Shibui Knits Kumo Scarf Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Kumo Wrap: Elegant Lightweight Knit Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Kumo Wrap is an elegant, lighter-than-air scarf designed by Patricia Shapiro. This finished piece measures 67 inches wide by 22.5 inches deep, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping. The wrap is classified as a beginner-level project, making it accessible to knitters new to shawl construction while offering sophisticated visual results through thoughtful yarn and technique choices.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Kumo Wrap is knitted sideways on the bias, meaning the knitter works from one tip to the opposite long edge rather than from top to bottom. This sideways construction creates the distinctive diagonal orientation and allows for strategic shaping through increases and decreases placed at specific row positions.

The wrap is worked flat using two different needle sizes simultaneously to create subtle texture variation. The larger US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles are used to knit stitches on the right side, while the smaller US 3 (3 mm) needles are used to purl stitches on the wrong side. This dual-needle-size technique produces a natural glimmer and refined appearance without requiring complex stitch patterns.

Shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases: increases are worked at the beginning of right-side rows and at the end of wrong-side rows, while decreases are worked at the end of every right-side row. The upper edge (increase edge) should be knitted loosely to maintain drape. For additional stretch, knitters may optionally add yarn overs between edge stitches. The wrap can be enlarged by continuing the established pattern until the desired finished size is reached.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The Kumo Wrap is worked primarily in Stockinette Stitch on the bias. The gauge is 14 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches when worked in the pattern stitch on US 3 and 10.5 needles after blocking. The designer notes that gauge is not critical for this project, though variations may affect the finished size and yardage required.

The pattern includes optional yarn-over embellishments that can be added for visual interest and increased stretch without constituting formal increases to the stitch count.

Materials and Yarn

The Kumo Wrap is designed to showcase the beauty of luxurious blended yarns held together as a single strand throughout the project.

• Shibui Knits Silk Cloud: 60% Kid Mohair, 40% Silk; 330 yards per 25-gram skein; 2 skeins required. Shown in the Mist colorway.
• Shibui Knits Tweed Silk Cloud: 65% Silk, 35% Kid Mohair; 190 yards per 25-gram skein; 2 skeins required. Shown in the White colorway.

One strand of Silk Cloud and one strand of Tweed Silk Cloud are held together throughout the entire project, creating a sophisticated yarn blend that produces the wrap's characteristic lightweight, shimmering quality.

Tools and Notions

• US 3 (3 mm) needles
• US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles
• Interchangeable needles with one US 3 (3 mm) tip and one US 10.5 (6.5 mm) tip are suitable alternatives
• Optional: Second US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needle tip for bind-off
• 2 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Blocking pins and wires for finishing

Advanced Design Features

The pattern encourages knitters to explore Color Mixing techniques to take the project to the next level. This suggests that experienced knitters can experiment with different colorway combinations of the two required yarns to create personalized colorwork effects while maintaining the fundamental construction method.