Wildflowerknits Tuscan Knits eBook Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Wildflowerknits Tuscan Knits eBook Cardigan Knitting Pattern

The Tuscan Knits eBook by Kennita Tully, published by Wildflowerknits in 2014, is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern collection inspired by the designer's travels through Italy. This collection features seven distinct knitting projects, each named after Italian locations and landmarks that inspired their creation during Kennita Tully's journey from the Italian Riviera through Tuscany and Rome.

Collection Overview

The Tuscan Knits collection includes seven designs: Maddalena, Antico, Pienza, Lucente, Toscana, Firenze, and Primavera. The designs were developed during Kennita Tully's working trip through Italy, with each pattern completed in different locations that served as creative inspiration. The designer drew color and texture inspiration from Tahki Yarns throughout the collection, selecting a cohesive yarn line to unify the designs.

Maddalena Shawl

Maddalena is an intermediate-level shawl design named after a villa in the Tuscan village of Montisi. This shawl measures approximately 52 inches at its widest point with a length of 12 inches at the points.

Materials and Tools: Maddalena is worked using Tahki Yarns Pixie yarn in the woodland glen colorway (#001). The yarn composition is 42% cotton, 38% acrylic, and 20% nylon, with yardage of 70 yards per 50-gram ball. The pattern requires 5 balls of yarn. Knitters will need US 10.5 (6.5mm) circular knitting needles in a 24-inch length, stitch markers, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge and Stitch Pattern: The gauge for Maddalena is 11 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the stitch pattern used throughout the design.

Construction Technique: Maddalena is worked flat using circular needles, allowing for the creation of the shawl's distinctive pointed edges.

Design Inspiration and Characteristics

The Tuscan Knits collection draws its aesthetic from the Italian landscape, architecture, and the vibrant color palettes found in Tahki Yarns. Maddalena specifically celebrates the dancing colors and metallic flecks present in the Pixie yarn, creating a design described as beautiful, simple, and strong—qualities that mirror the villa it was named after. The collection as a whole represents the intersection of Italian geography and yarn craftsmanship, with each design reflecting the specific location where it was developed during the designer's travels.