Elementary Wrap In Linen Quill
Our Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill is nearly as simple to make as rolling off a log. A beautiful swath of stockinette fabric with a few rib stitches at the edges, it’s also a much more fruitful endeavor!
We love the calming process of knitting an expanse of stockinette fabric. It’s a wonderful project to pick up at the end of a frazzling day, to soothe your brain with quiet and your body with repetition. We also happen to love how a field of stockinette looks, hand made without fuss, classic without bells and whistles.
Knit up in our Linen Quill, this Elementary 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!
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!
Originally designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoElementaryWrap, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 439 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1,317 yards required. We used the color Crocus Bud.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 24-inch circular needles
Gauge
26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 18 1/2 inches wide x 73 inches long
Pattern
NOTE: We followed our original Elementary Wrap pattern but with a few tiny changes. Here it is exactly how we did it for this Linen Quill version…
Cast on 120 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
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 75 inches, ending with a wrong side row.
Bind-off Row (right side): Bind off in pattern.
Weave in the ends and wet block flat.
Learn About Linen Quill + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We designed this project to highlight the uniquely beautiful qualities of our Linen Quill, a wonderful fingering-weight yarn that is a blend of 50% wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. It feels amazing in your hands, and in 70 jaw-droppingly gorgeous colors, Linen Quill is the candy store of yarn! Want to play with lots of those amazing colors? Check out our Linen Quill Minis, available in 40- and 20- color bundles!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Linen Quill knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop wool yarn
- Shop alpaca yarn
- Shop linen yarn
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!
Why can’t we print patterns? There is no printer friendly button. The print button at the bottom of the pattern page does not work. Thx.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for reaching out! We do have a handy print function that allows you to have a printer friendly version of each one of our patterns!
If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
Best,
Cassy
Thanks for the tip on printing–what a great function that allows me to edit the page. Your patterns are wonderful–clean and classic.
Hi,
This is so simple and gorgeous. Only the wet blocking is holding me back. Hard to find a space in excess of 70” to do it on. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! Blocking in a small space can indeed be tricky! I often block items on my bed first thing in the morning with a fan in the room and find they are usually dry by the time I’m ready to go to bed, but if that’s not an option and you don’t have enough floor space, you could try blocking the wrap folded in half lengthwise, with a rolled towel tucked in the fold to prevent a sharp crease.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi, i am super beginner but I would love to make this! I have a question (sorry if it’s a stupid one!): the instruction tells to use circular needle. Is it a tube scarf? do i join in the round after cast-on? Thank you in advance!
Hi Nat,
Thanks for reaching out! Not to worry, there’s no such thing as a stupid question! Although the wrap is knitted flat, not in the round, we used a circular needle to better accommodate the number of stitches, and because they are our favorite needles to work on for just about everything! You certainly can knit this wrap on long straight needles if you prefer, but you may find that circular needles are more portable and convenient to knit with, even when you aren’t knitting in the round.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Thank you for your reply! So do i need 2 circular needles then?
Hi Nat,
You will need either a 24″ US 4 needle or a 32″ US 4 needle, but luckily not both! You can use whichever length you already have or prefer.
Best,
Julianna
Thank you, I am trying to relearn how to knit and this sounds like the perfect pattern for my level.
This looks like an elegant wrap that will indeed be a soothing project to knit. Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern!
I knit an earlier version of this wrap. I’m wondering, what changes did you make to the pattern for this version?
Thanks
Hi Carol,
Thanks for writing in! The only real change that we made here was to gauge the pattern down to work with the thinner yarn. That is to say that you use smaller needles and cast on more stitches! Other than those changes, the warp is pretty much the same!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks so much! I’m excited to try it again. I love the first one I made.
Love this color! Is linen quill really soft and cozy? I always thought Alpaca and Highland Wool would be itchy.
Hi Nora,
Thanks for writing in! Alpaca is actually a very soft fiber, so while the yarn itself is hearty and durable (due to the 50% fine highland wool and 15% linen), the 35% alpaca makes it quite soft to the touch. While not as soft as our merino yarns, Linen Quill does soften up quite a bit after washing and wearing a few times! It is one of my favorite yarns for sweaters and accessories, and I don’t find it to be itchy at all after a wash or two!
