Elementary Wrap
Sometimes you just want to knit. You want to take your eyes off your project, so you can watch a movie or talk with your friends, but keep your hands moving. That’s when our Elementary Wrap comes in very handy.
Knowing we’d be spending some quality time with whatever yarn we used, we chose our gorgeous Understory, a very satisfying blend of 50% alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. In stockinette stitch, it knits up into a fabulously cozy swath of fabric, scaled for a dramatic drape and a simple elegance.
We love that Understory’s depth of color creates subtle complexity throughout this perfectly not-complex Elementary Wrap. We used the color Willow Bark for a naturally beautiful look that we’ll never tire of.
A three-stitch selvage detail may disqualify our Elementary Wrap from world’s simplest knit, but it does add refinement and help keep your wrap flat. And don’t worry, it doesn’t disqualify this Wrap from being the ultimate no-look project!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Update: New Gauge
May 2018
We’ve updated our Elementary Wrap for a finer gauge! Knit up in our Linen Quill, this Wrap has so much subtlety and depth in the color and fiber, and its weight and drape feel wonderful over your shoulders. We’re totally crazy about this Crocus Bud color, which celebrates spring in the prettiest possible way, with cheer and levity and beauty! Pick up three skeins of your favorite color and find the pattern here!
Update: New Yarn
November 2018
To celebrate the launch of Tussock, our first mohair-silk blend, we revisited our Elementary Wrap by holding two strands of Tussock together. A knit that flies off your needles in a glowing, soft halo, we love using two different colors for a marled texture that adds depth to an otherwise super simple flat piece. Brilliant Bright Thistle glimmers through rich Ripe Boysenberry, for the full story and other color inspirations, click here!
Update: New Bundle
April 2019
For the latest version, we add a layer of visual complexity without complicating the pattern itself by combining a strand of our hand-dyed Posy with a strand of mohair-silk Tussock. We’ve put together the ingredients for your own fiber feast with seven Elementary Wrap In Posy + Tussock Bundles. Each one combines colors that bring surprising flavors to the finished piece and make simple stockinette a little something more! Find the updated pattern here!
Update: Mineral Silk
November 2019
Making its debut here is our new Mineral Silk, a laceweight silk with a touch of something like starlight, subtle enough for everyday knitting, but pretty enough to catch the eye. We paired Mineral Silk with its textural opposite, our hazy mohair-silk Tussock. Together they’re the life of the party, with a beautiful drape, a soft halo of mohair, and a gentle sparkle. Read all about it here!
Update: Season Alpaca
January 2020
Currently on our mind? Season Alpaca in this insanely gorgeous Sapphire Blue. As if drawn from a deep sea abyss, this color has a mysterious and earthy richness, radiating its own inner beauty like a truly precious gem. Read all about it here!
Update: Brume
October 2020
Like morning mist nestled in a valley, our new Brume rolls in with a soft and mysterious beauty. In mohair-wool-and-silk Brume, the Elementary Wrap is incredibly soft; it’s a little bit fluffy; it’s wonderfully warm; it’s airy and light; and most of all, it’s absolutely beautiful! Featuring a few tiny edits to the original Elementary Wrap pattern, see Brume in all its glory here!
Update: Simply Camel
March 2021
A yarn like Simply Camel doesn’t come along every day, so when it does, we like to give it some room to be its unadulterated self! One hundred percent undyed baby camel, Simply Camel is so absolutely soft and luscious, all that is required is stockinette stitch and lots of it… Enter the Elementary Wrap In Simply Camel!
Update: Santolina
July 31, 2021
In this iteration, our gorgeous Santolina takes the stage with its fathomless beauty. A blend of organically grown cotton, rayon from bamboo, and hemp, it is wonderfully soft and also just right for warm weather’s chills: from overly enthusiastic air conditioning to windy evenings by the lake. Read all about it, here!
UPDATE: QUARTZ
MARCH 18, 2022
This classic pattern has a knack for showing off whatever yarn it’s knit in, and this time, in our lovely Quartz, the results are truly stunning. We used Fresh Pickle, but in any hue, the Elementary Wrap in Quartz highlights this gorgeous merino-suri mix, smooth and soft, with the slightest halo… downright dreamy!
UPDATE: NOW IN MORNING
MARCH 27, 2022
This simplest of knits is absolutely lovely in Morning and feels as fresh as a bird’s chirp through an open window! A machine washable mix of 75% organically grown cotton and 25% yak, Morning comes in a lovely rainbow of soft bright hues, so pick your favorite up-with-the-sun color and cast on!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoElementaryWrap, and #PurlSohoUnderstory. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Understory, 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1,000 yards required. We used the color Willow Bark.
- US 7 (4.5mm), 24- or 32-inch circular needles
Gauge
18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 20 inches wide x 73 inches long
Note
While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, all conspire to keeping this Wrap quite flat. If you find that after some wear, it starts to curl, just wet block it flat again!
Pattern
Using Long Tail Cast On, cast on 90 stitches.
Row 1 (wrong side): K1, p1, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p1, k1.
Row 2 (right side): K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures approximately 73 inches, ending with a wrong side row.
Bind-off Row (right side): Bind off in pattern.
Weave in the ends and wet block flat.
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!
What is the weight of one skein of Understory?
Hi Dienie,
Thanks for writing in! Our Understory comes in 100 gram hanks with 250 yards per skein. For more information about this yarn (including weight, yardage, washing instructions, content, etc.), click on the Product Details tab on the product page.
Best,
Cassy
Why are all of your patterns done on circular needles. There are a lot of people out there, that still prefer to knit with straight needles.
I love your patterns, but how about, presenting some of them on ordinary straight needles. I am sure there are a lot of knitters would agree with me.
Thankyou
Hi,
Thanks for writing in! Although we used circular needles for this project, we knit the wrap flat, meaning back in forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row. The reason we sometimes use circular needles for flat knitting is to accommodate a lot of stitches. Cramming a blanket’s or wrap’s worth of stitches onto long straight needles can be pretty cumbersome and sometimes even, impossible. To use circular needles for knitting flat you simply finish a row, turn the work so the other side is facing you and put the needle that was in your right hand into your left hand and the needle that was in your left hand into your right hand, ready to go on the next row!
By the way, once you get the hang of it, you may find that you never use straight needles again, even for projects without so many stitches. Circular needles are just easier to keep track of (no losing one in the cushions of your couch!), and they never poke the person sitting next to you!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Gotta agree! It makes no difference what type or brand of needles you knit with. Circular needles make it so much easier to keep the stitches from falling off when you put the project up and they definitely make it easier the keep track of both needles!
My thoughts exactly!
I also agree – I was against circular needles while knitting flat for years. Until I tried it – I’m converted. They’re also lighter, so in turn easier on your hands and wrists! Because we all know that the larger the project the heavier it is : )
AND, I’m less likely to pull a needle out of the stitches and have all those lovely loops to pick back up…
Agree completely. I prefer circular needles for almost all my knitting. Much easier to handle large number of stitches. I also have a tendency to drop single needles. No so when I knit with circular needles.
Try it. It’s the best. I have a lot straight needles gathering dust. ?
I agree.. about the only time i use straight needles or double pointed is when Im knitting something off needles.. love cables. Not so hard on my shoulders or arms.
AND, circular needles are more ergonomic distributing the weight of a larger project to provide less stress on your hands. Very important!
Agree as well! I haven’t used straights in years. Between the ease of distributing stitches and the way circs take the weight off the wrists with heavier projects, circs are my go-to for every project.
I love circular needles I use them all the time I highly recommend them I wouldnd never go back to straight needles now and all my knitting is straight very good when travelling on the train to work every day keeps me from hitting the person next to me
Ever since I started using circulars, my straight needles are nothing more than a decoration in my craft room! I still use DPNs for socks!
Definitely love using circulars for all my knitting now. Always used straights until I subscribed to Purl Soho and now I’m hooked!
I could not agree more. I use circular needles wherever I can as they relieve the weight of an ever growing garment. Normal needles hold all the weight in your hands.
Circular needles are my preferred needles for all the reasons stated above. Once you go circular, it’s hard to go back.
I knit everything on circulars…whether or not I’m knitting in the round. It takes pressure off my hands and arms, particularly when working with a heavy item or lots of stitches. Also, with a nice set of interchangeable tips and cords, they’re much easier to store. I have some lovely straight needles in ebony and rosewood but I almost never use them.
Circulars are also much friendlier if you knit when traveling by air.
I knit pretty much everything on circulars as well. The only exception being maybe dishcloths, or small sachets. I love my bamboo interchangeables – the only issue has been there have been a few times where I almost lost a project because the tips have come unscrewed from the cords! I also have a cat. Who likes to “help”. By chewing my cord.
I think maybe the person who suggested straight needles may not have tried a cord and point set up. Sometimes isong bamboo with hard plastic cords is difficult compared to the softer more pliable cords that you get with interchangeable needle sets. That being said? I also have had the needle come unscrewed during my project bit love knitting on circular needles just the same. Enjoy your day !
OMG what difference does it make, you can use either! easier to handle and it can hold lots of stitches! circulars are the best. you will get use to them.
I could not agree more converted many years ago and have NEVER looked back! (Even socks can be done on circular needles – as I despise dpn!)
Don’t be afraid of knitting flat on circular needles. I taught myself how to knit less than nine months ago. I don’t even own a pair of flat noodles. Taught myself on circulars. It is so easy and you never drop the needle. Almost any pattern that calls for circular needles can be knit on flat needles if you can find them long enough for the project (exception being an item that is actually knit in the round).
Try it. You may never pick up flat needles again.
Looks easy. I think the yarn is what makes it pretty. I like the rich Sheen of the yarn.
Oh this is a perfect project! I call these “mindless knitting”, and I live for them. 🙂 I have a bunch of Cascade 220 laying around from a frogged sweater – could I use that yarn to make this?
Hello Catherine,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m so happy to hear your excitement for this project. Cascade 220 should work great for this project. It is slightly thicker than Understory, but shouldn’t be to drastic of a deference.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thank you so much!! Happy to hear it. 🙂 I can’t wait to get started on this project!
Just a word of warning…I started this wrap with a super wash merino (Sonoma Baah) and it curled up so much I stopped and frogged it (I knit almost a whole skein to see if it would flatten out as I knit more). I am going to order some of the Understory and try again!
