Pattern description from Knitting in America: “Priscilla saw her first wimples in the 1950s. The ones she saw were plain knit tubes and were actually called French hoods or smoke rings. Years later, she decided to elaborate on the concept for a design for Knitter’s Magazine, and thus her version of the French hood (renamed the wimple by Lizbeth Upitis, see page 152) was born. For this book, Priscilla decided to elaborate even further by designing tow new versions, one that is snug around the head and one that fits more loosely and is longer and more shawl-like around the shoulders. Priscilla handspun the cashmere for her wimples, though a commercially spun yarn can be uses as well. Priscilla wanted her contribution to this book to reflect her love for Colorado. She chose the pumpkin color of the loose-fitting lacier wimple because it reminds her of the color of the leaves on the aspen trees just before they drop in the late fall. From where the lace begins around the neck to the bottom edge, the stitches represent the mountains, the Colorado blue spruce, pinon pines, and the wildflowers (repeated around the area that frames the face) that bloom around her home in the spring. She chose the wavy edging to represent the sound of mountain water. The snugger-fitting wimple features a less elaborate design encircling the shoulders. The pattern appears on page 193.”

Measurements:

• Wimple #1: 23” circumference
• Wimple #2 20.5” circumference

Materials:

• 5 oz fine 2-ply laceweight cashmere yarn (undyed) or 2.5oz each cleaned white and brown cashmere down (available from Cashmere America).
• One pair size 3 needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size 3 circular needle 16” long
• Gaywool dye in Pumpkin and/or Tomato

Note: After working inc sts on rows 22, 26, 32, 36, and 40 of chart #2, work these new sts in St st.