Best,
Julianna
I’m so happy to have this pattern! I’m a beginning knitter and currently working on your Terrace wrap. I love the Terrace wrap, but I would also like to have something to work on that will take less concentration (while watching a fave PBS series!) This is perfect. And so pretty. I’ve ordered the same color shown here. Hope mine looks just like the pic when I’m done! Thanks for all the gorgeous free patterns!
Oh my gosh this is gorgeous! I’m about 3/4 the way through this wrap using Understory. I think I’ve found my next project! Thanks so much for the pretty yarns and patterns!!
I’m tempted to buy this yarn, but am sensitive to most wool. This yarn has wool and linen. Is it pretty soft or slightly scratchy?
Hi Franca,
Thanks for reaching out! Due to the 35% alpaca, Linen Quill is quite soft to the touch. While not as soft as our merino yarns, Linen Quill does soften up quite a bit after washing and wearing a few times! If you are concerned, I would suggest knitting and washing a swatch before deciding, as the character of the yarn does change and get much softer with time!
Best,
Julianna
Is the 3-stitch edge enough to keep the wrap flat?
I rarely like a curling edge, and always wonder about ways to keep stockinette from curling that doesn’t involve blocking…
Many thanks for your lovely patterns and yarns!
Hi Patricia,
Great question! While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Linen Quill, all conspire to keeping this wrap quite flat – unfortunately, wet blocking is essential for this to happen! The edges will roll before blocking despite the small rib edge, although it does assist with keeping the edges flat after blocking. Although I think any knitted piece benefits from blocking, you could try substituting an edge stitch that lays flat, such as seed or garter stitch, or cast on double the stitches and work the wrap in the round for a double-thickness wrap if you prefer!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
The simplicity and elegance of your patterns is so appealing . . . thank you! Do you think I could substitute two skeins of Cattail Silk and maybe go up a needle size for this? Just happen to have some. Again, thanks for offering this!
Hi Tami,
Thank you so much for the kind words! I think Cattail Silk would be a beautiful substitute for this wrap! You may not even need to change needle sizes since Cattail Silk is very similar in gauge to Linen Quill – just to make sure, I would recommend knitting a swatch to check your gauge before beginning.
Best of luck, and please let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Will you restocking Linen Quill soon? I would like to make this wrap in Kettle Black but you do not seem to have enough skeins in stock. Thank you.
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out! We will certainly be getting more Linen Quill back in stock! In fact, our mill is currently making it. Although we do not have a firm ETA, we are expecting a shipment of all colors of Linen Quill this summer. You can sign up to be notified when we get it back in stock. To do so, go to the product page, select Kettle Black, and enter your email address. When that color arrives, we will email you right away!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
How much yardage is in each skein?
Hi Sue,
Thanks for writing in! Our Linen Quill has 439 yards per 100 gram skein.
Best,
Julianna
What do you mean “bind off in pattern”.
Hi Abby,
Thanks for reaching out! This means to continue working the established stitch pattern as you are binding off – for instance, when binding off the Elementary Wrap on the right side, you will follow the usual instructions for Row 1 while binding off by knitting two stitches, binding off one stitch, purling one stitch, binding off one stitch, the continuing to bind off normally while knitting to the last three stitches, and again work the stitch pattern established in Row 1 while finishing the bind off row.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi This is a lovely pattern, I am a beginner to knitting and would love to make this its elegant and looks pretty easy. I have one question what is wet blocking, how do you do it and why?
Hi Juliana,
Thanks for writing in! Blocking is a step in the finishing process that sets the finished shape and size of your knitted piece, and wet blocking is done by soaking 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 letting it air dry. Our Blocking Tutorial has more details on the process!
Best of luck, and I hope you will give this wrap a try because it is very beginner friendly!
Julianna
Hi
I would like to knit this in graduating colours using (1 full ball then onto the next colour)Pale Mushroom then Oatmeal Gray then Pale Oats. It’s a bit hard to see on the website but are these 3 colours all in the same tone please?
Thank-you
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for writing in, and what a lovely idea! I would recommend substituting Heirloom White for Pale Oats, however, as Pale Oats has very warm, golden undertones that are not present in either Oatmeal Gray or Pale Mushroom. If you prefer a warmer palette, then I think Pale Oats, Wheat Flour, and Honey Pink would work very well together also!
