Rowan Dark Daisy Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan Dark Daisy Knitted Shawl by Kaffe Fassett

What is Being Made

The Rowan Dark Daisy is a rectangular knitted shawl and wrap designed by renowned colorwork artist Kaffe Fassett. This finished piece measures 49.5 cm (19½ inches) wide and 214 cm (84¼ inches) long, making it a generous wrap suitable for draping and layering. The shawl features an intricate patterned center section with coordinating side borders, creating a sophisticated accessory with visual impact.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several advanced colorwork techniques to create its distinctive design:

• Intarsia Technique: The main patterned section uses the intarsia method, a colorwork approach where different colored yarns are used in distinct areas of the design rather than being carried across the work. This technique creates clean color blocks and is ideal for large-scale motifs like the floral patterns featured in Dark Daisy.
• Stranded Colorwork: Additional color blending is achieved through stranded techniques, allowing for seamless color transitions within the pattern.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The shawl is worked from the bottom edge upward, beginning with a cast-on of 112 stitches and building the design through successive pattern repeats.
• Worked Flat: The main section is constructed flat on straight needles, with side borders picked up and worked separately using a circular needle, a common approach for adding finished edges to rectangular wraps.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Garter Stitch (g st): Used for the cast-on edge (6 rows) and the finishing edges, including the side borders (4 rows each). Garter stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric that frames the main design.
• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary stitch for the main patterned section, worked entirely in stockinette from a charted pattern. This smooth, classic stitch provides an ideal canvas for the intarsia colorwork, allowing the floral motifs to stand out clearly.

Pattern Structure and Repeats

The Dark Daisy pattern is built on a systematic repeat structure. After working the initial chart rows 1 to 4, the pattern repeats chart rows 5 to 154 four times consecutively, accumulating 604 rows from the chart. A final partial repeat of chart rows 5 to 75 is worked once more, with flower motifs omitted on the last 2 rows for a clean finish. This repetition creates a cohesive, flowing design across the length of the wrap, with a total of 675 rows completed before transitioning to the finishing section.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Dark Daisy is knitted using Rowan Felted Tweed, a premium wool blend yarn. The pattern requires multiple colors to achieve the full design:

• Yarn A: Turquoise 202 (4 x 50gm) – the main color
• Yarn B: Lotus Leaf 205 (5 x 50gm) – a secondary color
• Yarn C: Peony 183 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn D: Duck Egg 173 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn E: Tawny 186 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn F: Zinnia 198 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn G: Electric Green 203 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn H: Barbara 200 (1 x 50gm)
• Yarn I: Pink Bliss 199 (1 x 50gm)

Needles: The pattern calls for three needle sizes to accommodate different sections and achieve proper tension:

• 1 pair of 3¼mm (US 3) needles – used for garter stitch edges and borders
• 1 pair of 3¾mm (US 5) needles – the primary needles for the main patterned stockinette section
• 1 x 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle, at least 120 cm long – used for picking up