Hello Beth,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry you had this experience! Understory, I hope, will not have this issue. With stockinette there can always be some curling, though should relax flat after blocking.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I notice the letters DK weight yarn what does the DK mean
Hello Dorothy,
Thank you for reaching out! DK is the weight of the yarn which describes how thick the yarn is. This will determine which needles you use and what your gauge, or stitches per inch, you are getting.
I hope this helps!
-Marilla
DK = ‘double knitted’ –it describes the weight of the yarn, which for ‘DK’ means about 5.5 stitches per inch, using US #5 or #6 (depends on your gauge) needles. But use whatever need fits your recommended gauge! I find DK weight is great for clothing items that you’d like to be slightly thinner than worsted weight fabric and have a bit of drape. Hope that helps.
Thank you for this! Perfect timing, I was looking for a new project! 🙂
Love the wrap-can you suggest a less expensive yarn. Does not have to be in one color. Would like to make it in some blue (maybe a demin) color. For my granddaughter.
Please let me know. thank You,
Sebley hausler
Hello Sebley,
Thank you for writing us! I think a good alternative could be Cascade 220. This yarn is slightly thicker, but with a pattern like this gauge is less important. I would knit up a little swatch to see how many stitches per inch you are getting and then go rom there. I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions.
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi,
I’m picking up my needles after a considerable break. I know that I’m a loose knitter. This seems like the perfect project to rekindle my knitting fire, but I’m curious about gauge. How important is it for this type of project?
Thanks much for your time.
Gee
Hello Gee,
Thank you for reaching out! Gauge is not super important for this project because it doesn’t have to fit anything. It is still always a great idea to knit a gauge swatch so you know what you are working with before jumping in.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi – this is a beautiful pattern. If I want to increase or decrease stitches, would it be a number divisible by 6?
Thank you!
Hi Eileen,
Thank you for writing in! This wrap is worked over any number of stitches plus the 6 edge stitches. If you would like to make a larger or smaller wrap, add or subtract any number of stitches so long as there are 6 stitches for the edges!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks PurlSoho for another simple and beautiful design. Just ordered my 4 Birchbark – can’t wait to cast this one on. Expect it will keep me cost as I’m knitting it as well. Perfect!
Agree with everyone about circulars. I use them for everything. For a project such as this wrap, as the work grows the knitting sits in your lap, you are not carrying it on 2 straight needles. Huge ergonomic benefit. Until you actually use circulars it is hard to fully understand how much better they are. Charity shops are full of straight needles!!
Would like to make this in a grey/blue yarn….what would be close to the Understory?
Hello Theresa,
Thank you for writing in! I think this scarf would be beautiful in Cashmere Merino Bloom in Tide Pool. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Allergic to yak. What other yarn would you recommend? Thanks.
Hello Linda,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this wrap would be beautiful in Cashmere Merino Bloom or Flax Down.
Warmly,
Marilla
I love this wrap! I have sensitive skin and cannot wear wool or anything itching. Is there another yarn you would suggest?
Hello Diane,
Thank you for reaching out! This yarn is very soft and is a blend of Alpaca, Yak, and Silk. In my experience it is not itchy, however I know we all experience fibers differently. If you would like to go with a softer yarn, I would recommend trying the 6 ply Cashmere.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
OMG what difference does it make, you can use either! easier to handle and it can hold lots of stitches! circulars are the best. you will get use to them.
reply
This is gorgeous in it’s simplicity. A perfect pattern to show off a beautiful yarn.
Love straights over circ’s any day. The cord for me is always in the way with every single brand. I use Signature straights and love them! It’s all so personal!! Gotta make it what’s right for you!
Thank you for another fabulous pattern and for understanding that we often just want to knit! It is so satisfying to let a great yarn and a classic design emerge from our needles!
Julie
Could you use Cashmere Merino Wool yarn for this wrap?
Hello Daneen,
Thank you for reaching out. Yes! This wrap would be beautiful in Cashmere Merino Bloom.
Warmly,
Marilla
Hello,
I am a beginner. This model seems perfect for me. I am not sure to understand what is K2.
Thanks for your help.
Sophie
Hello Sophie,
Thanks for writing in! K2 just means to knit two stitches.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
May I use Quince and Co. “chickadee” for this beautiful shawl. It is a sport weight yarn.
Thank You
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! I believe chickadee is thinner than Understory, so if you don’t mind the wrap coming out a bit smaller, go for it!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Love your patterns and use of circular needles!
So , can I join the ends and make an infinity scarf?
Thanks,
Claire
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly graft either end of your wrap together to create an infinity scarf.
Warmly,
Marilla
love the website and the patterns, as for needles the current trend is circular and everyone is current. i’m not i love straight and dpn’s its my choice.
Love your patterns. Exquisite in their simplicity. I just think it would be useful if you included metric needle sizes and measurements.
Hello Daryl,
Thank you for reaching out and for the suggestion! I will certainly pass it along. The needle size we suggest for this pattern is 4.5mm.
Warmly,
Marilla
I would like to make this pashmina a bit longer. Probably around 80 inches and maybe a touch wider. If I cast on 100 stitches and did it longer, how much more yarn would I possibly need. Thank you. Enid
Hi Enid,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly cast on 100 stitches. A cast on of 100 stitches would yield a roughly 22 inch wide wrap. An additional skein should allow you to make 22 inch wide by 80 inch long wrap. I think that it would be lovely!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Just started this yesterday and—since I’m an elementary knitter—am having trouble with the ends. When I k1 p1 k1 do I bring the yard back to front purl and then to the back again to knit? I know not to “yarn over” the needle as in other projects, but I think it must be the case to move it in front of or in back of the right hand side of existing work to change the stitch type. Is that right?
JaneE
Hi Jane,
That is correct. You do not want to yarnover, but bring the yarn BETWEEN the needles to purl and then back between the needles to knit. Let us know if this helps!
Kindly,
Anna
I love the simplicity of this pattern. Would there be a cheaper alternative to the yarn used? I saw Cascade 220 suggested but was wondering what the difference in texture would be. That is, would Cascade 220 be slightly rougher to the touch than Understory?
Hello Melanie,
Thank you for reaching out! You are correct that Cascade is a rougher yarn. It is a great sturdy yarn, but it is 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, rather than 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk which is going to be much softer. I would also look at our Flax Down as a slightly more affordable option.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Will flax down drape the same? No static?
Hello Janet,
Thank you for reaching out! This will have a deferent look, just because of the fiber content. Flax Down is 43% Baby Alpaca, 42% Extra Fine Merino, 15% Linen and is single ply so it will by a bit more “fluffy” than Understory. It would be very cozy. Static has never been a problem with this yarn. Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Beautiful pattern. Is this yarn “fuzzy” at all? Thank you.
Hello Maryanne,
Thank you for reaching out. This yarn is less “fuzzy” because of the Silk and Yak, while still being quite soft! It has beautiful stitch definition, and I would highly recommend it.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
K, this is probably going to be a stupid question, but remember I’m a newbie to knitting. I casted on 90 as per instructions, but it does not seem like the wrap will be as wide as it seems in pic. Its more like scarf size on my needle. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks!
Hi Kristine,
Thanks for letting us know. Are you using the suggest needle size and yarn weight? We would suggest knitting a few rows and checking gauge to make sure you’re getting the right gauge. If so, the wrap should turn out the same size as ours. Hope this helps!
Kindly,
Anna
Can you tell me what actual color ripe plum is? I have two guys who want this as an oversized scarf. They both like red and thought ripe plum looked a red color. Is it or is it more purple?
Thanks!!
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for the question! This color is definitely more purple and not red. Hope this helps!
Kindly,
Anna
Would this work for a classic bride? If so, which yarn.
Hello Nancy,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this wrap would be a beautiful accessory for a winter bride. In terms of yarn I would suggest knitting it in Understory in Heirloom White.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I am a relatively new knitter and this yarn is costly. Before I invest in it can you please tell me whether is a beginner friendly yarn? I used a yarn recently which was very “fuzzy” (for lack of a more technical word) and it was a nightmare for me. Thanks! Sharon
Hi Sharon,
This is absolutely a beginner friendly yarn! There is no real fuzziness and great stitch definition so you should have no trouble with it. Hope this helps!
Kindly,
Anna
I would like to make this shawl in the willow bark and I see that it is out of stock. Do you have an idea when it we’ll be back in stock? In your opinion what would be the second most neutral color — I don’t want to do the shawl in white.
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for writing in! Willow Bark is on order but we are unable to provide a date that it will back! You can sign up to be notified when it comes back in stock. On the product page, select Willow Bark and where you would normally add it to your cart, you will have the option to sign up to be notified when it is back in stock. When we get it back in, you will be notified via email!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks,
Thanks for this! Simplequietmodern…perfect. Can’t wait to get on on the sticks.
Hi,
I’m head over heels for this yarn and I can’t wait to buy it! But since my skin is pretty sensitive to roughness (I can’t tolerate even a bit of mole hair in the collar of my turtleneck), how would you compare this yarn and Alpaca Pure? I’ve got Alpaca Pure from your site last year and I’m in love with it. Thinking if I should get this for this year…
Also, how many skeins would you recommend if I’m to knit myself this wrap? I’m 170cm and rather slim, but I love my scarves thick and cozy.
Fiona
xoxo from Hong Kong <3
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for writing in! Understory is quite soft! I have rather sensitive skin myself and find that I can easily wear it against my neck and face with no roughness! Our Alpaca Pure is quite a bit thicker than Understory but both are quite soft. Understory especially benefits from blocking which will help it bloom and soften even more!
I think that making the wrap as it written would work well for you! As such, you will need 4 skeins of Understory!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi, I was wondering if there was any less expensive yarn you could use for this pattern. Thank you, Rhonda
Hi Rhonda,
Thanks for writing in! We always happy to recommend alternate yarns! Our Flax Down would work well here. Due to the yardage differences, you would need 5 skeins. You could also use Cascade 220 (you would also need 5 skeins). Cascade 220 is a bit thicker but the pattern should still work well as written.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your interest. We are looking to have this back in stock in the next two weeks. You can sign up to be notified of restock by clicking on the color on the product page and entering your email below!
Kindly,
Anna
I’m following the pattern but my scarf doesn’t look like this. The picture of the scarf on this site look like it is knit on one side and purled on the other. Is the picture different than the pattern stated?
