Valley Yarns Anna Maria Island Wrap Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Anna Maria Island Knitted Shawl and Wrap

What Is Being Made

The Anna Maria Island is a generously sized knitted wrap designed by Julie Turjoman as part of the Valley Yarns Gulf Coast Collection. This intermediate-level shawl measures 24 inches wide by 72 inches long when finished, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering on flights, draping over shoulders indoors, or providing warmth during outdoor activities. The wrap's dimensions and construction make it an elegant, practical garment for various occasions and seasons.

Construction Techniques

This wrap is constructed using a bottom-up, seamless, worked-flat approach. The piece is knitted in one continuous piece from one short end, eliminating the need for seaming. A distinctive construction technique involves working the allover slip-stitch pattern by sliding stitches to the opposite end of the circular needle every other row, rather than turning the work at the end of each row. This creates a special effect where the knitter works two consecutive right-side rows followed by two consecutive wrong-side rows. This technique requires circular needles to keep stitches secure while sliding them back and forth.

Stitch Patterns and Details

The Anna Maria Island features several key stitch elements:

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base, worked at a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches when blocked
• Slip-stitch pattern creates the allover texture and visual interest throughout the wrap, worked from end to end
• One-row stripes are incorporated into the design by alternating between different yarn colors (Natural, Fawn, and Stone) as the pattern progresses
• Knitted-on I-Cord piping forms the solid-color borders, adding tailored elegance and a finished edge to the wrap. The I-Cord is worked using 3 stitches and measures approximately 105 rows in length

Yarn and Materials

The wrap is designed to showcase Valley Yarns Whately, a luxurious blend of 68% baby alpaca and 32% organic Pima cotton. The yarn requirements include:

• Color A (Natural): 5 balls of Valley Yarns Whately (50g per ball, 164 yards per ball)
• Color B (Fawn): 2 balls of Valley Yarns Whately
• Color C (Stone): 2 balls of Valley Yarns Whately

The alpaca-cotton blend provides both loft and lightness, creating a wrap that is warm without excessive weight. The natural fiber composition allows the yarn's inherent colors to shine, making the striped pattern particularly striking.

Needles and Equipment

Construction requires US size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches in length, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends after blocking.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex techniques. The primary challenge lies in mastering the slip-stitch pattern and the unconventional row-sliding technique, which requires careful attention to pattern directions and understanding how to work consecutive rows in the same direction without turning the work.