Today I will show you Booklet #264, Peruvia™ featuring our new wool roving yarn from the Peruvian highlands. Peruvia™ is available in 25 luscious mélanges and solids and knits to 4.25 stitches per inch on a #10 needle. The booklet contains instructions to knit 8 pieces that fit and flatter a wide cross section of women of all ages and sizes. By breaking and bending the rules of traditional knit garment construction, we discover possibilities in draping and folding fabrics that are not only unique but comfortable and flattering as well.

Portia is a cleverly conceived coat that is constructed by joining geometric shapes—triangles and rectangles. Multi-directional ribs and braided cables completely cover the back while covering only the bust in front. An exquisite layering piece, this denim blue Peruvia coat flatters all figures.  Peso is a kimono shape cardigan with a two layer, self shawl collar. It drapes in fluid stockinette from the shoulders and neck and releases at the underarm to a swingy trapeze.  Parchesi is a layering piece for fans of easy cables and tiny bobbles. This long hooded sleeveless cardigan is great over longer skirts and pants. Its slimming proportions will suit most figures. Choose to close it or not depending on your size and your choice of underpinnings.  Peoria is a set of easy ribbed, gauntlet length hand warmers.

Poska is an uber-easy wide cropped construction with drop shoulder sleeves and a funnel neck. The color patterning is easily achieved by mosaic knitting. The dark brown shade of Peruvia remains constant in all four pieces of the garment, while the second color changes in the back and in one sleeve, giving this piece a balanced asymmetry.  Pisa is a version of our popular pullover from our Yin & Yang Booklet #262. This time, it's adorned with a diagonal ribbed section leading to a generous ribbed cowl.  Pinot is yet another unique cardi construction. The fronts are knit of tonal corrugated ridges that continue over the shoulder, are seamed at the back neck and form the back yoke. The cuffs and back hem are also corrugated while the back remains a solid stockinette.  Piccolo is a cap and scarf knit in the same corrugated ridges of contrasting colors.

Today's two free patterns are cardigans knit in Suede™. Both Ruffina and Solaris open in front with a shawl collar that drapes from the back neck forward. Ruffina is all in stockinette and has a flirty partial peplum and Solaris, a more minimal silhouette is knit in a seeded rib stitch.

Sanfra from cyberspace wrote: "I love color and I want to work with colors together forming repeat patterns. I just can't master holding more than one color at a time. My lys owner suggested that I learn mosaic knitting. What is this?"

Sanfra,
Mosaic knitting is a technique of two-color knitting that uses slipped stitches and only one color per row. It eliminates twists and tangled balls and it adds a rhythmic surface dimension while creating a color repeat pattern. Barbara Walker has written several books with this technique both charted and verbal. I find it fascinatingly simple and fun. We experimented with mosaic knitting in our Poska pattern and are delighted with the results. I hope that you will give it a try.

All the best,

Margery Winter Creative Director