Ocean Child is a shrug/shawl/cape/cowl/button contraption that can be styled in many different ways, and works surprisingly well in all of them, so far. It knits up using a unique shawl-based construction and sportweight Malabrigo Arroyo. The s/m size uses just under 600 yards, or two skeins, and the m/l size will require around three skeins.

One note/warning: you are going to need a lot of buttons. It’s good practice to select the buttons to match your finished fabric, since the design depends on the buttons staying in place and not putting too much weight on the fabric. I like to use natural shell or coconut for these—light weight is important, but coconut shell is smoother and will help the yarn last longer.

Gauge:
Gauge is slightly loose but not too open at 16 sts and 32 rows over 4”/10cm, in blocked garter stitch.

Materials:
2-3 skeins of Malabrigo Arroyo or substitute, or about 580-960 yards of sport- to DK-weight yarn
40”+ circular needle, used to knit flat, in US6-7/4.0-4.5mm, or size needed for gauge.
16-20 lightweight buttons, 7/8”-1” in size
Epoxy, head cement, or clear nail varnish

Some notes on versatility:
Ocean Child was originally conceived of as a shrug, and it works very well that way, in my opinion—in this form, the s/m size will fit many, from a US XS to L at least.

The second conversion is a cape.

The third conversion is a chiton-inspired coverup top—off one shoulder, bunched on the other. It’s not precisely a chiton, of course.

The fifth conversion is a cropped cardigan with a shawl collar and dolman sleeves, of all things.

It can also be obviously worn as a wrap or a big scarf, like Orion, with no buttons at all, or the buttons attached to just one eyelet for display and not-losing-buttons purposes.

(I also envisioned this as a loop cowl, but for the s/m size at least, this is disappointing and almost not worth mentioning.)