Dear Kay,

When we heard from Joji Locatelli that she was imagining a Field Guide design using Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze, we thought that sounded like the best idea ever.

A conversation began about the idea of a ruana—a wrap that’s a rectangle with a split up half the length. Where it ended up? Turns out, her idea was far beyond anything we’d imagined.

Please say hello to Gossamer, one of Joji’s new designs in MDK Field Guide No. 22: Grace.

Here’s the most basic view of this inventive piece.

Gossamer is worked from the back up to the shoulders, with two strands of Kidsilk Haze held double. At the shoulders, the two fronts are worked separately, with subtle buttonholes along the way.

It weighs basically nothing. It is as warm as can be. This is the sort of knitting that we find fascinating, a layer that behaves all sorts of ways.

It can be a vest, with the sides buttoned up.

It can button up all the way down the front. And partway up the sides.

It can fling festively across the shoulders, scarf style.

Or drape the two front parts in front with the back flowing, sort of like the way we tie a sweater around our shoulders.

See? Gossamer is an exquisite piece of knitting, ready for whatever mood you bring to wearing it.

The color possibilities for Gossamer are gorgeous. We’ve brought in 29 shades of Kidsilk Haze, and we think they will all make for beautiful Gossamers. You can see them all here.

We’ve loved Kidsilk Haze for many years, and it is a joy to carry it now in the MDK Shop. If you’re looking for a project for our knitalong celebrating designs from Field Guide No. 22: Grace, this one will give you a cloud of mohair and silk. And a layer you can wear any way you like!

Knitalong begins October 10. We hope you’ll join us!

Love,

Ann