Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill
Our Open Air Wrap loves a yarn with personality! The original version, in Habu’s crispy Silk Wrap Paper, was a bit sculptural, a bit outside-of-the-box. And now in Linen Quill, the Open Air Wrap reveals a whole other side, one that is soft and voluminous, refined and classic.
With a grand total of one repeating line, this pattern, aka the Purse Stitch, could hardly be simpler. Its open lace structure is so speedy that your Wrap will be done in time for your next summer wedding, vacation, or beach bonfire!
All you need to get started are two skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill. A distinctive blend of alpaca, merino, and linen, Linen Quill is lightweight and gorgeous, just right for an Open Air Wrap!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoOpenAirWrap, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is approximately 439 yards/100 grams; approximately 878 yards required. For one wrap we used the color Stonewall Gray, and for the other, Lavender Opal.
- US 5 (3.75mm) straight or circular needles
More Colors
Stonewall Gray is cool and sophisticated, but we love these colors too!
TURMERIC YELLOW
OATMEAL GRAY
SALT + PEPPER
Gauge
20 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern, unblocked
18 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern, blocked
Size
Finished Dimensions, Unblocked: 19½ inches wide x 65 inches long
Finished Dimensions, Blocked: 22 inches wide x 70 inches long
Pattern
For the free pattern, please visit our original Open Air Wrap story.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I don’t mean to be a know-it-all….but can’t you simplify things and do a
P1 *yo k2tog* P1
Or am I missing something so obvious?
Hi Sean,
Thanks for writing in. I actually thought the same thing too until I tried to k2tog, yo and found that the stitch looks different. The k2tog, yo creates a “knit loop” which looks different than the p2tog, yo. Try it out! You’ll see!
Best,
Adam
RE Open Air Wrap: What size needles did you choose with the Linen Quill.?
Hi Susi,
Thanks for writing us. You can knit this on a US4 or US5 depending on if you knit tightly or loosely. Good luck on the project!
Thanks,
Adam
Beautiful. What are your thoughts on doing this wrap in 100% linen, like Euroflax?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the nice comment! I think this would look great in Euroflax! If you have the yarn already, I’d suggest going up to a comfortable needle size and casting on less stitches because the Euroflax is a thicker yarn. If you haven’t purchased the yarn for this project yet and would like to do it in linen, I suggest you take a look at Kalinka. This yarn is roughly the same weight as the Linen Quill and feels so wonderful after blocking and wear. Good luck on the decision!
Best,
Adam
Thank you! 🙂
Using Kalinka for this pattern, do you recommend 3 skeins? What about the needle size and the # of cast on stitches?
Thank you!
Hi Kimmy,
Thanks for writing in! Any of the three Kalinka yarns that we carry would be lovely for this wrap. If you are using the 100% linen version or the linen/wool version, 3 skeins will suffice. If you are using the cotton/linen blend, you will need 4 skeins.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Does this open wrap pattern only require 2 skeins?
Hi Jacki,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, this pattern requires only two skeins but you can add a third if you desire a longer scarf. The choice is yours!
Best,
Adam
Just started this project on #5 needles and it does not look like 2 skeins will be enough. Halfway thru the first skein and barely 12 inches of fabric. The wrap looked very ample in the photo I will be disappointed if I find myself short.
Thank you for writing in!
If you are using two skeins of our Linen Quill and are obtaining the correct gauge on the US 5’s, you will certainly have enough. Blocking this project is an important step in obtaining the correct length and width. You will be surprised how beautifully this wrap blocks! If you are using a different type of yarn, please feel free to send us a photo of your work so we can assess if you will come up short!
Happy knitting!
Keith
I was just yesterday looking at the original pattern for this — and I like this linen fabric more! Q: that pattern calls to CO 98, with 4US needles. Suggest mods to that, or CO 98 w/ this as well ?thanks !
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for writing us! As long as you are using a lace to fingering weight yarn you don’t have to modify the pattern at all. So glad you like the linen. It’s great! Good luck on the project!
Thanks,
Adam
That’s what I needed to hear, thanks. As I live in AUS, many of the yarns are unavailable here (at least at a price I can afford) so knowing the weight of the yarn (we call in ply) and also how many metres / yards of it is needed would be a great help. But even just saying “lace to fingering weight yarn” gives me an idea of what I need to look for in my local shop. Thank.s
so pretty!
What does blocked and unblocked mean in the pattern for the open air wrap? Dies blocked mea a tighter stitch rather than larger holes in the pattern?
Hi Edith,
Thanks for writing us. Blocking is when you either steam the project or submerge it in water with a dash of soap after it is all knit up. It is a good idea to block this yarn and especially for this pattern. Blocking will open up the lace work in the purse stitch pattern and will soften the hand feel of the Linen Quill. I think you should give it a try!
Best,
Adam
This looks so elegant! The Linen Quill looks like beautiful yarn, but I’m wondering — would Kalinka 21 work for this? I’ve got a few skeins in my stash. Thank you!
Hi there!
Thanks so much for the kind words! I think the Kalinka 21 will work great for this scarf! As long as you have around 900 yards you shouldn’t have to modify the pattern at all. Good luck on the project!
-Adam
Does the Linen Quill yarn stretch? I tried the pattern with the Silk Wrap Paper, but without any stretch it was very challenging for me. Thanks!
Hi Beth,
The Linen Quill is quite enjoyable to knit in my opinion. The wool and alpaca give it some stretch and the touch of linen give it some texture. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Best,
Adam
This is a lovely pattern, and since the yarn is not awesomely expensive, I thought I could finally afford to order something from you. Imagine my disappointment when I found that almost every color is sold out.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the nice comment! I’m sorry that almost every color is out! This yarn has been insanely popular. Try calling the store at 212-420-8796 to see if they have a color you want in stock. Also, you can be put on a call list for the yarn you’d like to purchase by either calling the store or clicking the button below the product on the website.
Best,
Adam
Sad to say the store is sold out too. I was looking at the scarf, and tried it on, hopefully you will have some more spun. By then I should have the spare cash to buy some more.
Hi Cheryl,
We should be getting some more in between mid July and mid August, so stay tuned! Be sure to get on our call list for the color you want!
-Adam
I would like to make this pattern as a scarf, approximately half the width. Can you help me with the number of stitches I would need to cast on to make it come out right? Also, is there a preferred cast on?
Thank you
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! If you want to make the scarf half the width, then I would recommend casting on half the stitches. I used a long tail cast on for this project and it worked out just fine. I hope you enjoy knitting this!
Best,
Adam
Thank you Adam
I just wasn’t sure if I had to work in any particular multiple for the pattern to come out. I will cast on 49!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing back. You need to cast on an even amount as in the pattern, so I’d cast on 48. Hope this helps!
-Adam
I’m a beginner…just finishing the Lear to Knit Scarf set. Loving it…and looking for a next project. Possible that a beginner could make this beautiful shawl? or another suggestion for next project for me! Adore Purl SoHo!
Hi Ronnee,
Thanks for the kind words! I think that a beginner could master the techniques used in this scarf. It’s not as hard as it seems! All you have to learn is a yarn over and purl 2 together. That’s it! All the best! I hope you end up trying it!
-Adam
Beautiful scarf! How many grams/ounces are there in a skein of Linen Quill?
