Valley Yarns Inis Wrap Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Inis Wrap

What Is Being Made

The Inis Wrap is a versatile rectangular wrap designed by Kirsten Hipsky, measuring 20 inches wide and 60 inches long when finished. This wrap features a striking visual design that combines cable motifs with delicate lace patterning, creating what the designer describes as "islands of cables in a sea of waving lace." The finished dimensions make it suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a generous shawlette.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs three primary techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Cable knitting: The wrap incorporates cable stitches (C6F and C6B) that create the dimensional "islands" throughout the design. These cables are worked on a 6-stitch base and are crossed both forward and backward to add textural interest and visual movement.
• Lace knitting: Eyelet lace patterns are created using yarn overs (yo) paired with decreases (k2tog and ssk), forming the "waving lace" sections that alternate with the cable columns. These lace motifs create an open, airy quality that contrasts with the solid cable sections.
• Worked flat: The wrap is constructed by working flat on straight needles in rows rather than in the round, which allows for the asymmetrical patterning and straightforward edge finishing with knit selvage stitches.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a combination of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to build its structure and design:

• Knit (K): The basic stitch that forms the foundation of the fabric and creates the stockinette base for cable and lace sections.
• Purl (P): Used to create reverse stockinette columns that frame and define the cable and lace motifs, adding visual separation between pattern elements.
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in both the lace sections and cable crossings to balance yarn overs and maintain stitch count.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to create the lace eyelet patterns, particularly in the alternating rows of the design.
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the open eyelets characteristic of the lace sections, worked in repeating sequences of three yarn overs paired with decreases.
• Cable stitches (C6F and C6B): These specialized stitches involve crossing groups of 6 stitches either forward (C6F) or backward (C6B) using a cable needle to create the dimensional cable columns that run vertically through the wrap.

Materials

The Inis Wrap requires specific materials to achieve the intended drape, gauge, and finished appearance:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Southwick, a blend of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo, is specified for this project. The yarn is provided in 10 skeins, each weighing 50 grams with a yardage of 105 yards per skein, totaling approximately 1,050 yards. The sample shown is worked in the Teal colorway, though the pattern would be suitable for other Valley Yarns Southwick colors.
• Needles: US size 6 (4.00mm) needles are required, or needles in the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. Straight needles are used for working flat.
• Additional tools: A cable needle (cn) is essential for working the cable crossings that define the wrap's visual character. Loose ends will need to be sewn in after binding off, and blocking is recommended (though optional) to even out the lace and set the finished dimensions.

Gauge and Pattern Structure

The pattern is worked at a gauge of approximately 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. One complete pattern repeat measures 26 stitches wide and 36 rows tall, forming approximately a 5-inch square. The wrap is cast on with 108 stitches, which allows for multiple repeats of the pattern across the width. The design is built by repeating a 36-row pattern sequence until the wrap reaches the desired 60-inch length, with 4 rows of garter stitch worked at both the beginning and end for a finished edge.