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for writing in! I am not sure what could be happening! The wrap is stockinette (knit on the front an purl on the back) with 3 stitches on both edges making up a small ribbed selvedge. Is it possible that you continued to repeat the selvedge stitches past just the edges?
Let us know if we can be of any further help!
Cassy
Are there instructions for the three stitch selvage edge?
Hi Kay,
Thanks for writing in! The three stitch selvedge is included in the row directions above. On wrong side rows you will begin with k1, p1, k1, and then purl to last three stitches, then k1, p1, k1. On right side rows, you will k2, p1, and then knit to last three stitches, p1, k2. The first 3 and last 3 stitches of each row represent the selvedge!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
could I use Alpaca for this too? and would you use the same size needles?
thanks
Hi Danielle,
You could absolutely use our Season Alpaca for this lovely wrap. You may need to go down a needle size or two as 100% Alpaca has quite a bit more drape than Understory! I would swatch and see what works best for you!
Best,
Cassy
Hello will the Purl soho line weight yarn work with this pattern?
Hello Leya,
Thank you for reaching out! Our Line Weight yarn is much thinner than our Understory yarn, so it will knit up at a very deferent gauge. If you wanted you could go down in needle size and up in your cast on number and knit this wrap with Line Weight. I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
I just started this project but I find that I am not entirely happy with the edging. I personally find it a bit sloppy looking. Is there an alternate edging, like slipping the first stitch?
Thank you, Pam
Hello Pam,
Thank you for writing us! You can certainly slip the first stitch of every row purlwise to achieve a sharper edge.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hello,
I like the idea of sharpening the edge. Does that mean Row 1 would begin with S1pw, p1, k1 and Row 2 would begin with S1pw, k1, p1 ?
thank you
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your kind words! You have it spot on! That is exactly how you would work the edges!
Best,
Cassy
Is there a particular method of casting on that you recommend for this project? I usually use long tail cast on, but wonder if it’s appropriate for this piece. Also, any tips for a nice, clean cast off? I’m thinking that details matter in this simple but beautiful wrap. Thoughts?
Hello Laura,
Thank you or writing us! While most cast on methods will work, I would also use a Long Tail cast on for this scarf.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I agree with Laura, details would matter with this simple design. So…long tail cast on. Anything special for the cast off?
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! If I were making this beautiful wrap I would cast off using the Basic Bind off method.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Could this be knit in a fingering weight yarn? If so how many stitches would be cast on and what size needle? How many yards of yarn would be needed? Thanks.
Hi LIzanne,
Thanks for writing in! Understory comes in at DK weight. To use a fingering weight, you will need to do a bit of work to regauge the project. We knit the Understory at a bit of a loose gauge here. For fingering weight, you may need to go up to a US 4 to get a similar drape. You will also need to knit a gauge swatch to figure out your cast on. Once you know the stitches per inch, you will multiply that number by 20 inches wide and that will be your cast on number. As to the amount of yarn that you will need, we used about 1000 yards here. Given that your gauge may be around 50% more than what we have here, I would suggest 1500 yards of fingering weight!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Do you think the selvedge edge would work with a garter stitch, instead? Will garter still help it from curling up?
HI Lisa,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly change the edges to garter stitch! Our selvedge edges, with the small ribbing we are using here do not really roll. The cast on and bind off edges do roll a little as they are straight stockinette. You can certainly alter these or all of the edges to garter to prevent rolling. I think that it will still look quite smart!
Best,
Cassy
I’ve begun the wrap with Understory (gorgeous!) but notice the piece is curling up at the bottom, as stockinette is inclined to do. In the photo, the bottom (cast-on/cast-off) edge appears quite flat. I’m telling myself blocking will help–did you soak the piece in water, or steam it? Perhaps I should cast on more loosely? I want to maintain the simple elegance of the design so I hesitate to begin with a few rows of garter stitch. Any thoughts?
thank you!
Hi Diane,
Thanks for writing in! The bottom will curl a bit. Due to how loosely this lovely wrap is and the drape of Understory, blocking will mitigate this quite a bit. You can also add a single crochet border to the ends when you are finished or do a few rows of garter to begin. We like the clean look of the wrap as written. Give it a block and see how it looks!
Best,
Cassy
I purchased the 24,US7 circular needles to knit the elementary wrap but they turned out to be too long. The yarn doesn’t stretch far enough. I wonder if anyone else had this problem.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for writing in! As this lovely wrap is knit flat, the stitches should not need to stretch to fit the full length of the wrap. To use circular needles for knitting flat you simply finish a row, turn the work so the other side is facing you and put the needle that was in your right hand into your left hand and the needle that was in your left hand into your right hand, ready to go on the next row!
We use a 24″ cable here to ensure that the stitches fit comfortably and do not fall off when you are not working.
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
I’d like to do this in Anzula Cloud. Would that work and how much would I need? Thanks for the help!
Hi pk,
Thanks for writing in! Anzula Cloud is a lot finer than Understory which we used here. Anzula Cricket would be a much closer in size to our Understory. If you were to use cricket, you would need the same number of skeins. To use Cloud, you will need to do a bit of work to regauge the project. We knit the Understory at a bit of a loose gauge here. For cloud you may need to go up to a US 3 to get a similar drape. You will also need to knit a gauge swatch to figure out your cast on. Once you know the stitches per inch, you will multiply that number by 20 inches wide and that will be your cast on number. As to the amount of yarn that you will need, I think that you will need 3 skeins thought you may need more based on your gauge.
Best,
Cassy
Thanks so much! I knew it was a finer yarn, but good to hear that it might work.
Starting knitting this wrap but was really unhappy with the rolling edge… so, I took it apart and stated over… following your directions, but instead I knit the first two rows in seed stitch. Now it has a subtle detailed edge and is laying totally flat. Now just knitting along and will do the same when I get to the end.
Hi Cheryl!
Thanks so much for writing in! That’s a wonderful idea!
Happy knitting,
Carly
Could you suggest a non wool (or any other animal fibre) yarn for this project. I realize it won’t be as warm with a non wool, but I’m looking for a good “take-along” project and this would fit the bill.
Thanks!
Hello Carol,
Thank you for reaching out! The great thing about this wrap is it you be easy to adapt to other yarns and gauges. I think this wrap would be beautiful in Habu’s Dyed Bamboo or you could try it in our Cotton Pure. Both of these yarns will knit up much with a smaller gauge than the gauge called for in this pattern, so you will need to adjust the pattern. This shouldn’t be to difficult, all you will need to do is go down in needle size and up in cast on number. I would knit a swatch with your desired needle size to see how many stitches per inch you are getting, and then use this to determine your cast on number.
I hope this helps and please let me know if I can clarify anything for you!
Warmly,
Marilla
Thank you for the suggestions Marilla! I will look into those yarns.
I just LOVE this shawl! There are so many times that I just want to sit and knit, listen to an audiobook, and not think about a pattern, and this shawl will be the perfect project. And the result will be just lovely. Thanks so much for introducing us to “Understory”! Purl Soho, you’re the best!
Hello Hazel,
Thank you so much for reaching out and your very kind words!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
This pattern looks beautiful – I’d love to try it with Madelinetosh Pashmina – would this yarn work as well?
Hello Suzanne,
Thank you for reaching out! I believe Madelinetosh Pashmina is a sport weight yarn which is going to be too thin for this pattern. If you want to adjust the pattern a bit you could certainly use it.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi! I love this pattern to bits. To get the same drape, what material should I be using? I have 100% Merino, 50:50 Merino and Cotton, 65% Wool 35% Alpaca, or 100% Alpaca.
Hi Bee,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! I think that the most similar drape would be with the wool and alpaca blend!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Grammar/ spell check: not to thin rather it’s too thin.
Not to thin means can’t thin
Hi Janis,
Thanks for writing in and for helping out! Unfortunately, I am unable to find the error in order to correct it.
Thanks for looking out for us!
Cassy
Love this simple wrap. Unfortunately, I am allergic to all wool fibers. Is there a cotton blend you could recommend as a substitute for this pattern?
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for writing in! We can certainly recommend alternate yarns here! The great thing about this wrap is it you be easy to adapt to other yarns and gauges. I think this wrap would be beautiful in Habu’s Dyed Bamboo or you could try it in our Cotton Pure. Both of these yarns will knit up much with a smaller gauge than the gauge called for in this pattern, so you will need to adjust the pattern. This shouldn’t be to difficult, all you will need to do is go down in needle size and up in cast on number. I would knit a swatch with your desired needle size to see how many stitches per inch you are getting, and then use this to determine your cast on number.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I love this pattern! I am relatively new to knitting. I plan on using the Cotton Pure as suggested in this comment just for financial reasons. If I go down to a size 6 needle – how many cast more cast on would you suggest? Or how many stitches per inch would be necessary to determine my cast on number?! (Maybe I should say I’m really new to knitting instead of “relatively new”. Ha!) Thanks so much! Missi
HI Missi,
Thanks for writing in! To figure our your cast on number, I would suggest knitting a small gauge swatch in stockinette stitch. If you intend on blocking your final piece, be sure to block your swatch and let it dry before measuring how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you know how many stitches per inch you are getting, you can multiply that number by 20 inches and that will be the number of stitches that you will want to cast on for your wrap!
Best,
Cassy
I am an advanced beginner, and I love the idea of this pretty, but largely “mindless” knit. But . want to introduce more color. Has anyone tried to do this with some wide stripes, or maybe 2 colors? I’d love to see how that would look. I love the worsted bundles for the seed stitch wraps you have on here as well, and I am trying to decide which larger project to invest in.
Hi Natalia,
Thanks for writing in! We have not yet seem this lovely wrap done in more than one color but I suspect that it would be stunning as well!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks!
I am knitting this in two colors and it’s awesome! I did 30 stitches in a puce and then 60 in a camel brown. Slows you down a bit to switch colors but I love the look.
Hello Heidi,
Thank you for writing in! I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying this wrap- your color combination sounds beautiful!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I LOVE this wrap! And I have a friend who has 3 ply sport weight yarn with llama, 15%Merino and 25% Suri Alpaca. If I want to use this yarn, what adjustments would need to be made to the pattern ? I’m really hoping to make this work! Thank you!
Chris Adler
Hello Christine,
Thank you for reaching out! to knit this wrap at a smaller gauge all you will need to do is go down in needle size and up in cast on number. I would knit a swatch with your desired needle size to see how many stitches per inch you are getting, and then use this to determine your cast on number.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any further question!
