Gardiner Yarn Works Path of Flowers Stole Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Path of Flowers Stole

What is Being Made

The Path of Flowers Stole is a rectangular wrap designed by Chrissy Gardiner, measuring 25" x 66" after blocking. This piece features a delicate lace pattern with a lovely floral motif, creating a timeless heirloom wrap suitable for many years of wear. The stole is worked as a seamless, flat rectangular piece that combines multiple complementary lace patterns across its width.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its elegant design:

• Bottom-up construction: The stole is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing the crafter to adjust the finished length as desired
• Seamless, worked flat: The entire piece is created on a single pair of needles without seaming, maintaining the integrity of the lace patterns throughout
• Lace knitting: Delicate openwork patterns are central to the design, requiring careful attention to stitch placement and yarn-over decreases to create the floral motifs
• Multi-pattern integration: The design incorporates three distinct lace patterns—English Rose, Dayflower, and Purse Stitch—worked simultaneously across the width of the piece, separated by stitch markers
• Garter stitch borders: The first and last 2 stitches of each row are worked in garter stitch to create finished selvage edges

Stitches Used

The Path of Flowers Stole employs a variety of knitting stitches to create its intricate lace patterns and structure:

• Knit stitch (k): Forms the foundation and borders of the wrap
• Purl stitch (p): Used within the lace patterns for texture and design definition
• Yarn-overs: Create the openwork characteristic of lace knitting, allowing thread to pass through to form decorative holes
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn-overs in the lace patterns
• Knit 3 together (k3tog): A more pronounced decrease for specific lace motif shaping
• Purl 2 together (p2tog): A left-leaning decrease worked on the wrong side
• Purl 2 together through back loop (p2tog-tbl): Creates a right-leaning decrease on the wrong side
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (SK2P): A centered double decrease that maintains the visual balance of the lace patterns

Materials

The Path of Flowers Stole requires lace-weight yarn with a minimum yardage of 1100 yards, allowing for the creation of the full 25" x 66" wrap. The sample shown uses Mountain Colors Winter Lace in the Mountain Twilight colorway, demonstrating how the delicate lace patterns showcase the beauty of variegated yarn.

Construction requires size 6 (4mm) needles appropriate for lace-weight yarn work. Additional materials include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and 6 stitch markers to track the multiple pattern sections across the width of the piece. The gauge for this project is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, though the pattern notes that gauge is not critical for this particular project, offering flexibility to crafters.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced intermediate, reflecting the complexity of working multiple lace patterns simultaneously while maintaining proper stitch tension and pattern alignment. Crafters should have solid experience with lace knitting, chart reading, and managing multiple stitch markers before attempting this project.