Happy knitting, and please let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi! I adore the simple elegance of Purl Soho patterns and would like to make the Elementary Wrap in three gradient colors like Joanne. My question is this: wouldn’t a gradient look better if the wrap is knitted lengthwise? If so, how many stitches would I cast on? I was thinking of Heirloom White, Salt & Pepper, and Stillwater Blue. Are these all in the same tonal family? Or the combo of Rose Granite, Peach Stone, (and a unknown third color that I can’t figure out)?
Many thanks,
Ruth
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for reaching out! I think either gradient or color block arrangement would look equally beautiful and interesting, and it simply comes down to personal preference! If you are working at the correct gauge, you will need to cast on 514 stitches for a wrap the same length as ours; however, if you choose to knit the wrap lengthwise, the long edges will not have any edge stitches to encourage them to lay flat. You may wish to experiment with blocking a few swatches both with and without a border stitch such as garter or seed stitch to see if you want to add something to minimize rolling on the long edges.
I think your combination of Heirloom White, Salt and Pepper, and Stillwater Blue will be really lovely! A third color to go with Rose Granite and Peach Stone could be either Pale Mushroom to take the palette in a lighter, more neutral direction, or Dark Iris for a dramatic effect!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi, wonderful Purl Soho people!
I seem to be on a “wrap-knitting kick” lately: I just finished a lace Merino wool wrap & now I’m knitting a lace wrap in mohair. So the idea of knitting a wrap where I don’t have to check my stitches every 2 seconds is very appealing!
I just took a look at the original Elementary Wrap pattern, and I like the fact that it’s wider than this modified pattern. What amount of CO stitches (or what multiple of stitches) would I need to change this modified pattern to the original width? Thanks very much for both any answer & for always providing such beautiful free patterns.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! If you are working at the correct gauge of 26 stitches per four inches, then you can cast on 130 stitches for a 20″ wide wrap, which will be just like our original Elementary Wrap. However, we did use almost all of the three skeins of Linen Quill at this slightly narrower width, so I would recommend getting an extra skein just to be on the safe side.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, Julianna,
Thanks so much for your prompt and detailed reply. I’m excited to begin this pattern once I’ve finished my current wrap!
If I wanted to make this wider, say 24 inches wide. How many more stitches should I cast on and how many skeins of Linen Quill? I might also make longer if proportions seem off. Thanks!
Hi Shelly,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are working at the correct gauge of 26 stitches per four inches, then you will need to cast on 156 stitches for a 24 inch wide wrap. Since this is about a third wider than our wrap, I would recommend getting one extra skein if you will be knitting to the same length we did, or two extra if you think you will be making it a little longer.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Yes, thank you!
Can the linen quill wrap be done using mohair? I have a gorgeous pink and would like to knit matching wrap and baby hat (suggestions for hat pattern?) for my expectant daughter. I am an experienced knitter who only does beginner patterns!
Thanks.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in! I can’t say for sure if your yarn will work since I don’t know what weight of mohair it is, but the best way to find out is to try a gauge swatch! I would also recommend blocking your gauge swatch to evaluate if your yarn is prone to curling up at this gauge, as this wrap does rely on the nature of Linen Quill to lay flat. If your yarn is fingering weight and knits to the same gauge as Linen Quill, our Mock Cable Columns Hat and Tiny Stripes Hat (knitted with or without the stripes) both come in a baby size.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Can I use straight needles to knit the wrap?
Hello Mary,
Thank you for reaching out! We used circular needles to accommodate the width of the wrap, though if prefer working on straight needles there is no reason why you couldn’t use a long pair of straights.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Super beginner here as well,
I am wondering what type of cast on method would work best with this pattern?
Thanks!
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for reaching out! For this wrap I would recommend a Long Tail cast on.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
What would you think of this in cotton pure? I have three skeins in varied colors that I’d like to try with stripes. Do you think the blocking will allow the edges not to curl?
Hi Angela,
Thanks for reaching out! I have worked with Cotton Pure several times, and while I haven’t done any stockinette pieces without an edging or at this loose of a gauge, it does respond very well to blocking. Since you already have some Cotton Pure, the best way to find out will be to knit a medium to large sized swatch including the edge stitches in the pattern and wet block it to see how it behaves. I would recommend using a larger needle size since Cotton Pure is heavier than Linen Quill – in fact, you may end up happy with a gauge similar to our original Elementary Wrap!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Oh no! Looks like you are out of the colors in Linen Quill that I would like to purchase. 🙁 Do you plan on getting anymore in soon?