I did notice that none of your projects provide that info.
Alex
Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing in and for your kind words about the wrap! Linen Quill comes in 100 gram skeins. If you are interested in the full information about any of our yarns, you can click on Product Details on the product page for the yarn.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi, I hope you can help with a problem I’m having with the pattern. At the end of every second row I have two stitches left rather than one. What am I doing wrong??
Hi Amy,
Sorry about the problem! I hope I can solve it! I think that you might be missing a yarn over somewhere in the pattern. If you get to the last two stitches and they are both anchored (not yarn overs, just regular purls), then that means you are not doing the yarn over after knitting the first stitch in the row. Check the middle of your work to see if you have any missing yarn overs, too. Let me know how it goes!
Best,
Adam
I am totally baffled, I seem to lose a stitch somewhere in the first row. Would it make any difference that I have reduced stitch number to 46? I will keep trying as the scarf is so lovely I’m determined to make it!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry you are missing a stitch! Perhaps you didn’t do the yarn over after the first knit? Make sure to look at the stitches on your needle and check to see if there is a yarn over in between every purl stitch. I hope this helps!
-Adam
Hi Adam, I have a question about the pattern…..at the end of each roll do you do a yo before the last knit stitch? I keep ending up with 1 less stitch!
Thx
Hello Susan,
Thanks for writing in! You actually do a yo after the very first knit and then you p2tog. Your last three stitches should be p2tog, k1. If you take a look at the pattern pictures, it shows you how to do the yo after the first knit. I’d take a look at this and see if you are executing it correctly. It certainly is an interesting technique!
Happy knitting!
Adam
When are you getting more Linen Quill back in stock?
I’d really like to make this beautiful wrap.
Thank You,
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing us! This is the question that is on everybody’s mind! Hopefully we will get the yarn back in soon, but we don’t have an exact date yet. Be sure to sign up for us to call you when the color you want comes back in! Stay tuned!
-Adam
Could Jade Sapphire 2 ply cashmere be used as a substitute for the Linen Twill when knitting this scarf?
Hi Betsy,
Yes, yes, yes! That sounds like a great idea! I say give it a try; you won’t be disappointed. The yarn is just beautiful!
Happy knitting,
Adam
I love this pattern!Do you think I can use Line Weight instead of Linen Quill?
Thanks
Hi Amy,
thanks for your kind words! You can certainly use Line Weight instead of Linen Quill for this pattern. I think it’ll come out lovely!
-Adam
I love this wrap….so pretty!! I too could not get the linen quill (my first choice) so purchased a merino/alpaca/silk fingering in baby grey which will be gorgeous!
I am a new knitter and despite being as loose as I can with my cast on the first row is tough to get started (subsequent rows seem easier but dropping a stitch somewhere)
Would knitting the first row help and would it disrupt the pattern (as long as I knit the last row before I bind off!)
Thanks!
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing us! So glad you like the pattern! You can certainly knit the first and last rows to make things easier. This won’t really affect the look of the stitch and won’t disturb the pattern. Best of luck on the project!
-Adam
How would this yarn work as a woven shawl? I’m a new weaver and am eager to try different yarns on my loom!
Many thanks!
Hi Lee,
This yarn looks great woven! In fact, we wove this yarn for our Field Scarf project. I highly recommend it. The fabric is textural, yet soft and the yarn is quite strong with all the linen in it!
Happy weaving!
Adam
Could you recommend another yarn to use for this scarf, if we want to knit it up before the Linen Quill is back in stock? Thanks!
Hi Leah,
There is some Linen Quill back in stock! We don’t have all the colors back but I’d check on the web or call the store to see if we have a color you want. Thanks for writing in!
-Adam
Hello,
I was going through the comments and came across the one that discussed completing the wrap in linen-I was thinking the same.
The suggested material of Kalinda looks gorgeous-what striking colours! Looking forward to working with that yarn!
Just purchased Linen Quill in Stillwater Blue! Can’t wait to get started!
The original pattern calls for 5 skeins of the Silk Wrap Paper that is about 500 yds. total. Since the 2 skeins of Linen Quill comes to @880 yds. do you have any idea how many extra stitches I can cast on to make the scarf wider so I don’t use just a small portion of the first skein and I can use close to all of the Linen Quill? Thanks.
Hi Laura,
Great question! For the Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill, we actually used almost every yard of the two skeins without modifying the pattern. The only difference is that we used a US 5 needle for the Linen Quill rather than the US 4 for the original yarn.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Yes, this does help me! I wanted to use as much as possible of this yummy yarn. Thank you.
I have knitted a few inches of the open air wrap in linen quill with a long tale cast on in size 3.75 mm needles . The cast on appears to be too tight compared with the rest of the knitting? I have tried to cast on relatively loosely. What would you suggest?
Hi Jane,
Great question! Unless otherwise noted, we love to use a long tail cast-on as we do for this lovely Open Air Wrap. If your cast-on is too tight, you can use a larger needle size (I generally go one size up) for the cast on and then begin knitting with the correct size needle. This should give you a slightly looser cast-on that will be stretchier.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi Jane,
Great question! When I feel that my cast-on is a little too tight, I cast-on using a needle size up from that that is suggested and then continue knitting with the suggested needle size. In the case on the Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill, I would cast-on using a US 6 needle and then begin knitting using a US 5. This should yield a less tight cast-on that has a bit more give.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
If knitting this wrap with circular needles, what length of needle do we need? Thanks!
Hi Amy,
Great question! We knit this lovely wrap on circular needles and used a 24 inch length. My rule of thumb is to use a needle with a cable a bit longer than the finished width of the item so that all of the stitched can rest easily when I am not knitting and there is less chance of stitches falling off if I have to drop the project quickly. For this project I would suggest a 24″ or 32″ circular needle.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Love the wrap. How many yards in a linen quill skein?
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for writing in! Our Linen Quill comes in 439 yard skeins! For this wrap we used almost every yarn of 2 skeins.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I just purchased 2 skeins of Linen Quill (Stillwater Blue).
My question is for the cast on, I usually use a long tail cast on. What is recommended for this wrap.
Thank you.
Hi Karren,
Great question! We are so glad that you will be knitting this pattern! For most of our patterns we use the long tail cast-on. This is the case for the Open Air Wrap as well.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I was thinking of doing the Open Air wrap in Kalinka. I want to hold two strands together so I can achieve a gradient effect by swapping out one strand of yarn periodically for a different color. My question is, what size needles should I use for 2 strands of Kalinka to still achieve the openness of the stitch, and how many stitches should I cast on? Thanks for your help.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing us! I think this is a great idea! I would suggest a US 8 or 9 needle, but I think the best thing to do is knit a swatch and see which needle size you prefer. For the cast on amount I’d go by your gauge on the swatch. To do this you count your stitches per inch and multiply that number by the width you desire. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting!
-Adam
Hi, I am having a terrible time with getting gauge with the linen quill. I cast on 20 stitches for my swatch on a size 5 needle and wound up with a 6″ piece. I went down to a 4 and the piece measures 5 1/2″ Would you recommend I drop down to a size 3 needle? My purl stitch is a combination purl, not the more common type of purling, but I don’t generally have trouble knitting on gauge. Thanks!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! I’m sorry that you are having trouble with the gauge! I think that as long as you like the stitch definition, you should go with the US 4 or 5 and adjust for gauge. With your current gauge, you could find out your stitches per inch and multiply that number by the width of the scarf. If you’d like, I’d wet block the swatch and see if the piece gets closer to gauge. This yarn blocks out beautifully! Best of luck and let me know how it goes!
