Ninety Degrees by Mary Forte

Ninety Degrees

Knitting
August 2023
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 27 rows = 4 inches
in Rice Stitch
US 8 - 5.0 mm
5.0 mm (H)
2190 - 3066 yards (2003 - 2804 m)
S (M, L, 1X, 2X)
English

This ruana gets its name from the prevalence of ninety-degree angles in both its shaping and its stitch patterns. The right angles are softened by the drape of the alpaca-blend yarn and a little bend at the neckline. The simple shape of a ruana allows more time for experimentation, so this design has many subtle details.

The borders are worked at the same time as the body to ensure that the row gauge of the bands matches that of the rest of the fabric. Three stockinette stitches at the edges curl back on themselves for a neat, cozy finish.

Sideways braid in the bottom band is worked by binding off stitches, then picking up new stitches out of the purl bumps behind the bind off. This strategy avoids the over-large loop that can come from other kinds of sideways braids.

To make sure the twists stand out against the left-leaning rice stitch, I have used exclusively right twists. The decreases are also not mirrored; instead they are all left leaning and worked through the back loops to blend in better with the rice stitch.

The opening at the top is very narrow so that the ruana will snug up cozily around the neck.