Happy knitting,
-Marilla
Awesome! Thank you so much!
Chris
Will my 5 skeins of Purl Soho Flax Down work with this pattern?
Hello Misi,
Thank you for writing in! Flax Down is a slightly thinner than Understory, but is close enough that it should still work. Your wrap might just come out slightly smaller, but still beautiful. You shouldn’t need more than 4 skeins.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Love this wrap, but the colors I would like are sold out. What other wool in a nice grey would you recommend?
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for writing in! We will be getting Willow Bark back in stock but if you would like to try an alternate yarn, you could try our Cashmere Merino Bloom in Dove Gray. You may need to go down a needle size to get a similar drape but I would be sure to knit a gauge swatch to decide o the fabric that you like best!
Best,
Cassy
Today I got a beautiful present in the post, two skeins of Understory. I live in Stockholm, Sweden, and I told my New Yorker friend about my “dream store”. Please help me to adjust the size to fit two skeins. I am so looking forward to this. Thank you.
Hi Kristina,
What a lovely friend! This lovely wrap can easily be modified! To get a wrap of equal length, I would suggest casting on half the number of stitches and then following the pattern as written!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Apologies if this has already been discussed: How do you get the stockinette stitch to lie flat? I never see the ends curling on any projects offered here. I love the clean look of stockinette, but unless it has a border in another stitch mine curls.
Hi Nannci,
Thanks for writing in! While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, all conspire to keeping this wrap quite flat. If you find that after some wear, it starts to curl, just wet block it flat again!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Could you use Anzula’s For Better or Worsted for this wrap. If so, would it have the same drape? And does the elephant color, in fact, have a purplish hue? Thanks.
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! I think that Anzula’s For Better or Worsted would be lovely for this wrap. It is a bit plumper than our Understory, so I would be sure to knit a gauge swatch to make sure that you like the fabric at the gauge we are getting here. You can always go up a needle size to get a bit more drape and subtract a few stitches to get the correct width. Elephant does not appear to have a purplish cast although it is a cool gray. Charcoal can have a purple cast depending on the dyelot.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Is it possible to make a stole or continuous wrap. I would like to make this in the round. Th I s is a gorgeous pattern. My sister would like it continuous, so she could wear in the office.
Thank You,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Thanks for writing in! You certainly can turn this lovely wrap into a cowl! The most straightforward way to do so would be to knit the pattern as written and then sew the two ends together using mattress stitch. You could also cast on provisionally and kitchener the two ends together!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Which is the best cast on method to use for this scarf?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! We love to use the long tail cast on here and for most of our patterns unless otherwise noted. We think that it makes a tidy and flexible cast on!
Best,
Cassy
Made this for my mom for Christmas. Simple, easy, and super soft. The simple border is strikingly an impressive detail. Will make again for sure…
Love this shawl pattern.
Hello, I would love to make this gorgeous wrap. I have enough Terra yarn from The Fibre Company. Do you think this yarn would drape similarly, if I adjust the needle size up and subtract a few stitches? Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! I have not worked with Terra before but it looks like a lovely yarn! Based on the fiber content, I do think that it should drape similarly to our Understory! I also think that you are on the right track with slightly larger needles and subtracting a few stitches. The knit here is on the looser side so when doing your gauge swatch, look for a a looser fabric that has a pleasing drape and you should be all set!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you Cassy! I have about 6-7 inches done on #9 needles, with 80 stitches. I liked the swatch I made, but the cast on edge is curling. Should I be concerned that the piece won’t lie as flat, or should I see it uncurl with blocking and the weight of the finished piece? I’m just not sure about fully committing to a different yarn to achieve the same look. I really appreciate the feedback!
Hi Sarah,
Great progress! As the bottom is stockinette, it will tend to curl. While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory (and I believe of your yarn as well), all conspire to keeping this Wrap quite flat. If you find that after some wear, it starts to curl, just wet block it flat again!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Cassy thank you for the advice! After about 25 inches, I decided the yarn wasn’t going to look as refined or drape as well as I wanted it to, so I’m ripping it out. : ( It was still worth a shot!
I am dying to make this wrap but you are sold out of almost all the Understory colors. Could I use the Metalico (Blue Sky Alpacos) yarn? And if so, would 5 skeins be right?
Hi Nora,
Thanks for writing in! Metalico is a good deal thinner than the Understory that we used here. You certainly can alter the gauge of the pattern to work with Metalico but it will take a little bit of work. This shouldn’t be to difficult, all you will need to do is go down in needle size and up in cast on number. I would knit a swatch with your desired needle size to see how many stitches per inch you are getting, and then use this to determine your cast on number.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I want to make this pattern using Malabrigo Rios yarn? How should I customize the pattern you have provided for it? Thank you in advance.
Hi Priya,
Thanks for writing in! It looks like Rios is a very similar gauge to our Understory so you should be all set! As always when substituting yarns, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch to ensure that you are getting the correct gauge!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Help! I’ve read this over and over and for the life of me I cannot figure it out, since it says Row 1: (wrong side) and Row 2: (right side). Could you please help me? I appreciate it.
Debi
Hello Debi,
Thank you for writing in! The wrong side refers to the purl side of the wrap and the right side refers to the knit side. I hope this clears things up and just let us know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
I would love to get back into to knitting and this seems like the perfect project, especially for me since it’s been quite some time since I’ve knit! Any chance you can recommend some soft yarns in blue or purple tones that would work? I’d love to make one for my Mother-in-law. Thank you!
Hi Inta,
Welcome back to the knitting world! We are so glad to have you! For a gift, I would love to suggest Cashmere Merino Bloom. It is very soft and has some lovely color options! You will need an additional skein owing to the difference in yardage. Woolfolk Far would also be a great option! You will need 7 skeins to use this yarn!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you Cassy for the recommendations! I ordered the Tide Pool color in the Cashmere Merino Bloom (5 skeins). Anything else I need to adjust? Looking forward to starting my new project!
Hi Inta,
Thanks for writing back! You will certainly want to knit a gauge swatch. As Cashmere Merino Bloom blooms up a bit, you may want to go with a needle size up! A gauge swatch will give your your stitches per inch which you can them multiply by 20 inches and this will be your cast on!
Best,
Cassy
Since this is all knitting, it tends to roll, does blocking after I finish fix this?
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, all conspire to keeping this Wrap quite flat. If you find that after some wear, it starts to curl, just wet block it flat again!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I was given 3 skeins of understory for Christmas. I’m a relatively new knitter – about how long would 3 skeins make up to? Or should I find a different pattern?
Thanks
Hi Becki,
Thanks for reaching out! You can certainly modify this lovely wrap to work with the 3 skeins of Understory that you have! With 3 skeins, you will be able to knit a 15 x 73 inch wrap. To do so, you will cast on 67 stitches and follow the pattern as written!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thanks you so much!
I’d love to knit this in a more vibrant colour than the ‘understory’ range offers. could you suggest a suitable alternative. something just as soft & lush as ‘understory’
Hi Kerrie,
Thanks for writing in! We are happy to recommend alternate yarns! Woolfolk Far would work beautifully here! You would need 7 skeins to use this yarn. You could also try Manos Silk Blend, using 7 skeins as well!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I just ordered the Understory and am looking forward to making this wrap. My question is on the width – the picture looks so much wider than the 20 inches. Am I missing something?
Ps my daughter gave me the
Linen quill cowl kit for Christmas, love it! Beautiful yarn.
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! We are so glad that you like the cowl kit! The sample photographed here is indeed 20 inches wide! The slightly looser knit of this lovely wrap does mean that it can stretch to be a bit wider under its own weight but I have remeasured the sample and can confirm the width!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi,
Using Cotton Pure, you’ve answered Tracy about how to determine how many stitches to cast on using a size 6 needle. How do I figure out how many skeins I’ll need? What will the drape be like using Cotton Pure?
Thank you for another easy and beautiful pattern!
Hi Randi,
Great question! For this wrap, I think that you will need 5 skeins of Cotton Pure. You may not use the whole final skein and as such, I would recommend leaving it unwound in case you do not need it. We happily will exchange skeins in original condition for up to 6 months after purchase!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I need an easy, brainless project I can do to relax in the evenings and this is it. The yarn looks yummy, too! Can’t wait to get my yarn and start.
Bravo pour tous ces beaux modèles que vous nous montrez – vos laines sont magnifiques – mais dommage pour moi je ne comprends pas les explications des points je pourrais peut-être trouver des abbréviations de ces points en francais quelque part- Pouvez-vous peut-être m aider – manceerci d av
Hi Sommer,
Merci pour votre message! Malheureusement, nos patrons sont toujours en anglais! Nous avons une page pour les abréviations qui peuvent être utiles pour tranduire les points. Voila: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/knit/terms/
Merci,
Cassy
Merci pour votre mail – je vais consulter les abbréviations – et si tout va je commanderai vos laines – bravo pour vos belles réalisations
Love, love, love this pattern!! Just wondering if I tried this in the Dyed Bamboo, if I could do it in 1 skein? Thank you for your awesome patterns and yarns!!
Hi Irene,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely wrap, we used approximately 900 yards of yarn. The Habu Dyed Bamboo comes in 700 yard skeins. To make this wrap using just one skein, you will need to make it a bit narrower. I would suggest a cast on of around 62 stitches which would be about 30% less to account for the smaller yardage.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Yes, thank you so much Cassy. Now to decide on which delicious yarn to buy! 🙂
This wrap is so beautiful and would like to do it as my next project. I do have one question…..what is the 3 stitch selvage detail . I don’t see it in the pattern, or am I missing something.
Thanks so much
Hi Gail,
Thanks for writing in! I am happy to help! The selvedge is written into the row directions! On row 1 you will k1, p1, k1 and then purl the rest of the stitches until the last 3 and k1, p1, k1. On row 2, you will k2, p1, knit the rest of the stitches to last three stitches, p1, k2.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi. I cant wait to make this wrap. I would like your opinion on using Juniper Moon Farm Stargazer yarn for this. Will it work ?
