Swans Island Algonquin Wrap Scarf Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Algonquin Wrap

What is Being Made

The Algonquin Wrap is an intermediate-level women's cabled wrap designed by Michele Rose Ornete. This one-size wrap measures 51¼ inches in length and 16½ inches in width, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a shawlette-style wrap.

Craft and Project Type

This is a knitting project categorized as a scarf or wrap. The pattern is presented as a downloadable PDF and is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for a traditional construction method that many knitters find intuitive and manageable.

Techniques Used

The Algonquin Wrap employs several key knitting techniques:

• Cable work – The primary design feature, incorporating various cable crosses that create visual texture and dimension throughout the piece
• Seamless construction – The wrap is worked as a single piece without requiring seaming, contributing to a polished finished product
• Worked flat – Knitted back and forth on straight needles using right-side and wrong-side rows, rather than circular needles
• Chart-based pattern – The instructions utilize stitch charts for the Left Panel, Center Panel, and Right Panel, allowing knitters to follow visual representations of the cable sequences

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The pattern incorporates a range of cable stitches and foundational knitting techniques:

• K1, P1 Rib – Used for the cast-on and bind-off edges to create a neat, elastic border
• Left Twist (LT) – A two-stitch cable worked by slipping one stitch to a cable needle and holding in front, then knitting one stitch and knitting one from the cable needle
• Left Purl Twist (LPT) – A variation combining a purl and knit stitch in a twisted formation
• Right Twist (RT) – Mirror of the left twist, worked with the cable needle held in back
• Right Purl Twist (RPT) – A right-leaning twisted stitch combining knit and purl
• 2/1 Left Purl Cross (2/1 LPC) – Two stitches crossed over one purl stitch, creating a decorative cable element
• 2/1 Right Purl Cross (2/1 RPC) – The right-leaning version of the purl cross
• 2/2 Left Cross (2/2 LC) – Two knit stitches crossed over two knit stitches, held to the front
• 2/2 Right Cross (2/2 RC) – Two knit stitches crossed over two knit stitches, held to the back
• 4/4 Left Cross (4/4 LC) – Four knit stitches crossed over four knit stitches, creating a bold cable effect
• 4/4 Right Cross (4/4 RC) – The right-leaning version of the larger cable cross

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Algonquin Wrap is designed to be worked with Swans Island Natural Colors Collection yarn, specifically 100% organic merino wool in worsted weight. The pattern calls for 4 skeins of yarn, with each skein weighing 100 grams and containing 250 yards, providing a total of approximately 1,000 yards of yardage. The colorway shown in the pattern is Wheat. The pattern notes that the wrap uses almost all of the 4 skeins, and knitters may wish to purchase an additional skein for swatching or if they desire a longer finished length.

Needles, Tools, and Gauge

The pattern specifies US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. Additional tools required include stitch markers to delineate the three panels, a cable needle for executing the cable stitches, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends during finishing.

The gauge for this pattern is