The best wrap for this Autumn!
Tortada is a knitted wrap in merino. You will need three skeins to knit this large wrap created to be worn in all circumstances.
The pattern is available on Ravelry or on Lovecrafts and on Makerist.
Tortada, a huge Wrap to Knit and Wear this Autumn
1. The story behind this huge wrap
More than a year ago, I took part in the Fil de la Manche in Dieppe.
Sylvie, the organiser of the event, had invited dyers that you don’t see so often in France. It was there that I had the opportunity to meet Laïa from Soc Una Troca, a Spanish and more precisely Catalan dyer.
The colors on her stand were more attractive one than the others. So I decided to buy three skeins that could be combined together or not.
I didn’t have any particular idea in mind at the time. When I do salons, I like to buy wool for specific projects but also to support the dyers. Sometimes they immediately find a project that will be assigned to them, sometimes it can take several months or even years.
This is a bit like the case of Tortada, it was while searching in my precious that I got them back in hand. And that’s when the idea of Tortada was born.
I wanted to make a big wrap but one that was very accessible for beginners. Without miles of garter stitch!
2. The construction of this huge wrap
This wrap is intended for beginners, so I didn’t need to complicate the cast-on or the construction.
So it starts with an CO of a hundred stitches and works from one side to the other.
You will start with a few rows of two colors to warm up your needles and start the lace.
Next, you will approach the central part which consists of a slightly more complex lace part.
And you will finish with the same sequence of lace that you started the wrap with.
3. What level is needed to knit Tortada?
This pattern is not complicated to knit, it is intended for obstinate beginners and intermediate knitters.
The most difficult points you might encounter are:
- the central lace part which is a little more complex than first and last sequences.
- the length of the wrap and therefore the yardage to be used so as not to fall short and to have a wrap that is perfectly identical at the end and the beginning. To do this, I have given you the yarn’s weight you need to make the different parts. I therefore advise you to weigh your skeins before starting to knit and to adapt the repetitions accordingly.
To be honest, if you are not afraid to knit a little bit of lace and want to get out of the boring garter stitch, this wrap is for you. The lace is only worked on right side rows and is very repetitive. However, the rows are not too long so you will quickly move on to the next row without getting bored.
As in all my patterns, lace parts are written anc charted. This is also an opportunity for you to learn how to read a chart if you have never done it before.
4. Where to buy the pattern?
The pattern is available on Ravelry in French, Spanish and English for immediate download. It is also available on Lovecrafts and Makerist.
5. Which yarn and material are suggested for knitting this wrap?
The suggested yarn is Soc Una Troca Kitten (100% merino) 400 m / 100 g. You will need 3 skeins of different colors, I used Brown (about 300 m), Pink Rochefort (about 400 m) and Pale Girl (about 400 m).
But you can definitely consider doing it in only two colors or use a single color for the Pink Rochefort and Pale Girl parts and use minis for the sequences which are knitted in dark colours on the sample I am showing you.
Let your imagination run wild
Notions and needles required are as follow:
- 100 cm (40″) 3.75 mm (US5) circ needle
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers for lace repeats if you don’t feel comfortable reading the lace easily and are afraid that you can’t find your way on the chart.
6. Why Tortada?
Finally, why did I name Tortada?
I confess that this time, the name was found at the last minute and that it was not me who suggested it …
The translator who worked on the pattern in Spanish told me that it reminded her of Neapolitan cake. But it was already a name I had used for a former pattern, so it was not possible for me to use it again.
And then the name Tortada came up on the table in a discussion between Gabrielle and Laïa. Tortada is a cake speciality from Murcia, a region of Catalonia, from which Laïa comes from. So I chose to call it that because this pattern will also be presented for Barcelona Knits 2020 Online.
I hope this wrap will make you fall in love with it and that this article will make you want to knit it. By the way, if you feel for, Laïa has prepared some color combos for you!
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See you soon,
Christelle
