Late last winter I was in Walmart for my monthly shopping. As I strolled through my eye was caught by these interesting woven pashmina afghans. I do like an afghan. I keep one on each chair year round. Not for color, but just in case I need a little more warmth. I’m terribly cold-blooded. However my mind went immediately to the thought of Rhuana’s. Probably since mine were several years old and getting ratty. I spent about 10 minutes deciding which afghan to purchase. Narrowed it down to 2 and, you know with Walmart’s prices, both went in the basket. They’ve sat on the shelf until now. With Fall definitely here and Winter on the way, I need to get these done.
I love Rhuana’s not for their dramatic appeal, but for the fact they are easy to slip on or arrange to cover other parts of the body. They can be very simply made. I’m starting with an afghan but any rectangle of fabric will do. Even 2 big rectangular shawls stitched together to form a back seam. Rhuana’s are a simple garment that can be formed many ways. How big? Well depends on how much of your body you want to cover. I want at least 3/4″ sleeves and knee coverage. So that would be 3/4 of your wingspan wide and from shoulder to knee times 2 in length. But a default afghan size works.
My white afghan shown above wrapped around me shawl-style.
Because I started with a purchased afghan, I didn’t need to cut to size. But, below, I did fold in quarters i.e. in half lengthwise and then fringed ends together.
I place a pin where the folds meet.
You could split the fold from one fringe to the pin and call it done. I like a little more finished and fitted. At the pin, I cut up from the fold 2″. Then I start at the fringe end and cut the fold until 8″ from the pin (or first cut).
At the 8″ mark, I cut a shallow curve towards the inner end of the 2″ cut.
That becomes the lapel. It isn’t necessary to cut in the shallow arc. Could be cut at a straight angle or left as a lapel. You could quit there but I find the neck rubs against the body. So about an inch away from the first 2″ cut, I make another that curves slightly toward the end of the first cut.
You could make all the cuts in one fell swoop. I make it 3 because I’m cutting freehand – no pattern– and I get a better shape this way. Again, You could quit here and again, I prefer a little more finish. I bound the cut edges with bias tape. I used nearly a whole package on each Rhuana. This is all I have left out of 2 packages:
I chose bias tape because my afghan is a woven, 100% acrylic fabric (marketed as Faux Mohair). I would have used FOE had this been a knit. You could use FOE with a woven fabric, I just like to use stretch finishes with stretch fabrics. Those aren’t the only choices. Any braid or trim could be used or serge and turn the raw edge or do a serger blanket stitch or turn and top stitch or decorative stitch. There are many ways to finish this edge. Many ways for your rhuana to be unique and different from mine even if you happen to buy the same pashmina.
And you can stop there but I like (are you sensing a theme) a little more finish. I find the Rhuana at this point of finish will slop about on shoulders and body. It is more versatile i.e. can be arranged more ways if left as a big rectangle with a slit. I prefer some kind of side/armscye shaping. Below you see me marking a line 6″ from the selvage edge, 11″ down from the fold to the bottom of the contrast woven stripe
The 11″ from the fold starting point gives me an armscye/sleeve. Why 11″? I like a big roomy kimono sleeve on my Rhuana’s but I’ve also used 9″ and 16″. Up to you, the wearer/gifter.
On the blue afghan I made an L stitching line.
Same 11″ from the fold; 6″ in from selvage but I start at the selvage edge and stitch forward 6″ before pivoting and stitching down to the bottom of the stripe. I just gives a little more structure. Not really needed and can’t really be seen
Again, I used straight stitching. It could be cover stitched; I’m sure someone can figure out how to make the serger do the work; or decorative stitches or apply a trim/binding. I’ve seen other wearing/finishing suggestions. For example, a closure in the front. I’ve done no shaping either front or back. I’ve seen darts formed along the shoulder and button-hole type slits that were used to hold a belt. I’ve even seen the ‘belt’ run through the button holes, come out at the unsewn sides and tied over the front. I wear my Rhuana’s mostly in the morning. Sometimes I grab them at night. Mostly I want something big, warm easy to slip on. Sometimes I want to cover my knees/legs and stretch the fabric across my lap. Because I was working production style sewing both at the same time, they were both done in about an hour. I love my Rhuana’s.
And that’s the end of this post.
sdBev Block Party 