Donna
Hi Donna,
Thanks for writing in! I think that this wrap would be lovely in your yarn! The fiber content suggests that it will have a similar drape! It does seem to be a bit thinner than our Understory. With that in mind, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in order to determine a cast on number. We knit this a little on the looser side, so I would suggest trying a US 5 and see if you like the fabric! Once you know how many stitches per inch you are getting, you can multiply that number by 20 inches and that will be the cast on number!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I have just started knitting my wrap (I am a beginner so please forgive my ignorance) and noticed that I am gaining stitches – is this expected with the selvedge edge or am I doing something wrong when doing the k1 P1 K1 for example. I don’t want to go too far without understanding if this is ok. I have a feeling it’s not.
Thanks so much for your help and patience.
Becki
Hi Becki,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely pattern, you should have the same number of stitches on every row. I am wondering if you are accidentally making yarn overs when you move from knitting to purling. When you move from a knit to a purl or a purl to a knit, you will want to move the working yarn between the needles and not over the needle as this would create and extra stitch.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I think I figured out after watching a few videos of switching from knit to purl – I didn’t think I should be gaining stitches…
Thanks
Becki
If I want to make this 27” wide instead of 20” do you think I need to increase the length for the proportions to be correct? If so by how many inches? I want this to be more of a stole than a wrap.
If I make it 27” wide how many stitches should I cast on?
And if you think Ineed to increase the length I assume I’ll need to buy an additional skein.
Thanks for your help!
Hi Randi,
Thanks for writing in! The length of this wrap does give a nice ability to wrap it around the body but you can certainly increase the length as well if you like!
For a wrap that is 27 x 73, you will need 6 skeins (probably using 5 1/2 skeins. You could use any additional yarn to get extra length if you would like! Your cast on will be 121 stitches!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you, Cassy!
I am an absolute newbie to knitting and thought this might be a good start as a first knitting project. I want to get the same look as the photo. I do plan to use the Understory yarn referenced (albeit in a different color) on this site; however; I am not sure which size needles or gauge to use. Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙂 Thank you!!
Hi Cathy,
I think that this would be a great first project! For this, and all of our projects, we do list the needles and gauge that you will want to use. The needles will be listed in the Materials section and gauge will be listed under Gauge in the pattern above. For this lovely wrap, you will be using US 7 needles and the gauge is 18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
For row 2 it says to knit to last 3, but then it is only followed by p1, k2. That means that there’s still going to be 1 loop on my needle. What do I do with that? Is it a typo? Thanks!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing in! The final 3 stitches will be p1, k2 or written out long form, purl 1 stitch and knit the next 2 stitches! The number following a p or k will be the number of stitches that you will purl or knit!
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
What is best way to block this project
Hello Katherine,
Thank you for reaching out! I would recommend using wet blocking this project.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would working w/ a 100% merino DK yarn allow for the same drape and prevent curling?
Thanks!
Hello Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out! You can make this pattern with any yarn with the correct gauge. The best solution to the curling issue is to block your finished piece.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I am not experienced using circular needles. Can I use straight needles in the same recommended size?
Thank you
Hello Char,
Thank you for reaching out! The main reason we suggest using circular needles is due to how wide the wrap is, If you use straight needles you might have trouble keeping your stitches to stay on your needles. If you have straights that are long enough you can certainly knit this project with straight needles.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I was wondering if Paragon Sport weight from Knit Picks would work well for this pattern?
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for writing in! Paragon Sport Weight does appear to be a good deal thinner than our Understory. The great thing about this wrap is it you be easy to adapt to other yarns and gauges. Your yarn will knit up much with a smaller gauge than the gauge called for in this pattern, so you will need to adjust the pattern. This shouldn’t be to difficult, all you will need to do is go down in needle size and up in cast on number. I would knit a swatch with your desired needle size to see how many stitches per inch you are getting, and then use this to determine your cast on number.
Best,
Cassy
I just completed knitting my Elementary Wrap in this incredible Understory yarn. The texture, feel and shading of (I used Willow Bark) this yarn was a joy! I can’t wait to block it and wear it. Thank you, Purl Soho, for your fabulous yarns and your simply and elegant patterns.
I cannot recommend this pattern. Even after a 15 minute soak to wet block and using wires to block the edges, the wrap still curls. It’s an easy knit while watching TV, but the results are slightly disappointing. I did add a seed stitch edge at beginning and end, which helped.
Hi Margaret,
I’m sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with your wrap! Although stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, should help keep this wrap quite flat. Do you know what gauge you are getting and did you substitute a different yarn? Understory is quite drapey, especially once blocked, and a bouncier yarn may not behave the same way in this pattern.
Best,
Julianna
I did substitute a different yarn. I got gauge and the length was exactly to pattern, however, I did not consider the “bounciness” of the substituted yarn (was not aware that bounciness was a thing). Now I’m touching the Understory I ordered and angonizing over sending it back vs trying again with Understory! I should knit it up, just for comparison. Thanks so much for your reply!
Hi Margaret,
It is fascinating (and sometimes a little frustrating) how many characteristics of a yarn beyond just the thickness and gauge can play into how it behaves in a finished object – fiber content and/or crimp, yarn construction, number of plies, and amount of twist can all play a part! In many patterns it may not matter as much, but our Elementary Wrap does rely on the nature of Understory to lay flat. I would recommend trying out at least a swatch and blocking it before making up your mind because it really is a lovely yarn!
Best,
Julianna
Hi
I would like to know how to bind-off the wrap (on the right side) without the bind-off row being tighter than the other side ( the first row of the wrap)?
Thank you!
Hi Anik,
Thanks for writing in! Matching the tension of your Bind Off to the tension of your Cast On can be a challenge in any project. If you find that your Bind Off is usually tighter than your Cast On it is a good idea to work your Bind Off with a needle one or two sizes larger than you used for the rest of the project, but you should still take a look at your Bind Off edge every few inches to see if it is coming out too loose or too tight and compensate by adjusting your tension.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I just finished this wrap in another yarn (merino/silk fingering held double). I’m now blocking it. Such a great watching television knit!
How can I block this with pins without getting a scalloped edge?
Hi Neko,
Thanks for reaching out! To prevent a scalloped edge when blocking, you will just need to use more pins and space them as close together as necessary to keep the edges of the shawl straight; however, this wrap does not require aggressive blocking, so you may be trying to stretch it out too much, which could also cause scalloping between the pins. I would recommend reviewing our Blocking Tutorial and try to block the wrap to its natural width, rather than attempting to stretch it wider or longer than it wants to be.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I’m 3/4 done knitting this as a gift. I tend not to block my work but am trying to change that. I’ve looked up blocking information and have some conflicting advice. The instructions on Understory clearly recommend cool water however I have other blocking instructions that say to steam Alpaca wool. What do you say about this? Thank you.
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! You could certainly steam block this wrap, You don’t want to submerge it in hot water. Steam blocking is a lighter blocking method than wet blocking, but either method could be used for this wrap. For more detailed information, as well as some extra tips, check out our blocking tutorial.
Happy blocking!
-Marilla
Does anyone have an idea about adjusting the size of this wrap for a very petite person? I’m talking barely 5 feet tall, barely 100 lbs, size 0 jeans, tiny shoulders. Don’t want to bury this sweet person in a mountain of fabric.
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for writing in! If you can, I would suggest asking your friend to measure a wrap they already like to make sure this one comes out the perfect size! Otherwise, I think reducing the wrap size to 16″ by 60″ would be a good starting point. To do so, you will only need to cast on 72 stitches, and follow the pattern as written to 60″ in length.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi Julianna,
I too am interested in the reduced size for a similarly petite “giftee.” Would I need fewer skeins? If yes, could you advise how many fewer for the Manos silk blend as well as for Understory? I’ve been reading through the comments and saw 7 skeins of the Manos recommended for the brighter colours, and they’re so tempting!
Thank you,
Celia
Hello Celia,
Thank you for reaching out! If you are looking make this wrap 16″ x 60″ you will only need three skeins of Understory or five skeins of Manos Del Uruguay’s Silk Blend.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Divino! Está dentro de mis próximos proyectos. Soy México dónde consigo ese hilo? Gracias Purl Soho!!
Hi Lorena,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Our lovely Understory is only available through Purl Soho. The good news is that we ship internationally! Details about international shipping can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/shipping/
Best,
Julianna
Don’t understand why the edges curl
I accommodated three stitches for both edges
I’m using a sport yarn
I’m concerned that blocking will not correct the issue!!
Hi Violet,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with your wrap! Stockinette stitch will always roll into a tube to some degree, but a loose gauge and wet blocking will counteract this. Since you have substituted a different yarn, it is hard to say quite how it will behave in the finished wrap, but the best way to find out would be to knit a medium to large sized swatch with your chosen yarn, including the selvage stitches, and wet block it to see if the edges will still curl too much for your liking. If your swatch rolls more than you would like, I would suggest either using a larger needle or adding an edge stitch that will not roll, such as garter or seed stitch.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
I have about 924 yards of a Double Knitting yarn from Scotland (it’s 90% pure new wool and 10% silk). Would this yarn be appropriate for knitting the Elementary Wrap? Thanks.
Hello Carol,
Thank you for reaching out- this yarn sounds beautiful! The great thing about this pattern is how easy it is to adapt to different gauges. For a DK yarn I would go up a size or two to get the correct drape for this wrap and knit a small gauge swatch. From this swatch you can calculate how many stitches per inch you are getting which in turn can give you your cast on number.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
-Marilla
Your yarns are so beautiful, I am having a hard time deciding color. It’s hard to be sure of color on line. Is pink earth, 4200U more a rust than pink?
Hello Peggy,
Thank you for reaching out! I know, deciding on color via screens can be a tricky business. I would say it is lighter than a rust but could certainly be described as a rusty pink.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would the worsted cotton yarn work for this wrap with similar drape and feel? I’m also wondering about using Cascade Venezia or Be Sweet Bamboo? I am looking for a yarn substitute that will be soft and have a similar drape to the understory. Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! We are happy to help with alternate options! The Blue Sky Worsted Cotton knits up at a bigger gauge than the Understory that we used here. You would need to go up needle size and alter your cast on to get a wrap of the same size. I would also say that it has a very different hand and would create a physically heavier wrap as cotton is a heavier fiber. This could be quite lovely but it is worthwhile to keep in mind!
While I have not worked with either Cascade Venezia or Be Sweet Bamboo, I would say that Be Sweet Bamboo has a closer gauge to that of the yarn that we used here. Venezia has a more similar fiber content and so may drape a bit more like our Understory but having not worked with the yarns personally, I can’t be certain of their drape, rather I can say that the fiber content indicates that they should have a nice drape.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I just finished knitting this and LOVE it! Quick question, do I need to wet block it? It looks great as is (I used Understory) and I am fairly new to knitting and so am unsure if blocking is necessary. Thanks!
