Product Description
This garment is created with top down construction. The schematic shows a donut shape that is knit from the inside out. Increases are worked to expand the circle’s size. You can make this “Hug” as long or as short as you choose. As it becomes longer it will resemble a capelet or a short poncho. If you want it longer than elbow length the sides will restrict your movement unless you start working the front and back segments separately. You will need more yarn to work this variation. You can choose a single yarn or use multiple yarns and alternate between them, twisting yarns at the back to avoid a hole at the transitions points. Double knitting weight yarns worked on a larger needle sizes create a fabric with enough drape for the hug to hang softly on the body.
Feather and Fan Hug by Robin Hunter
What Is Being Made
The Feather and Fan Hug is a circular knit garment designed by Robin Hunter that can be customized in length depending on the crafter's preference. This versatile piece begins as a small circle and expands outward, making it suitable for wear as a shoulder wrap, hug, capelet, or short poncho when extended to longer lengths. The donut-shaped construction allows for creative variations in final garment dimensions.
Construction Method and Design
This garment uses top-down construction, a technique that begins knitting from the center and works outward. The pattern creates a donut shape that is knit from the inside out, with strategic increases worked throughout to expand the circle's size progressively. This approach gives crafters control over the final dimensions of their finished piece, allowing them to stop at any point to achieve their desired length.
Stitches and Techniques Used
The Feather and Fan Hug incorporates several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:
- Stocking stitch – the primary stitch pattern used throughout the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric
- K2tog (knit two stitches together) – a decrease technique that reduces stitch count
- SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease worked by slipping stitches individually, then inserting the left needle through the front loops and knitting them together through the back loops
- YO (yarn over) – a decorative increase that wraps yarn over the right needle from front to back, creating openwork details characteristic of the feather and fan stitch pattern
Materials and Tools Required
Crafters will need the following materials to complete this project:
- Yarn weight: Worsted weight yarn, requiring 250–300 meters (274–328 yards) total
- Gauge: 18 stitches over 4 inches in stocking stitch
- Needle: One 4mm circular needle, 16 inches in length, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge
- Markers: 10 stitch markers, with one in a distinctly different color to mark the beginning of rounds
The sample garment was knit using a combination of Fleece Artist cashmere and Estelle Dazelle yarns alternated randomly, demonstrating that color and fiber blending can enhance the visual interest of the finished piece.
Skill Level
This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to work with circular needles and manage multiple stitch markers for shaping increases.
Pattern Variations
One of the key features of the Feather and Fan Hug is its adaptability. Crafters can customize the length to suit their preferences and intended use. As the piece grows longer through additional rounds, it transitions from a simple shoulder hug to a capelet or short poncho, offering multiple styling options from a single pattern.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Worsted |
| Pages: | 0 |
| Designer: | Robin Hunter |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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