Midnight Ruana

The Midnight Ruana was such a fun piece to make! I love layering since I’m always cold and when you crochet this ruana with Lion Brand’s Shawl in a Ball, it creates a lightweight, airy garment that looks fantastic with a skirt, leggings or jeans!

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UPDATE: There is now a stitch tutorial video available! Click here.

midnight ruana back view, arm outstretched on woman

One thing that I love about these over sized ruanas is that if you happen to have some “trouble areas”, they are excellent at hiding them. For me it’s my midsection. I’m currently working on fixing that, but that’s a whole other story. 😀

This zig zag stitch pattern is so much fun and looks great with a variegated yarn. It uses a two row repeat that once you get the hang of, you can actually catch a few glimpses of your TV while you work.

Do you watch TV while you crochet? Personally, I listen more than I actually watch. I get to be more creative by just listening since I can watch the story play out in my head. Ha!

The Midnight Ruana comes in three sizes: S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL. It is designed to be over sized and have considerable drape.

midnight ruana front/side view on woman holding front panel out

midnight ruana close up of garment on chest of woman

The Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball yarn says on the package that it is a size 4 medium weight yarn, but I must say that when you compare it to any other brand of size 4 medium weight yarn, there is a tremendous size difference.

So, when deciding which yarn to use for your ruana, please take into consideration the size difference. Should you choose any other brand of size 4 medium weight yarn that is thicker than the Shawl in a Ball, you may want to size down one. More explanation is given in the “Notes” section of the pattern along with a photo of the two yarns side by side.

To see more women’s wear that I’ve designed, click here for the lists of Sweaters/Tops and here for the Wraps/Shawls/Ponchos!

Add this project to your Ravelry queue here…

Materials Used:

3 (3.5, 4) balls of Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball in Feng Shui Grey – 5.3 oz/150 g – 481 yds/440 m (size 4 medium weight yarn)
J (5.75 mm) crochet hook — My absolute favorite hooks! I use them daily!
Measuring tape
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Finished Size Approximately:

Small/Medium

Large/XL

2XL/3XL

Gauge:

15 double crochet stitches and 6 rows in a 4” (10cm) square.

Special Stitches:

Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog)

*YO, insert hook into next st, YO draw back through the st, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook* Skip 2 or 3 sts depending on instructions. Repeat from * to * once more. YO, draw through all three loops on hook.

midnight ruana close up of dc2tog stitch

Abbreviations:

YO – yarn over

ch(s) – chain(s)

st(s) – stitch(es)

dc – double crochet

dc2tog – double crochet 2 together

Notes:

You will crochet three panels: one back and two front panels. They are seamed together only at the shoulder using a tapestry needle and yarn. A tack stitch is used to create an armhole while the sides are left open.
This garment is designed to be over sized.
If you’d like to use this stitch pattern for any other project, you will need a foundation chain with a multiple of 19 chains plus 4.
The size instructions are written as S/M (L/XL, 2XL/3XL). Since this design is over sized, it comes in three sizes. The size Small and Medium are the same, Large and XL are the same and 2XL and 3XL are the same.
This garment has considerable drape so the Bust measurements are extremely large at S/M – 64”, L/XL – 80”, 2XL/3XL – 96”.
You can adjust the number of rows if you prefer a shorter Ruana. Just remember to work the same number of rows for all three pieces. Two rows = 1¼”.
The Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball yarn is very thin for a size 4 medium weight yarn. If you use any other brand of yarn that is a size 4, you may want to size down one. So for anyone making a Small/Medium Midnight Ruana, you will want to have a foundation chain of 137 for the Back Panel and a foundation chain of 61 for the Front Panels. If you’re normally a L/XL and are using the larger size 4 yarn, use the instructions for a S/M and so on. I recommend writing in, circling or highlighting the numbers for the size you are working on before you begin to avoid confusion.
Also, if you are using the larger size 4 yarn, you may want to remove at least 2 rows from all of your panels.
A stitch tutorial video is available at this link.

