Rowan Bonaire Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan Bonaire Knitted Shawl and Wrap

What is Being Made

The Rowan Bonaire is a luxurious knitted wrap designed by Lisa Richardson. This finished garment measures 57 cm (22½ inches) wide and 192 cm (75½ inches) long, making it an elegant accessory suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a generous shawl. The wrap is worked in a single piece using a seamless, flat construction method that builds length through repeated pattern rows.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Cable knitting: The pattern features cable stitches, specifically the C5B cable technique, which involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle and crossing them over other stitches to create twisted, rope-like textures
• Lace knitting: Decorative lace elements are incorporated throughout using yarn forward increases (yfwd) and decrease stitches to create openwork patterns and visual lightness
• Seamless, flat construction: The wrap is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, eliminating the need for seaming while maintaining a clean, professional finish
• Charted pattern repeats: The design uses a 20-stitch by 36-row pattern repeat that is worked across the width and repeated 21 times to achieve the full length

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Bonaire combines fundamental and decorative stitches to achieve its sophisticated appearance:

• Ribbed edges: The cast-on and cast-off edges feature a simple knit and purl rib pattern (K1, P1) that provides elasticity and a neat, finished appearance
• Cable stitch (C5B): Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work, knit 3, then knit 2 from cable needle
• Lace decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together) and Sl 1, K1, psso (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) create strategic decreases that pair with yarn forward increases
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Creates new stitches and deliberate openwork holes that characterize the lace sections
• Double decrease: Sl 1, K2tog, psso (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) creates more pronounced shaping in the lace pattern

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Rowan Bonaire is worked using Rowan Island Blend Fine yarn in the photographed colorway Butterscotch 108. The pattern requires 10 x 50gm balls of yarn, providing ample yardage for the generous 192 cm length. Island Blend Fine is a refined yarn weight suitable for creating delicate lace and cable textures with excellent stitch definition.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for 3mm (US 2/3) straight needles for the main knitting, paired with a cable needle to manage the cable stitches. The smaller needle size creates a tight, refined gauge that showcases the intricate pattern details and ensures the wrap drapes elegantly.

Gauge and Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 25 stitches and 40 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) when measured over the pattern using 3mm (US 2/3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for obtaining the finished dimensions and ensuring the wrap has the intended drape and structure.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The wrap begins with casting on 143 stitches and working 6 rows of knit and purl rib. The main pattern section follows, with a 20-stitch repeat worked 6 times across each row and a 36-row repeat worked 21 times in total, creating the full length of approximately 190.5 cm. The pattern concludes with 6 additional rows of rib matching the cast-on edge, followed by casting off in rib to maintain consistency and elasticity at both ends.