The Wanderer Ruana – Oversized Crochet Puff Stitch Cardigan

Hey guys,

Today I’m comin’ at ya with an old favourite of mine.. this piece is called the Wanderer Ruana. Find the pattern here or continue reading for more info + a pattern discount code!

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Shop the Wanderer Ruana as a crochet kit on LionBrand.com here!

Find the pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, and my website.

About

The Wanderer Ruana is a totally shapeless cardigan that is made of 2 easy, identical rectangles with a couple rows of an accent stitch: the zig zag puff stitch. Shapeless garments can still be flattering as long as the yarn choice and stitch pattern are thoughtfully chosen. In this case, the yarn is heavy and the stitches are loose enough that it contours to your body without any complicated shaping to worry about! I wanted to create a beginner-friendly piece with a simple construction and great drape, so I tried working a loooong rectangle consisting of double crochet and zig zag puff stitch rows for a fun accent. I made 2 identical panels, and partially seamed them together for a wearable cardigan/cover up! After I finished making it, I couldn’t help feel all these care-free bohemian beach vibes. The name “Wanderer Ruana” seemed fitting. This design can be worn over clothing or over a bathing suit at the beach. I’ve worn my Wanderer Ruana both of these ways and it’s a really easy layering piece to add to any warm-weather outfit. I’ve been toying with making one with bulkier yarn for more of a wintery piece.. maybe someday I’ll get around to it! I’ve made two other layering pieces with cotton yarn that you may want to check out as well: the Aloha Vest and the Peguis Cardigan.

It’s always my goal to create things that look store-bought. Handmade doesn’t always have to look homemade. I want to bring you modern designs that would surprise your friends to find out that you made it yourself!

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Construction

This piece has a really simple construction. The whole piece is actually just two identical rectangles that are partially seamed (down the center-back) to join the two panels, and then is folded in half (at the shoulder) and seamed partially down the sides to allow for armhole openings. You can leave the sides open if you want a true ruana, or you can seam up the sides like I did for a cardigan.

This piece is sized up to 5X for a size-inclusive crochet pattern, comfortably fitting up to a 62″ bust.

I wanted this to be a simple project with some sort of fun, yet subtle, textural element. I tried it out with bobbles, with puff stitches, and a few other variations, but I wasn’t quite satisfied. I then came across a “zig-zag puff stitch” that I just LOVED. This was the winner, and this is the exact texture that I had been looking for. Aside from these feature stitches, I opted for a simple stitch throughout the rest of the pattern. Since I used a larger hook with the double crochet, these stitches are really nice and open, and end up looking mesh-like – which I love.

This pattern follows US crochet terms.

Stitches used include: Chain, double crochet, foundation stitches, single crochet, and crocheting into a space. I have provided supplementary photo instruction for the zig zag puff stitch rows in the pattern PDF to help show you exactly how to make them.

There are instructions to include belt loops and tassels as well to give it that extra-beachy-boho vibe that I love so much.

Once you crochet the panels, you can block them to achieve the exact measurements in case you are off by a few inches. I use these blocking mats.

Yarn

The yarn I chose for this project is Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton. You’ll need 9-12 skeins in the colour of your choice to complete this project. I chose this yarn because of its weight and composition – it’s a great lightweight 100% cotton for a project like this, and also because it’s mercerized. This means that the yarn was treated to reduce pilling, and it also won’t stretch, shrink, or lose its shape as much during washing. Mercerized cottons also hold up better to colour treatments and also won’t fade as much as regular cottons during washing. You can read more about it here on the Lion Brand website if you’d like to read more on the mercerization process and the yarn itself!

Let’s talk colours: While this line as some amazing colour choices, I wanted a more natural colour. So, I chose the colour, “taupe“, and also used a looser stitch so that the garment had an airy feel to it. I really like the way it sits on the shoulders and drapes so nicely. It sort of takes the shape of your body. Ps. My next Wanderer Ruanas (because there definitely WILL be more) will be made in the colours “camel” and “goldenrod”. I’ve also toyed with the idea of doing the puff stitch rows in a contrasting colour..

If you love this yarn as much as I do, check out some of my other patterns that use 24/7 cotton, too! (See photo below)

 

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You can find the pattern in these places:

On my website here.

On Ravelry here.

On Etsy here.

Once you’ve got the pattern, you can shop for the yarn here!

(Use the code “PATTERN10” for 10% off all patterns)

I can’t wait to see your WIPs! Make sure to tag me @knitsnknotswpg and use the pattern hashtag #WandererRuana so that everyone can see your projects!

Happy crocheting,

xx

Janine