Hi Molly,
Thanks for reaching out! You can certainly block the finished work if you like! We like to do so to give all of the stitches a chance to relax and even out! If you are wet blocking, you are also giving your finished item a bit of a clean which is quite nice. This, of course, is all up to you! We tend to wet block most, if not all, of our samples as it gives them a nice finish but none of us are immune from being so excited, we just wear something for a little while before getting around to blocking it!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I’d like to make this wrap but would like it to be about 30” wide, the length is fine. How many skeins of yarn do I need. I want to use Understory, it shows that the price starts at $19 -? What is the price of Understory and how many do I need.
Thanks for your help.
Hello Gwyneth,
Thank you for reaching out! Yes, our Understory yarn is $32, but the color Heirloom White is on sale for $19. To make this project 30″ by 73″ you will need 6 skeins of Understory.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can I make this on straight, not circular, needles? Can’t seem to get the hang of circular ones.
Hello Cassie,
Thank you for reaching out! As long as all of your stitches fit on your straight needles you can certainly use them for this pattern.
Warmly,
Marilla
my knitted elementary wrap scarves are both curling on the edges. how do i prevent this???
Hello Millie,
Thank you for reaching out! Wet blocking this project will eliminate any curling. When you have completed your wrap place your knitted piece in water, usually with a bit of wool wash such as Soak, pinning it out to the correct shape and dimensions, ensuring that all the edges lay as flat as possible, and simply let it air dry. Our Blocking Tutorial has more details on the process!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi! The yarn I’m using is acrylic and nylon, I’m wondering if I should use the wool wash if just water would work?
Hello Ella,
Great question! You can use the same directions for Acrylic yarn as you would with wool. You can use just water, but you will not get the same softness that you would if using Soak or an equivalent soap.
Best,
Marilla
For my project I used a 100% wool yarn which curled significantly at all edges. I added a 4 row garter stitch along the edges and the curl reduced along the long sides. It’s still a bit of a problem on the short sides. The garter stitch is a quiet complement to the stockinette stitch. Hope this helps others with curled edges.
I’d like to make this in cashmere. Do you have any good options that would still achieve the same drape?
Hi Lori,
Great question! Cashmere naturally has such a lovely drape that I think that it would would beautifully here! For a 100% cashmere option, Jade Sapphire 6 Ply would be stunning! You would need 7 skeins to get the size that we made here. You could also try our lovely Cashmere Merino Bloom (75% Extra Fine Merino Wool and 25% Cashmere). You could use 5 skeins and make it a bit longer or use 4 and make it a touch shorter or narrower! With the Cashmere Merino Bloom, you may want to go up a needle size and certainly make a gauge swatch to help determine your cast on!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Cassy, making one for my sister in Arizona, and she wants a lighter wrap instead of heavier worsted weight feel. What would you recommend? Your Bloom sounds really nice…your suggestions?
Hello Hilary,
Thanks for reaching out! I would check out our Linen Quill version of this project, you could also use our yarn Burnish for an even more light weight version!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
All your patterns look so amazing! I’ve done your Super soft merino hats for everyone in super soft merino and it is perfect. I wished that international shipping is cheaper to Australia! And also I love how you are replying to people asking about making this with other yarns that are not from Purl Soho. Can’t wait to order from your store again.
Hi! Thank you so much for this gorgeous pattern! I’m a new knitter–45 years of crochet and I finally learned how to knit. I’m enjoying it immensely, too. I would like to make this wider. How many stitches do I need to cast on? What is the mustiple? Also, I am using Amano Puna and I am,(unfortunately), a tight knitter. Would it be a good idea to go up to a size 8 needle?
Thanks again!!
Karen T.
Hi Karen,
Welcome to the wide world of knitting – I’m happy to hear that it’s agreeing with you! I can’t really say whether your should adjust your needle size unless you knit and measure your gauge using your yarn. To do so, cast on about 25 stitches and work in stockinette stitch for 4 or 5 inches. Next, count how many stitches you have over 4 inches somewhere in the middle of your swatch and compare to our gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches. If you have too many, that means your gauge is too tight and you need to go up a needle size or two until you have achieved the correct gauge, or if you have too few, you need to go up a needle size or two.
Once your gauge matches ours, you can add 9 stitches to the cast on for every two inches of width you wish to add. There is no multiple necessary, so you can cast on any number you like!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
I am knitting the Everlasting Wrap with 7 skeins of cashmere Jade Sapphire Zageo 6 ply because of a prior comment I read suggesting this cashmere yarn. What size needle should I use- 6 or 7? I already made it in Understory (Love it and get so many compliments when I wear it!)and used size 7. Just wondering. Thanks so much for all your wonderful projects and the helpful support that is always readily available.
Mary S.
Hello Mary,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! I would recommend using the size 7 for the 6 ply cashmere. This wrap is gonig to be luminous, let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi there…this is a lovely wrap! Would Good Wool be too bulky? Thanks!
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! This Wrap would be beautiful in Good Wool and will not be to bulky.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
hi….how many yards of yarn does this take? thank you
Hi Jaynie,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely wrap, you will need approximately 1000 yards of a DK/Light Worsted weight yarn!
Best,
Cassy
I made the elementary scarf in Understory and i can’t seem to get it to not curl. I blocked it once and it still has some “movement” at the edges. Can you guide me in best blocking tricks? Many thanks.
susan
Hi Susan,
I’m sorry to hear that your Understory wrap is still curling! It is normal for it to curl slightly at the edges, but if it’s too much for your liking, we strongly recommend wet blocking this wrap. To do so, soak your wrap in sink full of lukewarm water with a small amount of wool wash, such as Soak, for at least 30 minutes – silk takes an extra long time to fully saturate! Drain the sink and gently move your wrap to large bath towel, and roll it up and give it a squeeze to remove excess water. You can then pin your wrap flat, but for best results, I like to use blocking wires to get the edges as flat and straight as possible. Make sure to leave your wrap untouched until it is fully dry, which can take a day or two, and that should do the trick!
Best of luck! Please let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi, I was wondering if there was a yarn substitute that was a little cheaper. I have no doubt that yarn would be so lovely and I would love to use it, but I am a beginner with a small budget. Thank you
Hi Megan,
We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try Good Wool – you will only need 3 skeins, so it is quite economical!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi,
I have bought the 3 skeins of the good wool but am wondering what size needle I should use once I’m ready to start this project after my yarn arrives?
Hi Susan,
Although I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch to make sure, you should be able to use Good Wool on a US 7 as we did in the pattern above!
Best,
Julianna
I noticed a beautiful knit edge along the selvage in order
to prevent curling. Would you please explain how this
is knit.
Another elegant shawl.
Thank you.
Paula
Hi Paula,
Thanks so much for writing in and for the kind words! Our Elementary Wrap is knit with just 3 stitches in a one by one rib on each edge – you will find the instructions for this edging in the original Elementary Wrap pattern. While you may find that the wrap still curls on the edges while you are knitting, after wet blocking the finished piece, this narrow ribbed selvage will certainly help keep the wrap quite flat!
Best,
Julianna
Could you suggest another edge to use for this wrap? I just finished one and love it but wanted to change it up . My yarn arrived yesterday . Anxious to start knitting .
Hello Amy,
Thank you for reaching out! You have a lot of flexibility in what you could do in terms of a border. You could do something simple like a garter stitch border or a seed stitch border. I you wanted to do something more complicated you could do a single braided rib column on either side of your wrap.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello, I’m thinking of knitting the elementary wrap as the pick up and go project your recommend, to free me from my charts and knitting alone. However, I wonder how I would block a piece over 6 feet long. I live in a small cottage in West Sussex. How do you manage? What would you suggest? Thank you
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! This is alway a dilemma for me as well, as long as you don’t need to make major adjustments to your piece it, which you shouldn’t need to do with a rectangle, I would recommend steam blocking rather than wet blocking.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I absolutely love the pattern and the tarn, however I was a little disappointed that the color of the yarn is not at all what is pictured. The picture shows a very saturated blue whereas the actual color is closer to slate. Still like it but not what I expected.
Hi Lotte,
We are sorry to hear that the color of Tussock you received was not as you expected and did not work out for you! We try our hardest to make the colors as true to life as possible but as each device and monitor is calibrated differently, the colors can sometimes still appear a bit different. We also understand that sometimes the color just does not work as well in person. I’m glad that you are still happy with the yarn, despite the color disparity, but just in case, we are always happy to exchange unwound yarn in its original condition for an alternate color or store credit.
Best,
Julianna
what cast on method is best used for this
Hello Mary,
Thank you for reaching out. I would reccomend doing a long tail cast on, but any cast on method will work!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi, I have some yarn made fro recycled silk, plus marino wool and cashmere. It’s d fined as lace weight, although it seems closer to fingering to me. What weight would you describe the linen quill yarn??? It’s gorgeous by the way.
Hi Cathy,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Linen Quill is a fingering weight yarn, but it is on the lighter side, so I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch to see if your stashed yarn will work at the same gauge. If not, it’s quite easy to add a few stitches to this pattern to obtain the same dimensions at a tighter gauge!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi
I have knitted the Elementary wrap in Willow Bark -and it is beautiful.
I have some beautiful hand dyed fingering weight /sock yarn-80% superwash merino and 20% nylon-would this work for this wrap?
Thank you
Hello Ute,
Thanks for writing- you can certainly knit this wrap with your fingering weight yarn! We knit this wrap in our Linen Quill which is a fingering weight yarn. you can find the pattern here. We used about 1,269 yards of our Linen Quill.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello, how many skeins of the Understory yarn would you recommend to knit a 36×80 wrap? Thank you!