Hi Stacy,
Thanks for writing in! We will certainly be getting more Linen Quill back in stock! In fact, our mill is currently making it. While we do not have a firm ETA, we are hoping that it will arrive soon. You can sign up to be notified when we get it back in stock. To do so, go to the product page, select the color that you are interested in and enter your email address. When that yarn and color arrives, we will email you right away!
Best,
Julianna
I was surprised when I received this yarn due to the rough grass like strands in the yarn. I expected a soft processed yarn. I don’t think I can knit with it because I would have to pick out all the rough grass/fibers that is throughout the yarn. Very disappointed.
Hi Kathleen,
I’m so sorry to hear this! I believe the rough fibers you are referring to are actually the linen content of the yarn, and like all linen fabric and yarns, it can feel stiff or rough at first. While not as soft as our merino yarns, Linen Quill does soften up quite a bit after washing and wearing a few times. If you are concerned, I would suggest knitting and washing a swatch before deciding, as the character of the yarn does change and get much softer with time! If you would prefer, you can find our return policy here and we would be happy to suggest a softer yarn!
Best,
Julianna
With the comments about linen getting softer with washing what would happen if you put it in washer and dryer instead of blocking? Thanks!
Hi Artie,
Thanks for reaching out! I would not recommend washing Linen Quill in the washer and dryer – our care instructions are to hand wash and lay flat to dry, and I fear that with the high content of alpaca and non-superwash wool, the wrap would shrink drastically or even felt. It may take a few gentle hand washes and wears to reach peak softness, but it is well worth the effort!
Best,
Julianna
Hi Julianna
I love the wrap but unfortunately just have 2 skeins of a merino & cotton 4ply 465yards and was wondering if that would work for a shorter version ??
Many thanks
Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for writing in! Since you only have about 2/3 of the yardage we used in this wrap, yours will turn out quite a bit shorter than ours – almost two feet shorter in fact! You could make it a bit narrower to stretch your yardage further, but the generous width of the wrap is one of the factors that helps the stockinette stitch lay flat, so you may run into more problems with the wrap curling up.
Instead, I would consider our Open Air Wrap – it calls for about the same amount of yardage you have, and the open stitch pattern will let you get the most out of your yardage so the final size is similar to our Elementary Wrap!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi Julianna,
Thank you for getting back to me. The open air wrap sounds beautiful so will give that a try.
All the best,
Jenny
I’m 1/2 way through my Understory wrap. I’ve been knitting OFF and on for almost 50 years, but am so enjoying the “ommmmm” of creating this wrap. How many skeins of cattail silk would you suggest for a 20″ x 70″ wrap in this pattern. Thank you in advance.
Hello Charmaine,
I’m happy to hear you are enjoying this knit! For a wrap this size you will need just over 2 skeins of Cattail Silk, but you could make a slightly smaller wrap with two skeins.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Love this wrap and I wanted to use Brooklyn Tweed. What weight, if any would you recommend?
Thank you.
Hello Tonja,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this would be a lovely opportunity to try out Brooklyn Tweed’s Peerie. It would knit up a beautiful elementary wrap. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
Marilla
Hi, love having a super simple pattern, your yarns are gorgeous.
I’m a very loose knitter and usually drop 2 needles sizes down. With size 2, I get 11-12” per 2”.
If I stay with cast on 120, what will happen with size of wrap?
Thanks!
Beth
Hi Beth,
Great question! With a gauge of around 6 stitches per inch, a cast on of 120 will give you a wrap that is a little less than 20 inches wide. The other thing to keep in mind is that looser gauge will consume more yarn which could lead to you having a bit of a shorter wrap. If you would like to make a wrap of the same length and width, you can do so by multiplying you stitches per inch gauge by 18 1/2 inches and use that number as your cast on!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Since it is suggested to use the long tail cast on, how long should the long tail be? I am so excited about this wrap-it is perfect while to work on whileaccompanying my husband to his chemo sessions. Something to take my mind off things while he gets meds and watches movies…..
Hello Sharon,
Thank you for writing us and sharing your story with us. To figure out where to tie your slip knot, first measure out a length of yarn 3½ times the width of what you plan to make. So for a 6-inch wide scarf, measure out approximately 21 inches of yarn, and at that point, make a loop.
Warmly,
Marilla
Thank you so much for answering me so fast… putting that in my knitting journal for future reference!
