Rowan 11 Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan 11 Wrap by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan 11 Wrap is a generous knitted wrap designed as a long, rectangular shawl. The finished dimensions are 43 cm (17 inches) wide and 210 cm (82¾ inches) long, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a traditional wrap. This is an intermediate-level knitting project classified at Skill Level 2.

Craft and Techniques

This wrap is created using knitting techniques worked flat on straight needles. The construction method is seamless, as the entire piece is worked in one continuous section from cast-on to cast-off without requiring seaming. The design features lace work throughout, incorporating openwork stitch patterns that create an elegant, breathable fabric ideal for a wrap garment.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The Rowan 11 Wrap employs a repeating 8-row lace pattern that forms the foundation of the design. The pattern utilizes several fundamental lace stitches:

• Yarn overs (yfwd and yrn): These create the characteristic openwork holes in lace knitting, allowing yarn to pass over the needle to increase stitches
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to maintain stitch count while creating directional lace elements
• Purl two together (P2tog): Used on wrong-side rows to decrease stitches and maintain pattern symmetry
• Double decreases: Row 7 features a more complex decrease (slip 2 stitches as though to K2tog, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over) that creates a more dramatic openwork element
• Garter stitch edges: The pattern begins with slip 1 and knit 1 at the start of right-side rows, creating a finished selvage edge

The 8-row pattern repeat is worked continuously throughout the length of the wrap, with rows 2, 4, 6, and 8 worked on the wrong side using purl stitches, while odd-numbered rows are worked on the right side using knit stitches.

Materials and Gauge

The Rowan 11 Wrap requires 6 x 50 gram balls of Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn (photographed in the colorway Cairn 263). The project is worked on one pair of 6mm (US 10) needles.

The recommended tension is 14 stitches and 17 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over the lace pattern using 6mm needles. Achieving correct tension is important for obtaining the specified finished dimensions and ensuring the lace pattern displays properly. The pattern begins with casting on 60 stitches loosely, and the wrap is continued in pattern until it reaches approximately 210 cm in length before casting off loosely to maintain the fabric's drape and elasticity.