-Adam
Thanks for this lovely pattern! I am really enjoying how it knits up. One quick question – I am about to add my second skein of yarn and am just contemplating what to do with the ends afterwards. I saw in some of the comments from the original pattern that you recommended just starting the next row with the new yarn, which is easy enough, but do you have any recommendations for weaving in the ends with such a loose stitch?
Cheers!
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing us and for that lovely comment! I suggest that you weave in your ends up or down the very last row along the length of the scarf. I found that this was the only option since you can’t really weave in ends on lace. Happy knitting and let us know how it turns out!
-Adam
very difficult time correcting mistakes with this pattern. Any hints on how to “tink” the YO p2tog?
Hi Patty,
Sorry this is troubling you! I do not suggest tinking the patter, but rather ripping out a few stitches. It’s much easier to restring the stitches back on to the left-hand needle than tink. To do this you’ll rip out however many stitches and then insert your needle into a purl stitch and then a yarn over stitch, etc. The front leg of your yarn over should be the leading leg. Let me know if you have any other questions!
-Adam
Is the linen quill coming back in stock? Would love to see the grays &’blues
Hi there!
Yes, it is, but we do not have a definite date yet! Stay tuned!
-Adam
I love the look of this scarf and tried out the stitch by making a small sample swatch. It was easy & looked great… then I dropped a stitch. I took the row out, but would so appreciate help on how to get the stitches back on the needle correctly. I’ve never done YOs before & am not sure how to get back on track, picking up the stitches.
Withthanks,
Ros
Hello Ros,
Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully I can get you back on track. If you look at your swatch without the needle in it, you’ll see that there is a stitch that is “anchored” to the stitch below and then a long “float” in between that connects to the next “anchored” stitch. The anchored stitch is your purl and the long float is your yarn over. With your left-hand needle, string the stitches back on making sure to insert your needle into the front of the stitch. All the stitches should be on the needle with the front leg leading. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Best,
Adam
I just ordered 2 skeins of the salt & pepper Linen Quill yarn to make the open weave scarf…..I am excited to make it. It’s beautiful. I am a little confused. It says that it only takes two skeins to make but in the instructions it says under Pattern “Repeat Row 1 until you have used all five skeins, minus several yards.” What does that mean?
Thanks.
Barbara
Hi Babara,
Thanks for writing in! We originally made this lovely shawl in Habu’s Silk Wrapped Paper, which has far fewer yards per skein than our Linen Quill. If you are doing the Linen Quill version, you will repeat row 1 until you have used both skeins, minus several yards.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I adore this scarf, ordered the yarn, cast on…..holy moley, I don’t think Ill live long enough to finish it. Awkward stitch for us throwers. Ill keep blodding along but all these other yarns and projects are calling me ..
Just got the linen twill in lavender opal. Thanks for winding it and including the pattern have the first few rows done. This is a very easy project and I can see how nice it will be in this yarn. Thanks for all the help – winding the yarn made it easier for me to start without having to wind it myself. Am using Addi turbo rockets in size 5 for it.
Hi Ellen,
Thank you so much! We are always happy to help!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I made a slight modification to the pattern – I cast on 100 stitches and knit 2 rows through the back loop. I maintained the 2 stitches at the beginning and end of each row as knit tbl, following your pattern with the remaining 96 stitches. I just love how it looks! And such an easy knit – this project goes everywhere with me so I can do a row or two whenever I have a few spare minutes. Thank you for such a wonderful project (and for Linen Quill too!)!!
Hi Bonnie,
Thanks so much for sharing your modification with us! We love seeing where people go with our products!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I assume this creates a clearer finished edge all around. Did you do a purl bind off at the end as the pattern suggests?
To answer April’s question: when I got to the end, I knitted 2 tows tbl to match the first 2 rows of my wrap and bound off knit wise. Hope that helps!
Hello,
Sadly, alpaca does not agree with me. Could you recommend another Purl Soho yarn that would be good for a warmer climate. Would this work with the new Spun Silk? Or Cotton Pure? Or Line Weight? If so, how many skeins of each would you recommend and corresponding needle size would you recommend. Thanks!
Hi Quynh,
Great question! The most similar yarn, gauge-wise, to Linen Quill would be Line Weight and that would make a lovely wrap! You would need the same 2 skeins and US 5 needle.
Cotton Pure would be lovely as well. You would need to go up to a US 6 or 7 and 3-4 skeins. You would also need to adjust the cast on number. To do so I would suggest knitting a small gauge swatch in pattern and measure the number of stitches per inch. Then multiply the number of stitches per inch by the number of inches wide you would like the final wrap to be and round to the nearest even number.
Spun Silk has a lot of drape and luster. For a wrap like this, a more structured yarn would accentuate the lace best. For this reason, I would probably go with the Cotton Pure or the Line Weight.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I have two skeins of flax down, would this pattern work in this yarn?
Hi Jill,
Thanks for your question! Flax Down is a much heavier yarn, so the wrap will look different and you’ll have to alter the pattern to accommodate for the stitch gauge. Also, I think that you’ll need three skeins of Flax Down for a wrap. Whatever the case, I think you should totally go for this project if you get one more skein of Flax Down! Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
-Adam
I love this wrap and have been trying to make a start at it all weekend. I’ve watched a dozen videos and feel like I am doing the YO between the P2Tog correcty but instead of getting these nice open spaces like in the photo, I always have a piece of yarn that trails across it. Any clue what I am doing wrong? And any chance you’ll make a quick video with this? 😉
I’m bound and determined but don’t feel like I’m getting any better at this. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Hi Jamie,
I’m sorry this is troubling you! One thing it could be is that you are looking at an unblocked lace swatch. If you stretch the fabric downward, does the stitch look like the photo? Sometimes lace doesn’t show up until it’s wet blocked. As long as you are purling the purl stitch and then the yarn over together, you are doing the stitch correctly. Hang in there! Let me know if you have any other questions!
-Adam
Ordered the lavender opal and couldn’t wait for it to arrive to start the scarf. However when it came it was not lavender at all but a gray. Very disappointed.
Hi Joy,
So sorry you were disappointed with the color choice. You can certainly send it back in for store credit if it’s not wound! It is very hard to buy yarn online because the resolution on each computer monitor shows colors differently. I am so sorry this happened!
Best,
Adam
Just finished this scarf & love it! I would like to make it into an infinity scarf though. Recommendations for the type / method for joining it together would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Rachel,
So glad you love the end result! I recommend doing a whip stitch like in the Gradient Cowl or even the Crochet Method like we use for granny squares. Let me know what you think!
Best,
Adam
I began this wrap about 6 times, ended up ripping it all out and starting over — now I’m about 3/4’s finished and I so love the linen quill and its beautiful loft and drape. Discovered that I need to count my stitches about every 15-20 rows to make sure I still have 96 — if I’m off, now I back up very slowly stitch by stitch, until I find the mistake and am back on track.
I think this would be a lovely pattern in almost any yarn, so long as you choose the appropriate needle size.
I am about half way through this project and I love it! I used the suggested Purl linen quill yarn – it’s wonderful – light and enough stretch to make it a joy to knit with. I am not a happy purl-er, but trying the opposite (P, yo, k2tog*, P) did not give me the same stitch look – so I abandoned that idea. It’s any easy traveling project – no issues with forgetting where I am in the pattern. Perfect for a seasoned knitter (endless, mindless rows) also great for making a new knitter feel accomplished with a “big” project. It will stretch out to be a generous wrap and bunch up for a cozy scarf! This will be a generous, elegant wrap – perfect for holiday giving. I would like to knit it again in sock yarn or a self striping yarn.
One note – I always have a difficult time getting through the first couple of rows in a pattern – (things get twisted around) – so I knitted all stitches in the first four rows just to make it easier on myself and provide a little different edge and body.
Thank you for this beautiful pattern!
I’m a beginner and have just begun my project (in a 50% baby alpaca/25% silk/25% linen) blend on US 5. It will be a Christmas gift for my mom who lives in Florida–love that this is “open air”–perfect for that climate!
Which blocking method would you recommend for this fiber (dunk vs. spritz)? I’ve never blocked anything before. I also have a steamer, wondering if that’s an option or a completely terrible idea.
Thank you!
Hello, Rebecca!
Thank you for writing in! We recommend the hand blocking technique (spritzing) outlined here. Please let us know if you have further questions! Again, thank you for your question.
Best,
Kumeko
Hi Adam. I am lucky enough to live in NYC and I was able to come see you for help a couple of times. You were an excellent teacher and I’m so proud that I have finished the beautiful wrap.
I cast on 82 stitches on a size 5 needle using the linen quill and after blocking my finished size is 84×20″. It looks amazing and the blocking was so easy. I washed it by hand (I used the brick kiln color) and the color ran a bit. I then laid it out to dry on a giant towel and in the morning the fabric was so beautiful. All the stitches had relaxed and now I had perfect honeycombs.
I will definitely make this again but I think I would cast on a couple more stitches to make it a bit wider and shorter.
Thank you so much for your help and encouragement
Hi Stacey!
I remember you! Thanks for writing in! I love when things work out with customers who visit the shop. This yarn reacts so well to blocking and I’m glad you wrote in so everyone else can know that too. Hopefully I’ll see you again soon for your next purchase and we can work together on making the modifications you want for the next wrap. Thanks again!
-Adam
Hi. I originally bought a skein of (what I believed was called) Rayon Sizing to make this wrap. I bought the black with white slubs, and I am pairing it with a silk/wool mohair. It’s really lovely, but I am not sure now that 1 skein is going to be enough! I looked and did not see you selling this any more. Can you give me any ideas to buy an extra skein? Thanks!!
Hi T,
Thanks for writing in! We do still carry a yarn from Habu called Viscose Sizing. Is it possible that this is the yarn that you are referring to? Despite the large number of yarns that we carry from them, Habu does make many yarns that we do carry. If this yarn is not the one that you are hoping to purchase, you may refer to Habu’s website for a list of their yarns and locations where they can be purchased.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would working a selvage with the 2 end knit stitches make the long edges more aesthetically pleasing? I like a nice neat edge, and I usually slip the 1st K st knit-wise, and on the last K st, I knit through the back loop, purl-wise.
How will this change the design, if at all? Should I add 2 stitches so that my two ends have a K+K/selvage?
Thank you!
Hi Kimmy,
Thanks for writing us! I think this is a great idea. The edges would be much neater. I would add four stitches to the pattern, two on each end, to create the selvedge. Hope this helps!
-Adam
Are the YO done knit-wise or purl-wise?
Hi Paula,
The yarn over comes from the front and drapes over the needle to the back and swings to the front again in order to purl the next two stitches together. Hope this helps!
-Adam
I have about 1.5 skein of the flax down yarn left, would that be enough to make this? Maybe not making it quite as wide?
Hi Beate,
Thanks for writing in! Flax Down is quite a bit different than the Linen Quill called for in this pattern. It is a lot thicker and to use it, the pattern will need to be modified quite a bit. Additionally, the yardage on Flax Down is significantly less than that of Linen Quill. To use Flax Down, you will need to knit a gauge swatch in pattern on US 9 or 10 and figure out how many stitches per inch you are getting and then multiply that by width of the wrap and cast on the nearest even number of stitches. Based on other scarves made of Flax Down, I would think that you would need 4-5 skeins.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I see that you used two colors; are they held together while knitting?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for the question. We actually use two skeins of one color held single for the entire wrap.
All the best,
Adam
So, could you substitute a DK or sport weight for the two strands of lace/fingering weight? I’m looking to use up stash, and thought this would be a great project!
Thanks,
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely wrap is knit using 1 strand of our Linen Quill which is a lighter fingering weight. The whole pattern uses 2 skeins but they are knit as single strands. You certainly can knit this pattern with a heavier weight. The pattern will work over any even number of stitches so once you knit a gauge swatch and figure out your number of stitches per inch, you can cast on the closest even number of stitches that will give you 19 1/2 inches wide unblocked or 22 inches blocked.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Well shoot. I just received my order. I assumed that you held two different colors together. Looks like I’ll be looking into your return policy and ordering another skein of one color.
You suggest ordering two different colors to make the pictured scarf. Do you work them together? Every other row? Or do you knit one completely and then start the second skein? It’s lovely and I am determined!
Hi Penny,
Thanks for the question. We are not suggesting ordering two different colors — just two skeins of one color. Thanks!
-Adam
Does this provide any warmth for bare shoulders on a summer night, or is it just pretty? I have no problem with pretty, mind you …
Hi Deirdre,
Thanks for writing in! This wrap will provide a small amount of warmth but given that it is an open lace, it will not make you too warm. I have seen a lot of knitters wearing this as a scarf. Wearing it as more of a scarf, you will get a little bit more warmth!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi!
I am actually a crocheter but sometimes pick up the needles for an easy scarf.
I love Euroflax linen yarn, would this yarn work for this wrap?
Additionally, I am still not clear on the two skein answers you’ve given others. So here is my question:
Are you using two skeins of two different colors, knitted together?
Or does the whole wrap take two skeins of the Linen Quill?
thank you,
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for writing in! I think that this wrap would be lovely using Euroflax! The whole of the pattern uses 2 skeins of Linen Quill held as single strands. You would knit the entirety of one skein and then move on to the next!
Best,
Cassy
hi, I have some vintage mohair from my grandmother. could I use that or combine with this or another yarn?
Hi Lola,
Thanks for writing us. If the mohair is thin enough, you can use it to strand along with another fingering or lace weight yarn. Gauge isn’t so important with this wrap but you do want to make sure that the stitch has enough negative space to let the mohair bloom.
All the best,
Adam
I think the reason people are getting confused about the 2 color issue is because in the description for the scarf it states that 2 skeins are needed for the project, and then it says, “we used the colors Stonewall Gray and Lavender Opal”.
Agree!
agree. It could say something like “the first photo shows it in Stonewall Gray, the second photo shows it in Lavender Opal”. I had to study the posts and photos to figure that out. They look quite similar on a small screen. Or even, “We used Stonewall Gray, and, for the other sample, Lavender Opal.”
Hi Lissa,
Thank you for your suggestion! We will certainly keep in mind noting all the different colors shown for future posts. Thanks for watching out!
-Adam
Had no problem with your description. Was very clear you were referring to the two photos in two different colors. Ordering now, love this wrap! Biggest problem?, what color do I pick. Lol
Do you think this would work as a light weight cover up for nursing a baby?
Hi Laurie,
I don’t see why not! It’s a bit sheer because of the lace but I think it should work out well.
Thanks,
Adam
I am using the Linen Twill with size 5 needles. The gauge seems right on target with 98 CO, but I’ve knit about 2 inches and it’s close to 30 inches wide! Any suggestions? My CO is nice and tight. Maybe I’m knitting too loosely? It’s usually the opposite for me. Should I try size 4? Fewer CO stitches? Tighter tension? What would be best?
Hi April,
Thanks for writing in! It seems like you are not getting gauge using the US 5 needles. With the cast on of 98 stitches, you should have a scarf that is 19 1/2 inches wide before clocking. At almost 30 inches wide, you may need to go down 2 needle sizes to get the correct gauge. I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch on US 5, US 4 and US 3 to see which needle size will give you 20 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern, unblocked and then use that needle size to knit this lovely wrap!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I did that with a 4 and a 5 — creating a “true” swatch and measured it unblocked and blocked. Both times it knitted up true to the 20 stitches = 4 inches with the 5. But after I knitted up a few rows, it is still close to 30 inches. I can’t explain it. I’m going to try casting on about 76 stitches and see what happens. Sigh.
Hi April,
This is a bummer! However, modifying the pattern is super easy and you’ll have to knit less in one row! It’s ok to modify the pattern to get your desired length on needles you are comfortable on. Whatever works will do — as long as you like the stitch definition.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
Question…. on this warp your edges are super straight and neat… I find that with the knit one on each end its looking loose and uneven??? Did you finish your edges in some way??
Thanks
Hi Reva,
Thanks for writing in. I actually knit this sample and I can say that my edges looked a bit odd before wet blocking. However, I knew that after wet blocking this would all work out. The Linen Quill reacts beautifully to water and soap, so I suggest you do the same after you are done. Try it on a swatch first to see if you have any success.
Thanks,
Adam
I can fully support Adam here. This project got me down the whole time I was knitting it. The edges looked rough, the yarn was ‘wavy’ due to me ripping it all out as I made early errors and couldn’t find an easy fix and it just did;t look right. I persisted as it was for my daughter and I don’t like to be beaten and I did get the hang of the stitch eventually (including correcting errors). When finished I was still disappointed and then I reluctantly blocked it (to be honest I’ve never really done a full block before). The results were beyond FANTASTIC. It looked completely different and is loved by all who see it. I am now ready to take it on again as the yarn is affordable and the results are amazing.
What is the recommended method for blocking this scarf in the linen twill yarn? While knitting, mine is coming out with much smaller “holes” than shown in the photos! Thanks!
Hi Stacie,
Thanks for reaching out! Lace patterns like this one do usually look a bit crumpled or compressed before blocking. I would recommend wet blocking the finished wrap by soaking it in cool water with a bit of wool wash for 15 to 20 minutes, rolling it in a towel to remove as much water as possible, and then pinning the scarf to the finished dimensions in the pattern before allowing it to air dry.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I purchased both the linen quill and the spun silk to make the Shiny+Matte wrap but have since changed my mind. Could I incorporate the spun silk into this pattern along with the linen quill.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the question. I don’t see why you couldn’t incorporate the Spun Silk into this pattern. I actually think it would be stunning if you knit the ends in silk and the middle in Linen Quill. Even a stripe would look great.
All the best,
Adam
Are there other colors?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in. Click here to shop for more Linen Quill colors.
Thanks,
Adam
Hello,
What adjustment would I make to have the scarf a little less wide?
Thank you….
Hi Kathi,
Thank you for writing us. I suggest casting on less stitches. Usually I’ll suggest around 78 stitches for a narrower wrap. Hope this helps!
Adam
I would like to make this open air scarf in your linen quill. I’ve never worked with linen quill and, as wools tend to be scratchy, I would like to know if the 50% wool content makes this yarn something that I shouldn’t consider for this project. I really prefer a scarf that will be soft rather than scratchy against my neck.
Thanks so much for you advise.
Best,
Pam Moskovitz
Hi Pam,
Thanks for the question! While I don’t find Linen Quill to be scratchy at all, some do and for them I suggest the Line Weight. It is 100% merino wool and is super soft. You’ll love it!
-Adam
Thank you for getting back to me. I will most likely purchase the Line Weight in lieu of the Linen Quill.
Again, thanks!
Pam
Is this done with 2 strands?
Hi Pamela,
Thank you for the question. This is knit up with a single strand.
All the best,
Adam
Would 100% fingering wool work for this project?
Hi Christie,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, any yarn in fingering weight will work for this. Just make sure you have about 900 yards.
Adam
I’ve just been gifted with a gradient of merino and silk 50/50, 600 yards. Will that be enough to do this? Love the scarf, pattern and the linen yarn. But, I have to use this first!
Thanks!
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for your interest in this pattern! Is the merino/silk you were gifted a fingering weight or is it heavier? If it’s a fingering weight you might have to alter the cast on to approximately 78 stitches so you can get a sufficient length. Our wrap took almost 900 yards. Hope this helps!
-Adam
I’ve been working on this scarf for a couple weeks and love it. Unfortunately I dropped a yarn over stitch and didn’t notice right away. It’s left a hole that is fairly big in comparison to the open stitches of this pattern. My eye goes right to it. I don’t want to frog the rows I’ve done since (have done at least 2″ since dropping it). Is there any way I can fix it? Thanks so much!
Hi Joan,
Thank you for writing in. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do besides frogging or dropping down rows. However, I don’t suggest dropping down with a lace stitch because it’s quite difficult to pick up the yarn overs and do the decreases so far down. If you can, I suggest you try taking a tapestry needle and some yarn to imitate the stitch and close up the hole. this might take a few attempts but you should be able to hide the hole. Best of luck!
Adam
I am supper excited my yarn arrived today to start knitting this scarf, I have two skeins in the rose colour . It’s winter here so I better knit fast so I can wear it, ?
Hello,
This yarn is lovely and so crisp, I can’t wait to get this wrap made! But does anyone have suggestions or wisdom about how to work with the linen yarn so that not every individual thread of it gets separated out when inserting the needle? From casting on and attempting the first row, it seems like it’s going to be very difficult to keep the stitch as clean and crisp looking as these photographs.
Many thanks!
Hello Andrea,
Thank you for writing in! Are you working with Linen Quill or another type of yarn? Pre-blocked this stitch will look look a little more scrunched. Blocking this wrap will relax the yarn and create a flatter, “crisper” look.
I hope this helps!
warmly,
Marilla
I am much better at crocheting than knitting…do you have suggestions for a crochet pattern that would look similar for the open air wrap or terrace wrap in a linen or lace weight merino? Love your yarns and patterns but would be thrilled to see more crochet options. Thanks!
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your kind words! We do not have a crocheted version of this lovely wrap at present and I am not aware of a similar stitch pattern in crochet (it could well exist). I will certainly pass your request on!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
Try as I might, I cannot find the free pattern mentioned on this site for the Open Air Wrap. I’d like to make one for my sister and have asked her to choose a color from your yarn selection. Could you please send me the appropriate link for the pattern?
Thanks very much !
Hello Sue,
Thanks for writing in! I’m sorry to hear you are having trouble finding the pattern. Here is a link to the original version of the wrap which was made with Habu’s Silk Wrapped Paper.
Please let us know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
If you are knitting this with single strand, why does description state that the one in the picture was made with Stonewall Gray and Lavender Opal? Were 2 wraps made? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this issue.
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for writing in! We have clarified the wording on the pattern. It now reads “For one wrap we used the color Stonewall Gray, and for another, Lavender Opal.” We did have 2 samples in 2 different colors.
We hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi,
I have cast on twice because each time after the first or second row I end up one stitch short. Also, I misread the co amount of stitches as 96 not 98. Should I rip it out or is t possible to make my mistakes work>
Thanks!
Hi Blair,
Yes, unfortunately you will have to rip it out and cast on the 98 stitches, I believe that is why you are coming out a stitch short. Hope this helps,
Have a lovely day,
Melissa
What method do you recommend for casting on? Do you also suggest casting on with a larger (or smaller?) size needle?
What method do you recommend for casting off? Again, change needle sizes???
…can’t wait for my yarn to arrive so I can get started!
Hi Alice,
Thanks for writing in! In general, when not noted, we use the long tail cast on and it would work well here! For this lovely throw we used a standard pass over bind off and we think that it is nice and neat! You will not need to change needles for the bind off unless you find that it is too tight. In that case, you could go up a needle size to help this issue!
Best,
Cassy
Hi. You say to use a standard pass over bind off, normally I would follow the pattern to do this (knit a knit stitch and purl a purl stitch) this pattern is purl 2 together and yarn over, are the yarn overs classed as purl stitches? In which case should I bind off with all purl stitches apart from the first and last which are knit? Thanks for your help
Hi Zita,
Thanks for writing in! We do use the pass over bind off here but we treat every stitch as a purl stitch, this includes the yarn overs!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
If I wanted this to be a shawl – what would you suggest in terms of extra width stitch-wise and extra length? Do you think that it would work larger? Thanks …
Hello Maureen,
Thanks for writing us! I think this would be beautiful a bit larger. You can use any even number of stitches to make this lovely wrap! To add width, you will need to knit a small gauge swatch, measure the number of stitches that you are getting per inch, multiply that number by your desired width and cast on the nearest even number of stitches!
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions.
Warmly,
-Marilla
I’m interested in making this wrap out of the camel yarn, which is a little thicker / heavier. How would you suggest compensating for the difference? Cast on fewer? Would you suggest a different needle size?
Thanks for any guidance on this!
Hello Jessica,
Thank you for your question- you are on the right track! I would recommend going up in needle size to a US6 or US7 and knitting up a little gauge swatch. From this swatch you can figure out how many stitches per inch you getting and then multiply that number by how wide you would like your wrap to be and from there you will have your cast on number!
Let me know if this all makes sense!
Happy Knitting,
Marilla
Hello,
I started knitting this beautiful wrap and at the end of the first skein, I seemed to have made a mistake. I didn’t realize it and kept going. Now that I look at it, a couple rows look wrong. I want to rip the stitches and correct the error. Do you have any suggestion on how to do that well? I am worried the yarn is too fine and I may not be able to pick up the stitches properly.
Hello Megha,
The easiest way to rip back if you are afraid of dropping stitches is to thread a “life line” through the row you want to rip back to. There are many knitting tutorials online on how to do this correctly but basically you are using a strand of waste yarn to hold the stitches from the same row so that when you unravel your work to that point all your stitches are intact!
I hope this helps!
Carly
Hi,
I have 4 skien of field linen, can I use this yarn to knit the Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill?
Hi Linda,
Great question! I think that the Open Air Wrap would be lovely in Field Linen! You will use 3 of your 4 skeins to get an equal size wrap. I would suggest swatching with the called for needle size and see if you like the look. You may need to go up a needle size given that the Field Linen is slightly heavier but I think that you may be able to get away with the called for needle!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks Cassy. I will try.
I have made this up in the Linen Quill and found it a bit shorter than I would have liked. But loved that pattern and the look. Which of your silk yarns would work up in a similar manner?
Hello Betty,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this Wrap would be beautiful in our Cattail Silk.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello! I’m working on this wrap as a holiday gift and I’m very happy with the results so far. I’m hoping you might be able to suggest a method for weaving in the ends? I’ve come to have to add in yarn near the middle of a row and I want to make sure it is done in a way that is not very obvious. Thanks for your help!
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern, we suggest switching yarn at the edge rather than mid row. We suggest that you weave in your ends up or down along the length of the scarf. I found that this was the only option since you can’t really weave in ends on lace.
Happy knitting and let us know how it turns out!
Cassy
Hi. In love with this Open Air Wrap in the Lavender Opal! But I am a very new knitter. I just completed my first project — your “Learn to Knit” Scarf in the Garter Stitch. So I own those needles but it looks like this pattern calls for new needles. Is this too ambitious? I’m good at the Garter Stitch now but the scarf took almost two months!
Hoping this is possible at this point, but don’t want to become so frustrated that I give it all up!
And forgive me, but two more quick basic questions:
1. I want to try a circular needle because I found that when I did my first project, I was tensing my shoulders to hold up the straight needles for some reason. I am hoping I can relax a bit more with a circular.
The pattern calls for US 05 but what length for this project? I also think I would like to switch from bamboo/wood to metal as the yarn didn’t really fall off the needle easily with the bamboo/wood. Sound good?
2. The kit I bought for the Beginner Scarf included two skeins of wool but somehow the scarf came out short. Will this beautiful wrap really only need two skeins?
Thanks so much!
Hi Charlene,
Thank you for writing in! I am happy to try to answer your questions! Congratulations on finishing your first project! This project could work for you if you are feeling a bit adventurous. I would recommend taking the needles you have and cast on 10 stitches with some scrap yarn and try it out. I also recommend reading through the whole of the pattern to see if you feel comfortable with the techniques and language. With that said, I would suggest the Broken Garter Scarf as a great next step!
This pattern uses US 5 circular needles and I would recommend that they either be 24 or 32 inches long. As you will be knitting flat, you want the length of the cord to be a little longer that your finished work so that your work stays happily on your needles.
This scarf does use just two skeins. This uses a much thinner yarn that comes in 439 yard skeins as opposed to the 89 yard skeins that Super Soft Merino comes in.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Cassy
Hi, I have 3 skeins of Cattail silk, would they work for this pattern?
Thanks
Hi Linda,
Thanks for writing in! With 3 skeins of Cattail Silk, I think that you will have enough to make almost 2 of these lovely wraps!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi Purl Soho,
This scarf looks perfect for spring! I love the Lavender Opal color of the Linen Quill but I see that it’s sold out. The Kalinka Syren looks quite similar in color. Some of the Kalinka colors look shiny online — would my final scarf look shiny? Also, would you still recommend using size 5 needles with the Kalinka? (I’m sorry if you have already answered this question.)
Thanks for your help and for producing such lovely patterns and yarns!
Lydia
Hello Lydia,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this wrap would be beautiful in Kalinka! There is a slight shine to this yarn which I think would be lovely with this pattern and yes I would stick with the size 5 needle.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’ve asked this question on another link to this wrap but can’t find it. Apologies if my question has already been answered!
I’ve very successfully knitted this wrap three times in linen quill and love it. I have a request for a non wool version and am trying t figure out which yearn would be best to use. I don’t want it to be stiff and am looking for it to drape like the linen quill version. I’m considering cattail silk or field linen but am open to other suggestions. Cost isn’t an issue more that I want it to be closest to the linen quill version. Could it be even better in one of these yarns?
Many thanks. Looking forward to your suggestions…
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for writing in! I think that Cattail Silk and Field Linen would be the best options for this lovely wrap! For the Cattail Silk, you will need 2 skeins and for the Field Linen, you will need 3 skeins!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would 500 yards of DK yarn held single work for this pattern? Thank you so much! 🙂
Hello Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out! This lovely wrap is knit using 1 strand of our Linen Quill which is a lighter fingering weight. The whole pattern uses 2 skeins but they are knit as single strands. You certainly can knit this pattern with a heavier weight. The pattern will work over any even number of stitches so once you knit a gauge swatch and figure out your number of stitches per inch, you can cast on the closest even number of stitches that will give you 19 1/2 inches wide unblocked or 22 inches blocked.
I’m not sure exactly how much dk weight yarn you will need to complete this wrap, but I would estimate you would need approximately 850-900 yards.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can I use cattail silk yarn for this pattern (open air wrap) and still use a size 5 needle?
thanks,
Victoria
Hi Victoria!
Thanks for writing in! Cattail Silk is a great substitute for Linen Quill in this pattern. Your gauge shouldn’t change too much but I would recommend doing a swatch to be sure since the fiber content is very different from the original project.
Happy knitting!
Carly
What do you think about using Fino yarn for the Open Air Wrap using size 5 needles and 96 CO?
Thank you for your help.
Hi Anne,
Manos del Uruguay Fino is very similar in weight and yardage to Linen Quill, so I don’t think you have to alter the pattern at all! The pattern repeat works with any even number, so you can cast on 96 if you would prefer, but it will not make a significant difference in the width of the wrap.
Thanks for the question and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi,
I’m trying to make this wrap in Linen Quill, but the samples I’ve made to get gauge are too tight at the cast on and also at the bind off. The sample isn’t laying flat even though I’ve cast on and bound off loosely. Do you have a suggestion?
Thanks
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for writing in! Getting correct tension for casting on and binding off can be challenging for many knitters, especially when using such a loose and airy stitch! If going up a needle size for both the cast on and bind off doesn’t solve the problem, I would recommend trying a knit-on cast on and a decrease bind off, as those are both known to be loose and stretchy.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi Julianna,
Thanks for your reply. Is a long tail cast on considered a
knitted cast on?
thank you,
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
A knitted cast on is different from a long tail cast on. Unfortunately we do not have a tutorial for this cast on, but if you search YouTube “knitted cast on” you will find many videos demonstrating it!
Good luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I have a few more questions about this pattern. You show the blocked size as 5 inches shorter than the knitted length. Is it common to lose length when you block and is there a formula for that? Also what cast on do you recommend for this pattern. Thank you!
Victoria
Hello Victoria,
Thank you for reaching out! The reason this Wrap looses so much length in the blocking process is because of the nature of the stitch. It will loose length but gain width. This drastic change in dimension is most common with an open stitch like this one and the pattern should tell you if you should expect such a drastic change.
We cast on 98 stitches for this wrap- here is the complete Open Air Wrap Pattern
I hope this helps and Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi,
I’m having a lot of trouble with this pattern. I started out on a size 5 needle with Linen Quill and it knitted up to be much wider than 24”, so I switched to a size 4 needle and it’s still about the same width or wider. The pattern says the finished size is around 19” and I’m casting on 98 stitches. Also I started out with a long tail cast on but thought it was too elastic so switched to a knitted cast on but it’s not elastic enough. I’m not sure what to do to get this pattern to work for me. Any help you can give me is much appreciated. Thanks, Victoria
Hi Victoria,
I’m so sorry to hear you are having difficulties! How many rows have you knitted before measuring the width of the wrap? This stitch is quite stretchy in every direction, so you may find when you have a bit knitted the weight of the yarn will stretch the wrap longer and narrower than it appears when only a few rows have been worked. As for the cast on issue, usually a true knit-on cast on is quite a bit stretchier than the long tail cast on. Is it possible you are using a Cable Cast-On? It is very similar to a knit-on cast on but is much firmer and less elastic.
For both issues, I would recommend knitting and blocking a swatch or two before starting over completely. We did block our finished wrap to a narrower stitch gauge, so measuring a blocked swatch will give you a better idea of what the finished width of your wrap will be, and you can also try out both a long tail and knitted cast-on to see if one or the other matches the blocked stitch width better.
Best of luck!
Julianna
I’ve knitted multiple swatches for this pattern using linen quill yarn and made 8 or 9 false starts using a size 4 and also size 5 needle. When I cast on 98 stitches the wrap was almost 30” wide. Using a size 4 needle didn’t reduce the width much. Finally I cast on 66 stitches and the knitted width is around 19 inches, which is perfect because I want to block to 22”. Also I cast onto a size 7 needle but knit onto size 5 to complete the wrap using a knitted cast on. I’ve had to try various cast on methods since many of the cast ons I used were too tight.
My Linen Quill Open Air Wrap got so long in wet blocking that I cannot wear it.Should I try putting it in the dryer? What can I do short of ripping it out?
Hello Julie,
Thank you for writing! I would not recommend putting your wrap in the dryer as it is hard to predict how much and in what way it will shrink as well as changing the texture of the fabric. Before resorting to ripping it out, I would block it again and pin it so it stretches width wise and shortens in length.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Warmly,
Marilla
I would appreciate your recommendation as to the best way to weave in the ends. While I have knit wraps with lace and lite sock yarn, I have never knit anything with such an open weave and have no idea how to proceed. Often, when using fine weight yarn, to produce a solid fabric, I use the Magic Knot…but not sure it will be successful here. Hope there is a solution! Anita
Hi Anita,
Thanks for reaching out! We find that the best way to weave in ends here is to weave them in along the side edge. This causes the least disruption in the open weave pattern of this lovely wrap!
Best,
Cassy
Could you suggest a cast on number for a narrower 14-16″ wide wrap? I saw the earlier post suggesting 78 stitch c.o., however I am only 5′ so think that still might be a lot of fabric for me. Should I try a cast on of 68 (is it only a multiple of 2)?. Thank you!
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for reaching out! This wrap does turn out quite airy and isn’t heavy despite the width, but since any multiple of two will work for this pattern, you certainly could start with 68 if you wish!
Best,
Julianna
You seem to suggest soap and water blocking rather than dampening and pinning to desired size.
I am halfway through scarf and love the pattern, once I got the hang of it.
Are there other patterns using linen quill?
Hi Ann,
Thanks for reaching out – we’re so glad you’re enjoying knitting your wrap! Wet blocking does allow you to stretch the finished item more and is the method we usually recommend, but you could use pin and spray blocking if you prefer. Although we don’t have a way to view just Linen Quill projects, you can view all of our fingering weight projects by clicking here. Quite a few of these patterns are written for Linen Quill, and you could substitute it in most of the others!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
How many cones of Habu Flat Silk Wrapped Silk N-99 and N-99b would I need to make the Open Air Wrap? Is this yarn a good choice for the project?
Donna
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reaching out! I think the Open Air wrap would be absolutely beautiful in Habu Flat Silk Wrapped Silk! The sizes and yardage used in our different versions of the Open Air Wrap vary a bit, so you would need anywhere from 5 to 7 cones of Flat Silk Wrapped Silk depending on how long and wide you would like to make the wrap.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
How’s exactly, do you count stitches for gauge with this stitch?
Hello Lisa,
This is a great question- this is a tricky on e to count! When looking at this pattern you will be counting the hole as a stitch and either side of the hole as a stitch. ‘I hope this makes sense and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Just ordered 2 skeins of Linen Quil to make this scarf. Good luck trying to PIECE TOGETHER the correct pattern instructions. SP has not updated this pattern since the original 2 patterna ago. So you will have to gather the instructions for yourself from 3 different areas. GOOD LUCK
Hello Debra,
Thank you for reaching out! The link to the original pattern for this wrap is located under the heading “PATTERN”.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would your yarn Burnish work? And if so how many skeins and still with #5 needles?
Thanks
Hi Carrie,
Great question! I think that this wrap could be lovely in Burnish! As it is also a fingering weight yarn, you can follow the instructions for the Linen Quill version, using the same needle size. You will need 3 skeins to get an equivalent yardage though you will probably use about 2 1/2 skeins total!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I am a brand-new knitter. Having successfully completed several easy hats and scarves — I love your Gentle Giant wool! — and some small practice pieces to become comfortable with more of the basics, I think I may be ready to try something more ambitious. I love the look of this wrap! And a pattern that just repeats the same few stitches forever sounds like a good learning activity. But I’m new enough at the craft I can’t tell if the pattern is actually something an absolute beginner can handle. What do you think? Are there any adaptations or advice that might be helpful? Or should I make some more simple hats and scarves & build up to this later?
Hello Beth,
Thank you for reaching out! I think you should go for it, it sounds like it will be a great next step for you.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I recently made the Linen Quill Open Air Wrap, and I’d like to make another one, only less wide, say 14 inches. How would I adjust the pattern in terms of the cast-on number? Does it need to be a multiple of a certain number? Thanks!
Hi Cheryl,
Great question! This pattern works with any even number of stitches, so for a width of 14 inches at our blocked gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches, you would cast on 64 stitches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I’ve downloaded patterns before but no matter what I do, I can’t seem to find the instructions for the Open Air Wrap. None of the pages seem to include the instructions – just pictures with a little text. What am I missing?
Hi Cate,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find the full pattern on our original Open Air Wrap story!
Best,
Julianna
I am a crochet user, not a knitter but I absolutely love your open air scarf. Could you please tell me what kind of steach I have to use. Thanks
Hi Serena,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have a crocheted version of this wrap but we will keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Julianna
How many stitches do I cast on if I’m making the open air quill wrap with 2 skeins of your linen quill yarn?
Hi Hortencia,
Thanks for reaching out! For our Linen Quill version, other than changing the needle size to a US 5, we followed the instructions for our original Open Air Wrap exactly, including casting on 98 stitches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I have made this wrap in salt and pepper linen quill and now want to make a pullover sweater to match. Which color of the new linen quill colors matches best with the old salt and pepper color?
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for reaching out! I believe many of the more colorful shades would complement salt and pepper very well since it is such a neutral color! If you are looking for something a little more monochromatic I would recommend Heirloom White, Trout Brown, or even Stillwater Blue.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Could the Open Air wrap be made using Blackbird Linen?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely use Blackbird Linen to make a version of the Open Air Wrap! I’d estimate that you’d need about 5 skeins to complete the wrap in a size similar to the version in Linen Quill. I’d recommend working up a gauge swatch first to determine if you’ll need to adjust your needle size or cast on number, but you might be able to follow the directions and gauge requirements for the Linen Quill version of the wrap as well!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Would Santolina yarn work well for the Open Air Wrap?
Hi Jo,
Thanks for your question! I think Santolina would be a beautiful yarn for this wrap. The cotton, bamboo, and hemp in Santolina lends any finished piece made in this yarn a stunning drape, so it would be great for an accessory like a shawl. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that Santolina has a slightly lower stitch count per inch (it’s 6.5 to 7 stitches per inch whereas Linen Quill is 6.5 to 7.5). With any yarn substitutions, it’s always a good idea to do a gauge swatch and to block your swatch to ensure that you’re getting the gauge listed in the pattern. We have a guide about swatching called All About Gauge that I’ve linked, just in case you might be interested!
I hope this was helpful! Have a wonderful day!
All the best,
Cat
I would like to make a Ukraine solidarity Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill colors Cobalt Blue and Dandelion yellow. I hope to establish a 2-part color block running the length of the wrap. Given the open pattern, how do you suggest I join the 2 colors at cast-on and in the middle of each row?
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for writing in. I would actually recommend knitting this pattern along the length, rather than the width, so that you can simply change colors once you hit the halfway point! We use a similar method of construction in our Osmosis Wrap, which incorporates the same stitch pattern, so you’ll be able to get an idea of how this looks.
To knit this pattern lengthwise, the only thing you’d need to adjust is the number of stitches you cast on! Based on the gauge and dimensions, I’d recommend casting on 314 stitches. Then you can knit for 9.75 inches with the first color, switch to the second, and knit the remaining 9.75 inches with that one. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi – this is a lovely wrap, and I’d like to make it as a gift for the holidays. I did not see in the instructions that you knit with two strands of yarn – but I did read about that in the comments. I wanted to double check that this is accurate – two skeins but knit together as one?
Thank you!
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out. This pattern was written for just one strand of yarn, not two! But if you’d prefer to use two strands at once, you can absolutely do so. You would just need to adjust some other things about the pattern, like needle size, gauge, and cast-on number, so that it comes to the correct dimensions. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you! I was hoping to just use one yarn, but I got confused reading through some of the comments. Thank you for clarifying!
I only have 800 yards of a merino fingering yarn. How many stitches can I cast on to get the finished 65” length?
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for writing in! I’d recommend casting on 88 stitches. You’ll end up with a wrap that’s approximately 17 1/2 inches wide and 65 inches long, unblocked (it’ll be larger once you block it, just like the original pattern). Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I am confused by the open air wrap. I’ve ordered the recommended yarn. For practice with another yarn calling for #5 needles, I cast on 20 st, followed the directions for the first row, ended up with 19 st. Should I have cast on 20 + 1? Did I forget one yarn over? I did read in one of the comments that any even number of stitches will work. Thank you for your advice.
Hi Edie,
Thanks for reaching out! It does sound like you may have forgotten to work 1 yarn over. It can definitely be tricky to keep track of your stitch count in this pattern, so I’d recommend double checking every few rows! You can even place multiple stitch markers across the row to keep better track. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you Lili. I will try again. This is a bit tricky for me.