midnight ruana yarn comparison — *Shawl in a Ball is black. The white is a standard size 4 medium weight yarn.*

*** American crochet terms used throughout.***

Instructions:

Back Panel (Make 1)

FC: Ch 156 (194, 232)

Row 1: In the 5^th ch from the hook, dc. *(ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next ch) 3 times. Ch 1, skip next ch, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch, (ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next ch) 3 times, ch 1**, skip next ch, dc2tog using next ch, skip next 2 chs and finish using next ch.* Repeat from * to * across ending at **. With 4 chs remaining, skip next ch, work dc2tog using next ch, skip one ch, and finish using last ch. Turn.

midnight ruana showing stitches for row 1

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip the st the ch-3 comes out of, skip next ch-1 space, dc in next st, *(dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next st) 3 times, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-3 space, (dc in next st, dc in next ch-1 space) 3 times. ** dc2tog using next st, skip next 3 sts and finish using next sts.* Repeat from * to * across ending at **. You’ll have the next st, ch-1 space, next st and turning ch remaining. Work dc2tog using next st, skip the ch-1 space, skip the next st, and finish using the top of the turning ch. Turn.

midnight ruana showing stitches for row 2

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip the st the ch-3 comes out of, skip the next st, dc in next st, *(ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st) 3 times. Ch 1, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch-3 loop, ch 1, (dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st) 3 times **, dc2tog using next st, skip next 3 sts and finish using next st* Repeat from * to * ending at **. You’ll have 4 total sts and the turning ch remaining. Skip next st, work dc2tog using next st, skip 2 sts, and finish using the top of the turning ch. Turn.

midnight ruana showing stitches for row 3

Alternate Rows 2 – 3 for pattern.

Total Number of Rows: 35 (37, 39)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Approximate Measurements of Back Panel:

S/M – 32”W x 30½”L

L/XL – 40”W x 31½”L

2XL/3XL – 48”W x 32½”L

Front Panel (Make 2)

FC: Ch 80 (99, 118)

Alternate Rows 2 – 3 for pattern.

Total Number of Rows: 35 (37, 39)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Approximate Measurements of Front Panel:

S/M – 16”W x 30½”L

L/XL – 20”W x 31½”L

2XL/3XL – 24”W x 32½”L

Finishing

Lay Back Panel out on a flat surface. You will be working on the end with the last row completed, not the end with the foundation chain.

Lay one of your Front Panels (the end with the foundation chain) up against the final row of the Back Panel. Be sure to have the edges lined up as shown in the photo below. Place stitch markers along the zig zag seam to keep it in place. Using a tapestry needle and yarn, whip stitch, mattress stitch or use any joining method of your choice to seam the two pieces together. Remove the stitch markers as you stitch the panels together.

Note: Only seam along what will be the shoulder seam, lining up the zig zagging patterns of the two panels. Stitch one Front Panel to the Back Panel along the zig zag and then stitch the second Front Panel to the Back Panel along the zig zag. Do not seam the two Front Panels together.

midnight ruana sample panels placed together to show where to seam at the shoulders. — This photo shows a sample of the panels to help illustrate where to seam.
Caron Simply Soft is shown above. It’s a size 4 medium weight yarn.

Repeat this process with the second Front Panel.

Tack Stitch For Armhole (Optional)

Counting up from the bottom of the Front Panel on the outside edge, count 27 (25, 23) rows and place a stitch marker. Counting up from the bottom of the Back Panel, also along the outside edge, count 27 (25, 23) rows and place a second stitch marker. Using a tapestry needle and yarn, tack stitch the two panels together at the stitch markers. Remove stitch markers. Weave in ends.

Note: If you are sizing down from a S/M and using the larger size 4 yarn, you will want you count up 25 rows from the bottom of both panels. For sizes L/XL and 2XL/3XL, you will still follow one size down.

Repeat on opposite side of Ruana for second armhole.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Midnight Ruana pattern!

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Click here for the ad-free, large print PDF from Ravelry

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