I have been knitting for about a year, and I love this pattern and have begun to work on it. It’s really relaxing and fun to work on! But: about how long does it take, on average, to finish this? I know this is a funny question, but working an hour or so a day, it seems like it will take me ages! Just curious if I am super slow….
Hello Liz,
Thank you for reaching out! While we all knit at different paces, this is a time consuming project for anyone. I would give a broad estimate that this wrap takes 16- 20 hours to knit, primarily because the yarn is so thin.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love the simplicity of this pattern. Do you think it would work up nicely with Season Alpaca yarn which is a sport weight? I so how much yardage would I need?
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for writing in! I think Season Alpaca would work wonderfully in this pattern with a few adjustments! I would suggest going up to a US 7 needle and knitting a gauge swatch to determine your stitches per inch, and multiply that number by 18.5 to get your cast on number. It is hard to say exactly how much you will need when changing the gauge of the pattern, but I think five or six skeins should do it!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I would love to knit this for my mother, but she wants it in a cream/ecru color. I have some Line Weight yarn on the way, but am having second thoughts. What adjustments would you suggest if I use this, or should I switch to another yarn?
Hi Nita,
Thanks for reaching out! Linen Quill and Line Weight actually knit up at a very similar gauge. For this pattern, you can knit it exactly as written with Line Weight and get a really lovely and super soft finished wrap!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Would love to make this for my mom, but she is allergic to wool, alpaca, etc. Is there a yarn I could substitute and still get that beautiful color and drape? She’s 82 yrs young and a cancer survivor. Her skin is very sensitive.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Pam
Hello Pam,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this wrap would be beautiful and delicate in Jade Sapphire’s 2ply or our Spun Silk would also be a lovely option.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I just made the Swath wrap in the juniper and would love to make this also. I haven’t blocked it yet, but I am more partial to the Flax Down. The Linen was a bit too lightweight for my taste and not as soft as I like. I’m looking at Steel Blue, Oyster or Stonewall Gray or the Heirloom white. Which of those 3 colors used together do you suggest? It seems the monitors always distort the colors. If you have a suggestion for something a bit lighter weight than the Flax Down, that would be lovely also.
Thank you so much.
Hello Cindy,
Thank you for reaching out! Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those colors, they are all neutral enough to go with anything and they are all beautiful colors. I would also check out our Understory yarn which we also knit up in in our Elementary Wrap.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! Love this pattern, but would it work in Understory?
Hi Meg,
Thanks for reaching out! Absolutley! In fact, the original version of this wrap was knit up in Understory and it is lovely!
Best,
Cassy
hi there! looking to get on this as my first knitting project in…10 odd years or so?!
I’m eyeing the good wool and wondering if it would work for this pattern, or any adjustments necessary? thanks!
Hi Wendy,
Welcome back to the world of knitting! The Elementary Wrap is an excellent relaxing introductory project to get back into the swing of things, but I would recommend our original Elementary Wrap to go along with Good Wool, since the original pattern is written for a heavy DK/light worsted weight yarn. You will need 3 skeins of Good Wool.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I bought the yarn in crocus (beautiful!) and the rocket needles from you. I have been working on the wrap and it is going to be beautiful and just like the photos! I hope. lol. I am an advanced beginner and I have a question. The edge keeps curling. I am about 15 rows in and it just keeps curling up. Am I doing something wrong? Will it just flatten out the longer it gets? Thank you!
Hi Stacy,
Great question! While stockinette stitch does tend to roll into a tube, the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Linen Quill, all conspire to keeping this wrap quite flat – unfortunately, wet blocking is essential for this to happen! The edges will roll before blocking despite the small rib edge, although it does assist with keeping the edges flat after blocking.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there. I am new to knitting and was wondering how you would gauge the pattern up to make it out of the Super Soft Merino wool yarn you offer. I bought some from your shop while visiting in early December. Is this possible? How many skeins would you use and would you use size 11 needles as the tag suggests? If they are circular, what length? Thank you for all the lovely patterns and inspiration.
Hello Suzette,
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 as to not create something that is to heavy for everyday wear.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello! I would love to make this wrap in Posy, which I have a stash of. Do you think Posy would work for this project?
Thank you.
Diane Hill
Hello Diane,
Thank you for reaching out! This pattern would be beautiful knit up in Posy.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
What is your recommended method for joining a new ball of yarn when working in this pattern?
Thank you!
Hello Bee,
Thank you for reaching out! There are a couple of ways to do this. The first method I would reccomend is to simply start knitting with your new ball. We have a tutorial for this technique here. The other option is to splice your two ends together.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’d like to make this wrap using your Season Alpaca. Can you tell me how many stitches to cast on and what size needle to use to have a width of about 22 inches? Thank you.
-Judy
Hello Judy,
Thank you for reaching out! The easiest way to figure this out is to knit up a little gauge swatch to figure out how many stitches per inch you are getting. For example you if you are getting 7 stitches per inch you would cast on 154 stitches to get 22 inches.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Does this use up all three skeins?
Hello Emily,
Thank you for your question. It uses approximately 289grams of the 300grams, so just about!
Happy knitting,
-Marilla
Made the original Elementary wrap in an alternate to Understory that I chose on my own and it curled terribly. (Lesson learned – was very wrong type). If I make this one in Linen Quill will there be any concern about curling?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m sorry to hear that you had problems with your first wrap! Due to the linen and alpaca content of Linen Quill, as well as the loose gauge of the Elementary Wrap, it does block out quite flat and stay that way.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’m french, I love your website but I don’t understand what it means to knit : K1, p1 and k2….. Can you help me please ? Thanks a lot
Hello Myriam,
Thank you for reaching out! I hope I can help. K1 means knit one stitch and p1 means purl one stitch. K2 means knit two stitches. I hope this makes sense and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! Any thoughts on mixing Linen Quill with Tussock to give me a slightly bigger guage? As you did with Posy and Tussock. Love the Crocus Bud color. If the mix is feasible what color of Tussock might you choose?
Thanks Favorite Yarn Store Ever!!!
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! This would be stunning- I think that Tussock in Alpine Phlox would be beautiful in combination with Crocus Bud.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello,
I’ve been looking for a special pattern to use to make for Gold Star Mother for several years now and believe I have finally found it with your Elementary Wrap! Gold Star Mothers are mothers of fallen soldiers. I am one and a dear friend gave me a cozy soft scarf at my son’s funeral. I wore that scarf around my neck almost every day that first year. It brought me comfort during a time that I thought I’d never feel comfort again. I now make wraps for new Gold Star Mothers and am very excited to have found your pattern and site. Your fibers look like they will make the perfect fabric for these projects!
Hi Holly,
Thank you so much for this! This is such a moving comment and it brings such warmth to us to know that knitting and knitted gifts can bring comfort at the hardest time of life. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and our hearts go out to you!
Best,
Cassy
I have heard of people adding a squeeze of hair conditioner into the cool water used for wetting wool knits prior to the blocking of the item. Is this something you would recommend or not? I haven’t blocked that many things, and am wary of trying that.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! Usually the hair conditioner trick is used for harsh, scratchy wools to soften them slightly, which is not necessary for Linen Quill – it’s quite soft on its own, especially after a wash or two with a wool wash such as Soak! Conditioner can also be tricky to use properly, as it can leave residue or greasy spots if too much is used, so I would only try it on very rough yarns if a regular wool wash doesn’t have the desired effect.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Okay, maybe foolish question
..your elementary wrap linen quill pattern says to knit till about 75 inches. But the final dimensions of wrap says its 79 inches long. Should I be stretching this to reach that 79 inches when I block it? Seems extreme…
Hello Carol,
This is a great question! This change in measurement happens when you block your wrap. Because of the nature of the stitch it will be more bunched before blocking which will relax the fibers to create a flat stitch. Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Beautiful wrap.! However, I can’t get the ends of stockinette to block so flat. What’s your secret?
Hi Pam,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! The edges of our wrap do turn under slightly after blocking, but the width of this piece, its selvage stitches, and the nature of Linen Quill all conspire to keep this wrap quite flat. Wet blocking and a slightly loose gauge is essential for this to happen, so if you are substituting a different yarn, I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch or two to determine what needle size will give you a drapey fabric that blocks out well.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I have 2 skeins of hot pink linen quill and am wondering how the elementary wrap might be modified, i.e. made narrower. Suggestions?
Hello Barb,
Thank you for reaching out! You will just want your wrap to be a third the width of the original pattern. I would cast on 78 stitches for a width of 12″.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Could you do this with the seed stitch as well? If so, how many would you cast on?
Thank you.