Hello Rae,
Thank you for reaching out! you would need approximately 1,823 yards or 8 skeins of Understory.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Beautiful shawl! I am a Beginner and have lots of Red Heart #4 worsted yarn that I won in an on line auction. Could you please advise how much yarn I would need for this shawl using # 7 or #8 needles. As an aside, I always knit the last three stitches of scarfs to keep them from curling. Thanks for your answer in advance
Hi Ernestine,
Thanks for reaching out! We used about 1,000 yards of Understory, which is a light worsted/DK weight yarn, for our Elementary Wrap. If you are not planning on changing the needle size or cast on for the wrap, I would suggest having the same amount; however, if you are going to alter the pattern for the larger gauge of your yarn, you may need a little less yarn than we used, though it’s hard to say just how much less.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hullo! I was in at the very beginning of December and picked up 4 skeins of silver berry to make this wrap, and I was wondering if anyone had tried casting on 92 and slipping one on each end of the row to make the edges neater?
Hello Liv,
Thank you for reaching out! To do this I would cast on 91 stitches and slip the first stitch of every row- no need to slip the last stitch.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Marilla, thanks for replying! What I ended up doing was casting on 90, knitting as the pattern states but then doing K1 P1, bringing the yarn to the front and then slipping the last stitch. The same with the knit rows, P1 K1, yarn to the front and then slip. The edges look awesome and it’s kept them from having that bump from slipping one then pulling the yarn around the edge to knit. Thanks again!
I purchased the cashmere ombré wrap kit. Can I use the elementary wrap Pattern for that yarn? Any suggestions to change needle size or number of stitches cast on? Thank you
Hi Joanna,
Great idea! I would suggest following the instructions for our Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill, since it is written for a fingering weight yarn. The yarn in our Cashmere Ombré Wrap Kit is just the tiniest bit thicker, but you will have plenty of extra yardage, so I would suggest moving up to a US 5 needle and adding 10 stitches to the cast on.
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I love this pattern and the yarn. I am using circular needles as the pattern states… and am following the pattern… but oh no! when you knit one side and purl the other (as the pattern indicates), it’s not stockinette is it???? Is it possible you recommend circular needles but the pattern is for straight and i was supposed to adapt it? (ie JUST Knitting???) please help!
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for reaching out! Although we used a circular needle because they are our favorite needles to work on, this wrap is not worked in the round, and should be knit back and forth as if you were using straight needles. Whenever a pattern is knit in the round, after the cast on in the instructions, there should be a line that says “Join for working in the round” or something similar. If you don’t see something to that effect in the instructions, it’s a safe bet that they project is worked flat.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I’d love to knit this in your Super Soft Merino. I realize it will be a much heavier garment but I love the yarn (just finished a cowl with it). How many skeins do you think I would need for the Elementary Wrap dimensions. Thank you!
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for reaching out- this would certainly be a very cozy wrap! To make a wrap that is 79″ x 18 1/2″ you will need approximately 11 skeins of Super Soft. The only thing I would be concerned about is the weight of your wrap, I would reccomend going a bit smaller just to lighten the weight of the wrap.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would this drape if I used worsted weight? Larger needles?
Hi and thanks for writing in! If you are susbstituting a worsted weight yarn, I would recommend moving up a needle size or two from what is recommended on the yarn label to improve the drape of the fabric and to reduce rolling at the edges. Since it is hard to say quite how a different yarn will behave in the finished wrap, the best way to find out would be to knit a medium to large sized swatch with your chosen yarn and needles, including the selvage stitches, and wet block it to see if you are happy with the drape.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello,
I’m not all that enthused about Understory colors. I was wondering if Silk /blend semi-solid and multi would work. Tussock?
Thank you,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! This is a great idea – in fact, we have already tried it and loved it! You can see our Elementary Wrap knit out of two strands of Tussock here, and our newest version that combines a strand of Posy with a strand of Tussock here.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi,
I was thinking of knitting the elementary wrap with your Mulberry Merino yarn. I love Understory but am new enough to knitting that I wanted to try something a bit less expensive. Does Mulberry Merino work with the pattern as is or would I need to make changes? I was thinking of crocus bud for the color. Is there enough “subtle complexity” in the Mulberry Merino to pull of a swath of stockinette stitch? I don’t want to put all the time in to complete this project only to find that it doesn’t work. Thank you for your help.
Best, Shelley
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Mulberry Merino would be a wonderful yarn to use for the Elementary Wrap! Since it is a bit lighter weight than Understory, I would suggest knitting a swatch on US 6 needles and wet blocking it, both to make sure you will be happy with the yarn in the finished wrap, and to measure your gauge. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 20 to determine how many stitches to cast on. Otherwise, you won’t have to make any other changes to the pattern, and I’m sure it will turn out just lovely!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you so much for the advice.
This is a lovely and very useful wrap! I have a beautiful fingering weight yarn I’ve been wanting to make something out of. Do you think it would be lofty enough?
Hi and thanks for writing in! Our Understory is a heavy DK or light worsted weight yarn, which is quite a jump up from fingering weight! I would suggest knitting and blocking a gauge swatch using your yarn held double, or you could follow the instructions for our Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill for a fingering weight version of the wrap.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
LOVE this shawl!
At both sides, if I did a K2tog, then a yarn over, before the 3 selvage stitches, would this be likely to make the edges curl more, or less?
Hi Ros,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for writing in! This edging sounds very interesting, but I’m not sure if it will help with the edges curling, although it will definitely make it easier to use blocking wires if you choose to do so. The best way to find out would be to try it on a swatch!
Best of luck, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi,
Would you be able to garter stitch this wrap? Thank you
Hi and thanks for writing in! You would get a very different look and texture by substituting garter stitch, but there’s no reason you couldn’t! As a bonus, you could be sure the wrap would lay perfectly flat. I would suggest getting an extra skein or two of yarn as garter stitch knits up at a tighter row gauge than stockinette.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I am allergic to wool and linen but would love to make this wrap. Any suggestions?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest using Burnish and following the instructions for our lighter weight Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill. The bamboo yarn should result in a lovely wrap with a beautiful fluid drape!
Best,
Julianna
If I wanted to make the shawl 30 inches wide, how many stitches do I cast on?
Hi Patty,
Thanks for reaching out! You would need to cast on 135 stitches for a 30 inch wide wrap, and will need 6 skeins of Understory.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I have been trying to knit this wrap but am having trouble with it rolling both from the to and the bottom. I am new to knitting and have discussed this with several friends and family who are experienced and they say the stockinette stitch just rolls and always will even after blocking. Any suggestions?
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in! It is true that stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube; however, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, all conspire to keeping this wrap quite flat. Correct gauge and wet blocking is essential to this effect, and not all yarns will block out as well as Understory. If you aren’t sure if your wrap will lay flat in the end, I would suggest knitting a fairly large swatch, at least 6 inches square, including the selvage stitches, and wet block it to see how it will turn out.
Best of luck and I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi, I am wanting to knit a shawl for my daughter to go with her wedding dress. I love this pattern but was wondering if it would be possible to make it a bit more open knit by maybe changing the needles or the wool. She is looking for something soft, fine and warm. Many thanks, Sue.
Hi Susan,
Great question! I think you might be interested in the Tussock or Tussock + Mineral Silk versions of our Elementary Wrap! Both are knit out of lace weight yarn held double, so the resulting shawl is quite airy and fine – perfect for a wedding! Despite being a light weight yarn, Tussock is quite warm due to the mohair content, and Mineral Silk adds a touch of sparkle and shine that would be especially lovely. Hopefully one of those two versions will appeal to her!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there,
If I wanted to make this a little bit wider, could I cast on 100 stitches and still work the pattern just fine? Also, would I need another skein of yarn?
Hi Marisa,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, due to the simplicity of this pattern, you can cast on as many stitches as you like! We used nearly all of the yarn for this size, so I would recommend getting an extra skein of yarn if you cast on more stitches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there – i would like to make this pattern using Shibui twig. Should i hold another yarn with the twig? if so which do you recommend. And which pattern should i follow.
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for reaching out! It looks like Shibui Twig is a sport weight yarn, which is a bit thinner than our Understory. I would recommend following our original Elementary Wrap pattern above, but adding a strand of Tussock to bulk up your yarn a bit. Whenever substituting yarns, it is a very good idea to knit and block a gauge swatch first!
Best,
Julianna
Can this garment and yarn be steam blocked rather than wet blocked? Can I use a steam iron directly on it?
thanks
Caryn
Hi Caryn,
Thanks for reaching out! Because steam blocking does not affect the fabric as strongly as wet blocking, we do recommend wet blocking for this wrap; however, you could certainly try steam blocking it first to see if you are happy with the results! If you choose to steam block the wrap, I would not directly iron or press the wrap as the high heat could damage the yarn and excessively flatten the stitches; instead, I would pin the wrap flat and then hover the iron, set to the highest steam setting, about a half inch above the fabric.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I would love to make this in wool fingering yarn (my favorite weight of yarn) with number 3 needles. I would also want to employ the garter stitch throughout, rather than stocking knit stitch. Could you calculate how many stitches that I would need to cast on? I am terrible with that type of math! Since the garter stitch lays flat, I would not need to block it at all. Just need to know how many stitches (approximate) to cast on. Any help would be much appreciated! LS
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for writing in! I would suggest following the pattern for our Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill, which is scaled for fingering weight yarn. Since garter and stockinette have very similar stitch gauges, you should be able to cast on the same number of stitches as we did for that version of the Elementary Wrap!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks so much! I will give it a try!
Peace.
LS
Doesn’t stockinette stitch curl on the edges??
Hi Marie,
Great question! While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Understory, all conspire to keeping this Wrap quite flat. If you find that after some wear, it starts to curl, just wet block it flat again!
Best,
Cassy
I love the Elementary Wrap pattern and have made it with Understory and with Linen Quill. can you tell me how to adapt it to Cattail Silk, which is another of my favorite yarns?
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for the kind words, and what a lovely idea! Since Cattail Silk and Linen Quill knit up to the same gauge and can be used interchangeably, I would recommend following the instructions for our Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill exactly. To knit the wrap the same size as ours, you will need three skeins of Cattail Silk, but will only be using a very small amount of the third skein, so you might be able to get away with just two skeins if you make the wrap a few inches shorter. As long as you don’t wind the third skein, you can return it for store credit if you don’t need it!
Best,
Julianna
I just found 2 skeins of understory and am looking for a project to utilize those while in quarantine. Any suggestions?
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reaching out! With two skeins of Understory, you should have enough to knit our Pivot Cowl or a Reversible Pleat Hat or two. You could also add some coordinating yarns in a similar weight and knit up a Cobblestone Scarf!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I finished this recently (using a different yarn that’s about 50 percent wool and 50 percent synthetic, but a DK weight on size 7 needles) and the edges are badly curled. I’ve started crocheting a border on the short sides but it’s not doing much. Should I just try to block it and hope for the best?
