Gardiner Yarn Works Birch Wrap Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Birch Knitted Shawl and Wrap

What is Being Made

The Gardiner Yarn Works Birch is a versatile knitted shawl, stole, or wrap designed by Chrissy Gardiner. This seamless, flat-worked piece comes in three different finished widths to accommodate various neck and shoulder-warming needs. The finished dimensions are available in three options: a 7" x 60" scarf, a 10.5" x 60" stole, or a 14" x 60" wrap, allowing knitters to choose the size that best suits their preferences and yarn availability.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project showcases the entrelac technique, a sophisticated method where the fabric is constructed from small geometric sections—triangles and rectangles—that are worked individually and attached to neighboring sections through strategic decreases. The pattern is worked bottom-up and seamless, meaning no seaming is required after completion. The piece is worked flat using straight needles rather than in the round, with knitters working back and forth over a small number of stitches at a time. Each individual triangle or rectangle section is completed before moving to the next one, creating an interlocking geometric structure.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern incorporates a lace motif positioned in the center of each rectangle, adding visual interest and texture to the entrelac structure. The core stitches used include knit, purl, knit two together (k2tog) for decreases, purl two together (p2tog) for decreases, slip stitch (sl1) for edge management, and knit in front and back (k-fb) for increases. Additionally, the pattern uses make one (m1) increases, worked by picking up the strand between two stitches and knitting through the back loop. Each individual triangle or rectangle section is worked over 13 stitches and 27 rows, creating consistent geometric blocks throughout the design. The entrelac attachment method relies on decreases worked at the end of every other row, except for Bottom Triangles and Left Edge Triangles, which are not attached using decreases.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This project requires fingering-weight yarn in a minimum of 600 yards for the smallest scarf size, with 800 yards recommended for the medium stole, and 1000 yards for the largest wrap. The sample shown uses Abstract Fiber Mighty Sock yarn in the Birch colorway. Knitters will need size 4 (3.5mm) needles for this project, along with a yarn needle for weaving in ends. A shawl pin is optional but recommended for securing the finished wrap or stole. The gauge for this project is 24 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in the pattern stitch, though the pattern notes that gauge is not critical for successful completion of this project, making it more forgiving for knitters who struggle with gauge consistency.

Pattern Construction Overview

The pattern begins with casting on 26 stitches for the scarf, 39 stitches for the stole, or 52 stitches for the wrap. Knitters start with Bottom Triangles worked from the cast-on edge, then progress through the entrelac sections that form the main body of the piece. The instructions emphasize treating each triangle or rectangle as an individual tiny knitting project, which helps demystify the entrelac technique for intermediate-level knitters. The pattern includes a comprehensive abbreviation guide and detailed row-by-row instructions to guide knitters through the geometric construction process.