Sesia Naomi Wrap Knitting Pattern

Sesia Naomi Wrap

What is Being Made

The Sesia Naomi Wrap is a sophisticated lace shawl designed by Rosemary Drysdale, offered as a downloadable knitting pattern. This intermediate-level project creates a generous rectangular wrap measuring 14 inches wide by 65 inches long, making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping. The wrap is worked in a single size and features a beautiful lace pattern throughout, combining two complementary yarn colors for visual interest and depth.

Techniques Used

This wrap is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and drape:

• Lace knitting: The primary decorative technique features the Crest of the Wave stitch pattern, which creates an open, flowing design through strategic yarn overs and decreases
• Seamless construction: The wrap is worked flat on straight needles without seaming, creating a continuous piece from cast-on to bind-off
• Striping: Two yarn colors (celestial sky and blue moon) are alternated throughout the pattern to create subtle horizontal color variations
• Worked flat: The entire project is worked back and forth on US size 6 (4mm) needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy pattern management and consistent edge stitches

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Sesia Naomi Wrap employs a repeating lace stitch pattern called Crest of the Wave, which is based on a multiple of 12 stitches plus 1, with 2 additional selvedge stitches. The pattern repeat spans 18 rows and combines fundamental knitting decreases with yarn overs to create the lace effect:

• Knit (k): Basic knit stitch used for garter stitch sections and selvedge stitches
• Purl (p): Used on wrong-side rows within the lace pattern
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the open holes characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used twice consecutively in the pattern
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used twice consecutively in the pattern, creating balanced decreases on either side of the yarn overs
• Garter stitch: Formed by knitting every row, creating a textured base at the beginning and end of the wrap

Materials and Gauge

The wrap is knitted with Sesia BATIK yarn, a premium blend of 98% organic cotton and 2% iridescent polyester. The pattern calls for 3 balls in color #0554 (celestial sky) and 5 balls in color #1058 (blue moon), with each ball weighing 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and containing 93 yards (85 meters) of yarn. The total yardage required is approximately 744 yards (680 meters).

Knitting is worked on US size 6 (4mm) needles, and the pattern requires stitch markers to track the repeats and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The recommended gauge is 21½ stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working the Crest of the Wave pattern after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the lace pattern displays as intended.

Construction Details

The wrap begins with casting on 75 stitches and working the Crest of the Wave pattern continuously until the piece reaches approximately 64¼ inches in length. The pattern is then concluded with a final repeat of the garter stitch rows (Rows 1–6) before binding off purlwise. The finished piece is blocked to the specified measurements of 14 inches wide by 65 inches long, and all yarn ends are woven in securely. The combination of lace and garter stitch sections, along with the two-color striping, creates a sophisticated wrap with excellent drape and visual appeal.