Tradition, adventure, and practicality have inspired the Astral Road Ruana. Drawing on the cultural influences of Native American, Mexican and Central American peoples, Astral Road represents the ingenuity, versatility and horse sense of early American settlers. Throw in a generous measure of the cultural heritage of Scandinavia and the British Isles and sow the seeds of a modern fashion acumen. Astral Road is the culmination of all of these things.

The simple form of a traditional ruana becomes a canvas for a series of textures and cables. Favoring classic cables and open fields of easy texture, this project maintains a rustic, homespun character within its simple form. Blanket, sweater, coat or wrap, Astral Road nimbly transforms to suit the needs of the wanderer.

Astral Road is worked from the top down beginning with a saddle-style cable panel that is cast on provisionally at the back neck and runs from neck to cuff on either side. The ruana is then worked seamlessly from the cable panel downwards in back and in front.

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Difficulty Intermediate

Finished Size 53” wide and 38.25” long from shoulder to hem. Ruana shown on model with 36” bust.


Yarn Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok (100% fine highland wool): #1307 pressed grapes, 31 skeins.

Needles Size 6 (4 mm): 40” circular. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.


Notions Markers; removable m; cable needle; waste yarn for provisional CO; stitch holders; size 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook.

Gauge 24 sts and 30 rows = 4” in Andalusian st.

Notes This ruana is worked in a modular fashion. First the shoulders are worked back and forth in rows from side to side. The fronts and back are worked by picking up stitches from the shoulders, then working from the top down.