead of under. (I trimmed the ends but wanted you to see how easy it is.)
TASSELS (6):
Cut 12 – strands of yarn 16” each and set aside. Cut 150 strands of yarn 14” each. Divide into 6 groups of 25 strands each.
Tie each group of yarn at the middle point with one of the 16″ strands. Fold each group in half, then tie another 16” strand around each folded bundle about 1.25” from the top – Continue wrapping the tails of the strand around the group 3 – 4 times.
Tie the tops of the tassels onto the 6 corners of the ruana, making sure to weave the loose ends inside the middle of each tassel. Trim tassels to make sure the ends are even.
Weave in any other loose yarn on the project and you are done and ready to wear.
Please don’t forget to share your lovely finished piece! I want to see what this beautiful scarf looks like in other colors. Please use the hashtag #autumnandembers so I can find your finished work. And please feel free to reach out to me at info@autumnandembers.com if you have any questions.
This patterns and the photos of the garment are property of Autumn & Embers. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent.