Shiny + Matte Wrap
Sometimes the yarn is enough. You don’t need fancy stitch patterns or elaborate construction, only beautiful fibers, precisely paired.
For our Shiny + Matte Wrap, we bracket Linen Quill’s rustic blend of fine Highland wool, alpaca, and linen with our newest and most illuminating yarn, Spun Silk. Purposefully picking closely related colors, textural nuances drive this streamlined design.
Knit primarily in stockinette, with a small ribbed selvedge, the Shiny + Matte Wrap captures the beauty of simple structure and subtle contrast. It’s a piece that’s both approachable to make and effortless to wear. -Laura
Update: New Colors
April 2017
Our Shiny + Matte Wrap in pretty Pink Primrose is just right for spring’s vicissitudes! See more photos here!
Update: Same Yarn, New Format
April 2017
We now have a woven scarf using these same two yarns: rustic Linen Quill and refined Spun Silk. Our Woven Shiny + Matte Scarf creates fields of subtly shifting color, a quiet meditation on the thrill of fiber.
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoShinyAndMatteScarf, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Shiny + Matte Wrap, you will need…
- Yarn A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Spun Silk, 100% silk. Approximately 404 yards required. For the Fresh Cream palette, we used Candle White. (Please Note: We no longer offer Spun Silk or Burnish, which we previously recommended as a substitute, but choose from one of our other fingering weight yarns.)
- Yarn B: 2 skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 614 yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- US 4 (3.5mm) straight or circular needles
- Warm Honey (left)
- Yarn A: Spun Silk in Golden Pear
- Yarn B: Linen Quill in Turmeric Yellow
- Pink Primrose (middle)
- Yarn A: Spun Silk in Peony Pink
- Yarn B: Linen Quill in Rose Granite
- Gray Granite (right)
- Yarn A: Spun Silk in Silver Bark
- Yarn B: Linen Quill in Salt + Pepper
Gauge
26 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 15 inches wide x 72 inches long
Pattern
With Yarn A, cast on 106 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise through the back loop with yarn in front, [p1, k1] five times, purl to last eleven stitches, [k1, p1] five times, k1.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back, [k1, p1] five times, knit to last 11 stitches, [p1, k1] five times, p1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for approximately 14 inches of Yarn A, ending after a wrong-side row. Cut Yarn A.
Beginning with a right-side row (Row 2), join Yarn B and continue in the established pattern, repeating Rows 2 and 1 for approximately 42 inches (or until approximately 15 inches less than desired finished length), ending with a wrong-side row. Cut Yarn B.
Beginning with a right-side row (Row 2), join Yarn A and continue in the established pattern, repeating Rows 2 and 1 for approximately 15 inches of Yarn A, leaving enough yarn to bind off and ending with wrong-side row.
Bind off in pattern (right side): K1, [k1, bind off 1, p1, bind off 1] 5 times, *k1, bind off 1, repeat from * to last 11 stitches, [p1, bind off 1, k1, bind off 1] 5 times, p1, bind off.
Block as desired and weave in the ends.
Hi! Love this pattern! I have 2 skeins of linen quill in dark iris. Can I use cattail silk instead of spun silk? What color might be a nice pairing?
Hello Heather,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a lovely idea, I think that Cattail Silk in Wild Mulberry would look stunning.
Happy knitting!
-MarilLa
Hello! I love this pattern and has all the materials ready, but a wrap is simply too big for me! Would this pattern work over any even stitch? Or is there a specific stitch count to make the pattern work?
Thank you!
Hi Teresa,
Great question! This lovely pattern will work over any number of stitches above 22! As the edges are each 11 stitches and the middle is just stockinette, so long as you have at least 1 stitch between the two edges, the pattern will work.
Best,
Cassy
Hello! Love how this looks – could you recommend a color combination with the burnish and linen quill yarn that is available, that would be similar to the original light colored scarf? I’m looking for a warm neutral cream colored palette. Thank you!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for reaching out! Burnish doesn’t come in a precisely cream color, but I think Burnish in Swan White and Linen Quill in Pale Oats would be the closest to our original light colored wrap. The overall tone will be a bit lighter, but both colors have definite warm undertones!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi! I purchased this kit with the original Spun Silk and became a bit frustrated with it as the silk was difficult to work with.
What type of needles would you recommend using? I was using a stainless steel needle but wondered if anyone found a wooden/bamboo needle to be easier?
Thanks!
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for writing in, and I’m so sorry that you are having difficulty knitting with Spun Silk! Although it is beautiful, it is a very slippery yarn. I would suggest using a bamboo needle, as it will provide some extra grip, and taking your time and knitting slowly.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi,
My scarf is curling at the two ends. Is there any way you recommend to make it lay flat?
Hi Susannah,
Thank you for reaching out! Not to worry, the edges of your knitting will curl before your wrap has been blocked. We recommend thoroughly wet blocking your wrap once it is complete, as the width of this piece, selvage stitches, and the nature of this yarn work together to give you a drapey fabric that will block flat nicely. You can always re-block something if it is looking a bit out of shape or beginning to curl again. I like to let my hand knit items dry flat after a quick hand-wash and that does the trick!
Best,
Gaby
I’m excited to make this project!! I currently have the Linen Quill in Dark Iris. What color Burnish would you recommend? I was thinking Deep Aubergine or Gray Willow but I am open to your suggestions. Thank you
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! I think either color would be beautiful, depending on if you wanted to go for contrast or a tonal effect. River Rock could also be a lovely choice if you wanted a little contrast. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Hello – hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. I am trying to order the yarn for the shiny and matte wrap in cream.
Since you are recommending Burnish as a replacement, which color yarn combinations are you recommending? I have Swan White in my shopping cart. What Linen Quill would work with the Swan White?
Thank you. Mary Seidel
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Burnish in Swan White would go well with Linen Quill in either Heirloom White or Pale Oats. Swan White is a fairly pure white, so you could go with Heirloom White if you prefer cooler undertones or Pale Oats for warmer!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Love the colors in the Warm Honey color way! Unfortunately didn’t get to order the Spun Silk for it before it was discontinued; any recommendations for a substitute that would still pair well with the Linen Quill in Tumeric?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, unfortunately, we no longer offer Spun Silk, but in its place, we recommend using our lovely yarn Burnish, however, we don’t have a color that would correspond with Tumeric Yellow. Alternatively, you could use 2 strands of our Mineral Silk in Peach Gold, which I think would look beautiful! Or you could use Field Linen, which isn’t quite as shiny but still has a soft sheen in Warm Copper!
I hope this helps!
Gianna