Hi Naomi,
Thanks for writing in! A good blocking will usually do the trick! We thoroughly wet block this piece and it relaxed into the stitches nicely, but if you are worried about the curling you may want to carefully pin or use blocking wires to get a clean straight edge.
I hope this was helpful!
Gaby
Hello!
Thanks for the beautiful pattern. If I only have 880 yards of yarn, how many stitches should I cast on?
Thanks so much!
Hi Katie,
Thanks for reaching out! To knit a wrap the same length as ours, I would recommend casting on 80 stitches; however, keep in mind that the width of this wrap is one of the factors that helps it lie flat, so you may want to cast on 90 stitches and have your wrap turn out a little shorter than ours.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Would this pattern work with your Line Weight yarn and can I get away with using the same amount and same instructions as the Linen Quill version?
Hi Jen!
Thanks for asking, this is a great question! Yes, Line Weight and Linen Quill are almost identical in weight, and can easily substitute for one another. If you wanted to add a little more texture and drape, you might consider holding Line Weight with our silk + mohair Tussock for a really dreamy wrap! I hope this helps!
Best,
Cassandra
Do you think this project is something you could do in the round and then steek? It would be so much faster to knit in the round!
Hi Elisabeth,
Thank you for writing in! Yes, this would make a great steeking project! Finishing the steeked edges may add a bit of bulk, but I don’t think it would be anything a nice blocking couldn’t handle. If you haven’t worked this technique before, you might try our Steek with Knit Facing Tutorial!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Hello
I cannot find the direction for the selvage stitches. I click the link and it bring me to the pattern? Can you help me with the directions. Also do inCO more than 90
Thanks
N
Hi Nargis,
Thank you for reaching out- I’m happy to help! A cast on of 90 stitches will give you a 20 inch wide wrap as long as you are on gauge. If you’re at all in doubt about what your gauge is, I recommend knitting a small swatch to be sure. And, good news, you don’t have to do anything except follow the short Pattern above to get your wrap to lay nice and flat! The selvedge stitches are built into the pattern (they’re the first 3 and last 3 stitches of every row) so you don’t have to do anything extra. I hope this helps answer your questions!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
I’ve got some Alchemy Silken Straw in my stash and would like to use it with this pattern. Would it work well for this project?
Hi Ashley,
Great question! Since Silken Straw is a sport weight yarn, I would recommend following the gauge and instructions for our Elementary Wrap in Season Alpaca. It should turn out beautifully!
Best,
Julianna
Hi! ….I would really like to make the Elementary Wrap pattern using your Cotton Pure yarn….would this work? How much yarn would I need and what size needles? I am fairly new to knitting and don’t know if you can substitute different types of yarn in patterns and how that changes how much yarn you need. Sorry if the question is stupid, thanks for your help! ~Ashley
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reaching out! This actually a fantastic question! Because our Elementary Wrap is simple stockinette stitch which has a natural tendency to curl up, you need to choose a yarn that will block out well. Plant fibers, like cotton, silk, and linen, and less springy animal fibers, like alpaca and mohair, usually have a natural drape that helps them lie extra flat after blocking, so Cotton Pure will be a good choice! The other thing that keeps our wrap from curling up is a slightly looser gauge than normal, so I would suggest knitting a swatch using Cotton Pure on a US 6 or 7 and wet blocking it to see how the edges turn out. Once you have a fabric you are happy with, you can multiply your stitches per inch by 20 inches to determine how many stitches to cast on! Four or five skeins of Cotton Pure should be plenty of yardage for this wrap.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Purchased the Amazing Seed Stitch Wrap kit and I’m hoping to make an Elementary Wrap out of it. What adjustments do I need to make to do this with the yarn/ needles/ number of stitches to cast on etc…..?
Thanks
Hi Katie,
Thanks for writing in! I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch in one of the skeins of For Better Or Worsted in stockinette stitch, including the edge stitches from our Elementary Wrap pattern, and wet blocking it before you get started. One of the reasons our Elementary Wraps lay so flat is that we chose yarns that are extra drapey, and although the yarns in our Amazing Seed Stitch Wrap Bundle are lovely, we haven’t tested how well they will block out in this pattern. You can also measure your stitches per inch from your swatch and multiply by 20 inches to determine how many to cast on.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love this wrap and yarn you used. But I am too nervous to knit in stockinette with expensive yarn and then have the piece roll. Do you have another similar pattern I can use with this beautiful yarn??
Hi Marie,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, we have a few other patterns that would work well with Understory! Our Triangle Garter Wrap is very easy to adapt to use with any weight of yarn. Since it starts at the tip, you could just start with a US 7 or 8 needle and then follow the pattern as written until it is the size you would like. Our No-Purl Wrap would also be lovely in Understory! It is also written for a different weight of yarn, so you will need to knit a gauge swatch in pattern using a US 7 or 8 and then multiply your stitches per inch by 13.25 inches and round to the nearest odd number to determine how many stitches to cast on. Another option would be to use the same cast on number and needle size for our Elementary Wrap, but use seed stitch instead so it won’t roll!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I made this wrap and absolutely love it. I would like to knit it as a scarf for my husband. How many stitches would I need to cast on to make it the width of a standard scarf rather than a wrap? How many skeins would I need?
Hi Caryn,
Thanks for reaching out! I am glad to hear you love this pattern! This can be easily adjusted to knit a scarf size. I would recommend casting on half of the 90 stitches (44 to keep an even number to work across.) This would give you approximately a 10″ wide scarf rather than a 20″ wide wrap! 2 skeins of the understory should be plenty to complete it.
Hope this helps and happy knitting!
Gianna
Hello and thank you for sharing the pattern.I have a question that I would like you to answer to me! You are saying always slip the first stitch and purl the last stich.Is that means that I have to slip the first stitch, k1,p1,k1 ,purl to last 4 stitches, k1,p1,k1,p1???
I hope you can see my question and help me with this…
Thank you for your time!!!
Hi Athina,
Thanks for reaching out! For this pattern you are actually not slipping the First stitch, You start with row 1: K1, p1, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p1, k1.
and then for Row 2 on the right side you will K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.
I hope this clarifies things for you!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Tenía la misma duda y respondiste lo mismo que dice el patrón …así que me quedé igual!! (?)
Hi Karla,
Yes, I believe that Gianna was just clarifying that the pattern does not include any slipped stitches! Hope this helps answer your question as well!
All the best,
Lili
I’m the directions it says to slip the first stitch in each row and always finish with a purl stitch to get a pretty selvedge edge. I’m extremely confused by your comments saying now that you do not slip the first stitch and end with a purl!!!!
Hi Deanna,
Can you let me know where you’re seeing the instructions say to slip a stitch? Here’s what I’m seeing the pattern say:
Row 1 (wrong side): K1, p1, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p1, k1.
Row 2 (right side): K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.
If you see anything saying to slip a stitch though, we’d like to fix the mistake!
All the best,
Lili
Hi and thank you. I’m wanting to make the Elementary wrap . I’d like to use mulberry merino . Using #4 circular needles . Which of the patterns should I follow?
Hi Mell,
Thanks for reaching out! Mulberry Merino is a sport weigh like Season Alpaca, so I would recommend following that version of the pattern since it is the most similar in gauge! However, we did use a US 5 needle for that pattern so I would recommend working a gauge swatch first and comparing it to the original gauge to know if you need to make any adjustments!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Do I have to use circular needles?
Hi Leslie,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this pattern is knit flat you technically don’t have to use circular needles, however I would recommend using circular needles, it will be much easier to knit on instead of straight needles since you are working over a large amount of stitches and they may get too crowded on straight needles.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Could I use good wool for the elementary wrap
Hi Lynda,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Good Wool would be an excellent option for the Elementary Wrap! Since this original version is made with Understory (dk/light worsted weight) I would suggest following the pattern for the Elementary Wrap in Season Alpaca since Season Alpaca is also a sport weight like Good Wool! I do recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure you are consistent with the pattern.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Would the Elementary Wrap work well in the Sweetgrass yarn?
Hu Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! Sweetgrass would be an excellent option for this wrap! I would recommend following the Elementary Wrap In Linen Quill version of the pattern since Linen Quill is virtually the same gauge as Sweetgrass so they will knit up very similarly!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
What colour is the model wearing for the understory wrap in the photo?
Hi Jenny,
The sample our model is wearing is knit up in the Willow Bark colorway in Understory!
Warmly,
Kelsey
How many total yards of yarn will I need for this pattern if I wish to use a different yarn?
Hi Marti,
Thanks for writing in! For this version of the Elementary Wrap, we used approximately 925 yards of Understory (a light worsted/dk weight yarn!)
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I am knitting this pattern as written and I am wondering if I should block the piece upon completion. Thanks!
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, I’d recommend blocking this project after you’ve finished! This will allow the fibers to relax, creating even more drape and softness. If you’d like more information on how to block projects, we have a guide on that here (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/blocking/)! Hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Hi there. I have four skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca that I’d like to use for a wrap. Do you it would work well for this pattern? Thanks!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern is a great one for almost any yarn, so Ultra Alpaca will definitely work. The only thing is that you may need to adjust the number of stitches you cast on based on the gauge you’re getting with your yarn.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern (if this is daunting, we have a wonderful tutorial called All About Gauge). Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! I’d like to use Field Linen + Tussock to make this Elementary Wrap. Firstly, is this a good match? Secondly, how much Field Linen would I need? Thanx in advance. Linda
Hi Linda,
Thank you for writing in! We wouldn’t recommend using Field Linen with Tussock but if you have your heart set on the linen, I would recommend checking out our Elementary wrap in Quartz and following those instructions as it is written for fingering weight yarns! For this version, you will need 3 skeins of Field linen for the scarf or 5 skeins for the wrap. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I have been admiring this pattern for so long! I would love to knit the original pattern with the finished dimensions of 20×73 but since Understory is discontinued, I’m having trouble choosing from the other DK weight yarns. Would Good Wool work for this pattern?
Thank you!
Hi Kelly,
We are so happy you are interested in starting this pattern soon! Good Wool would make a wonderful choice for this pattern but ultimately any of our yarns would work. Once you decide on a yarn you’d like to try, we can help you make adjustments to your stitch count as needed if you’d like. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella