Ophelia – the new design by Julie Knits in Paris

A cape with poetry: Ophelia is named after one of the most famous characters in literature and combines romantic elegance with exquisite knitting. The brioche pattern drapes softly around the shoulders: sculptural, warm and full of texture.

Ophelia was designed exclusively for our Gourmet Knitting Retreat. Now Ophelia is available to everyone, and we have curated kits in various gorgeous colour combinations for you! 

Julie chose On Stage - Short Stories, NL’s sumptuously soft blend of merino, silk and baby camel. The silk lends the yarn a delicate sheen, while the baby camel adds a wonderful softness against the skin. All colours are hand-dyed, so every skein is a little one-of-a-kind with a lively play of colour.

Julie says:

“Once upon a time, I was given carte blanche to explore Nature’s Luxury yarn collection to create an exclusive design for their 2026 Autumn Retreat.

‘Perchance to dream’. A quote from Hamlet. Of course, this colourway name caught my attention: I wear a tattoo of my very own Ophelia on my left arm. Like Millais’s sleeping beauty, my Pre-Raphaelite lady is framed with luxuriant nature. But mine is a fierce knitter; she is very much alive and full of dreams!

This is how this design was born. I paired ‘Perchance to dream’ with a lush green and started knitting Ophelia’s dream capelet. Voluptuous, embracing her body like a frame of leaves and flowers. Delicate, like a Pre-Raphaelite muse, with brioche faux cable curls cascading down her shoulders.”

Julie’s sample features the colours Trophée (MC) and Perchance to dream (CC). She recommends choosing the lighter colour as your main colour to bring out the pattern in all its beauty.

One cape, two looks

Worn elegantly over a dress, Ophelia becomes the star of an evening at the concert hall or theatre. It looks just as beautiful worn casually over a shirt and jeans, perfect for a stroll through the city. Your hand-knitted favourite will accompany you throughout the day and well beyond.

One size
Measurements after blocking:
Length from neckline to bottom edge: 19 in / 48 cm
Bottom circumference: 56¾ in / 144 cm

Yarns & Co.
MC: 2 skeins Nature’s Luxury ON STAGE - SHORT STORIES, hand-dyed, 50% Merino, 30% Silk, 20% Baby Camel, approx. 200 m/100 g, in a colour of your choice. 

CC: 2 skeins Nature’s Luxury ON STAGE - SHORT STORIES, hand-dyed, 50% Merino, 30% Silk, 20% Baby Camel, approx. 200 m/100 g, in a colour of your choice. 

Instructions are available in English and French.

The kit includes the yarn and instructions. Supplies are not included.

Nature’s Luxury offers the pattern (PDF file) for free. You will receive the pattern in a separate email via Ravelry with a download link. 

Please allow approx. 5 days until shipping.

The pattern individually, you will find directly on Ravelry here: Julie Knits in Paris - Ravelry store

Photos ©Julie Knits in Paris & Nature's Luxury