Falling Waters Duster
Ah, summer. Although I am a fall girl at heart, you really can't beat the long days and beautiful evening light of summer. Fall gets me so excited for cozy layered knits, but summer has me dreaming of flowy, breezy, lightweight knit fabric that adds a bit of boho charm to an outfit. That's the mood I had in mind with my latest Lion Brand collab, the Falling Waters Duster. This fringy beauty is worked up in their Comfy Cotton Blend, which I just had to use again after my recent Magic Hour Sweater. Soft to the touch and so light, it's perfect for cool summer knits! Scroll down for this free pattern, purchase the ad-free PDF here, or grab the full kit from Lion Brand here. PS, the kit starts at only $15.98!
As I mentioned above, I was reminded how lovely Lion Brand's Comfy Cotton Blend yarn is having just used it for my Magic Hour Sweater. It is so very soft and affordable, and makes for a beautiful, lightweight spring or summer project. For this design, I wanted the fabric to be extra gauzy and breathable. I imagine it being picked up in a gust of wind with the fringe flying in all its glory. In order to get the fabric how I envisioned it, I knit it super loose on 10mm needles to create an extra delicate look and feel. The addition of drop stitches added even more airiness and the whole look was complete with boho fringe lining the bottom hem and armholes.
I have loved drop stitch for quite some time and I've used it in so many designs - the Stevie Wrap, the Lemon Drop Sweater, the Monarch Cardigan, and the Shipwrecked Top, as well as the Deserted Island Ruana and Threadbare Top designed for We Are Knitters. It lends itself to such a dreamy aesthetic and it's so perfect for warm weather projects.
While the fabric of the Falling Waters Duster may seem intricate due to the drop stitches and cascading garter striping, the construction could not be easier. If you can knit a rectangle, you can make this garment! I love using simple shapes in almost all of my designs. Oversized, relaxed knits are my all-time fave and this design is a great example of my design philosophy - simple, yet dramatic. Long lines make this duster striking and attention grabbing without being over the top due to the straight, no-fuss shape.
Could a windswept summer knit be complete without some embellishment in the form of fringe? I think not. I kept the fringe a little short and sparse to save on yarn yardage, but the Falling Waters Duster would be even more epic with longer, fuller fringe swaying to and fro. Note that if you do make the fringe longer, you may need an extra ball of yarn. Due to the oversized needles, this is an extremely quick project that has BIG results. It's so lightweight you'll want to wear it all summer! Toss it over jeans and a tank for a more casual vibe, or sport it with a maxi dress for a more formal look. It would also look fab as a swimsuit cover for the beach, park, or pool :)
This is an easy level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, purl stitch, yarn over drop stitch, and seaming.
MATERIALS:
2 (3, 3, 3) skeins Lion Brand Yarn Comfy Cotton Blend in Silver Lining or approx. 784yds/716m (1176yds/ 1074m, 1176yds/1074m, 1176yds/1074m) of another light worsted, category 3 yarn
Size US 15 (10mm) circular knitting needles, 24”/60cm
Stitch holder or scrap yarn
Tapestry needle
Crochet hook (optional)
FINISHED SIZE
Measurements taken with garment laying flat without fringe. Fabric has significant drag and stretches approx. 8-10”/20.5-25.5cm lengthwise when worn.
Pictured in size XS/S on model with 34”/86cm bust
(A) Width: 33.75”/86cm (37.25”/94.5cm, 41”/ 104cm, 44.5”/113cm)
(B) Length: 32”/81cm - all sizes
GAUGE:
9 sts + 12 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette
ABBREVIATIONS:
CO – cast on
K – knit
P – purl
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
Sl – slip
St(s) – stitch(es)
YO – yarn over
Notes: Pattern is worked from the bottom up the back, then splits into two panels worked separately for the fronts. Sides are seamed. All sts are slipped purlwise with yarn in front. Pattern is written for 4 sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/2XL, 3XL/4XL.
BACK
CO 76 (84, 92, 100) sts.
Rows 1-7: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 8 (WS): Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Row 9 (RS): Sl 1, K to end of row.
Rows 10+11: Rep rows 8 and 9.
Row 12: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 13: Sl 1, *YO, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 14: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Row 15: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 16: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Rows 17+18: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 19: Sl 1, *YO twice, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 20: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Row 21: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 22: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Rows 23+24: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 25: Sl 1, *YO, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 26: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Row 27: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 28: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Rows 29-33: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Rows 34-93: Rep rows 28-33, ten more times.
Row 94: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Split for two front panels:
Row 95: Sl 1, K 37 (41, 45, 49), place remaining 38 (42, 46, 50) sts on a holder. Continue with only the sts on the needles to form the front right.
FRONT RIGHT
Row 96: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 97: Sl 1, *YO twice, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 98: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Row 99: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 100: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Rows 101-105: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Rows 106-165: Rep rows 100-105, ten more times.
Row 166: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Row 167: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 168: Sl 1, *YO, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 169: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Rows 170+171: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 172: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Row 173: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 174: Sl 1, *YO twice, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 175: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Rows 176+177: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 178: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Row 179: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 180: Sl 1, *YO, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 181: Sl 1, K to end of row, dropping YOs as you come to them.
Rows 182+183: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 184: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Row 185: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 186: Sl 1, P to last st, K 1.
Rows 187-193: Sl 1, K to end of row.
Bind off.
FRONT LEFT
Place sts on holder back onto needles. Rejoin yarn at center neck edge and K across all sts to complete row 95.
Work as for Front Right beginning with row 96.
CONSTRUCTION
Seam sides from bottom edge up, leaving approx. 9 (10, 11, 12)”/23 (25.5, 28, 30.5)cm un-seamed and open for armholes.
FRINGE
Cut approx. 420 (460, 510, 550) 9”/23cm lengths. Use larks head knots to attach double strands of fringe into each stitch along the bottom edge of the duster. To do so, hold two strands together and fold in half, insert the crochet hook up through a stitch along the bottom edge, place folded loop around the hook and draw it back down through the stitch, then use the hook to grab the ends and draw them through the folded loop. Attach fringe in the same manner around armholes, approx. every other row.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
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