Hello Maria,
Thank you for reaching out! You could certainly do a seed stitch wrap. You will just need to knit up a gauge swatch in seed stitch to determine how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you know this number you can multiply it by your desired width and this will give you your cast on number!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thank you. I think I will your pattern first.
Hello. I will be starting the Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill today, and I was reading the concerns about the edges curling. Would a stitched border, like the one on your Shine +Matte scarf help? It’s the same weight, and looks nice and simple. Or, should the border be on the short side? Thanks.
Hello Marjie,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a great question -yes! This would work beautifully!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’m trying to find the pattern for the “SHINE AND MATTE” scarf referred to here —As a solution to the rolled edges on the ELEMENTARY WRAP. the Purl Soho website does not show it when I search for it.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! The project referred to above is actually called the Shiny + Matte Wrap which is why it was not showing up when searching SHINE AND MATTE! You can find the pattern here: Shiny + Matte Wrap
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
OMG. I just finished knitting, washing (in no rinse SOAK, you suggested), and blocking this linen quill elementary wrap. Wow! It is simple but so elegant in the dark iris. I am not a fast or very experienced knitter but even with my skills, it turned out terrific. It is feathery lightweight but has a lovely drape and enough weight for warmth on a chilly day. I didn’t believe it would unroll or stretch to the dimensions you said (knit to 75 in. Block to 79 in.). But alas, it did easily. I CO 130 to make it closer to the original pattern size of 20 inches in width. Perfect. Only took 3 skeins of linen quill, with just an 1 1/2 inch ball of yarn left over (which I included with the wrap gift in case of future repairs needed). All turned out so well, I am ordering more yarn to make one for me to keep. Thank you for pattern, beautiful yarn and great advice.
Hi! I just started knitting this wrap. I have a few rows done already but they keep rolling up. Will it straighten up after a while when it gets heavier or will it stay rolled up till the end of the project? What do you suggest I do? Thank you!
Hi Lourdes,
Thank you for reaching out! Not to worry, the edges of your knitting will curl before your wrap has been blocked. We recommend thoroughly wet blocking your wrap once it is complete, as the width of this piece, selvage stitches, and the nature of Linen Quill work together to give you a drapey fabric that will block flat nicely.
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Hi there! I’m nearly finished my Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill. I’ve never wet blocked before!! Do you folks have a tutorial on this or might you be able to recommend a YouTube video?
Thank you so much
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for reaching out! We actually have a video tutorial on hand washing your knits – you can watch it here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/how-to-hand-wash-a-sweater/ I hope this helps you get your Elementary Wrap finished up and ready to wear!
Best,
Cassandra
I love this pattern! I’d like to mix in a couple other colors to make stripes (I realize this makes it less “elementary”)… I’m planning on using intarsia to do this and then stay in pattern… any suggestions or pitfalls that you could see with this?
Thanks!
Pam
Hi Pam,
Thanks for the question! If you are going to incorporate vertical stripes, you will need a separate ball for each stripe, including your main color. Keeping your colors untangled and in order will be more challenging, the more stripes you have. We have a great tutorial on intarsia if you need it! Many people have incorporated horizontal stripes in their wraps, and this would be even easier. I hope this helps, and please let us know how it turns out!
Happy knitting
Jessica
Hello! I am looking for a simple wrap pattern for the line weight merino wool. Would this elementary wrap pattern work? Thank you!
Hi Emily
Thanks for reaching out! The Linen Quill and Line Weight knit up at a very similar gauge. You can knit it exactly as written with Line Weight and it will look fabulous!
Happy knitting
Jessica
How would a linen quill and tussock combination work? Holding two strands – using similar shades of the same color for depth (LQ in crocus bud & TUS in alpine phlox? Would the textures compliment each other or is there a better pairing?
Hi Ash,
Great question! Linen Quill and Tussock would be absolutely gorgeous together, and I love your color choices! The delicate halo and subtle shine of Tussock will complement the earthy nature of Linen Quill beautifully. You might also be interested in our Elementary Wrap in Posy + Tussock or Mineral Silk + Tussock for more yarn pairing ideas!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Julianna
Like several others I’m finding that the project continues to roll up.. Would knitting two strands together prevent that from happening?
Thanks
Hi Nannette,
Thanks for writing in! It is really quite normal for this wrap to roll up before it has been thoroughly wet blocked! I’m afraid holding the yarn double would actually make the problem worse, as this would create a denser fabric and a tighter gauge which would curl up even more strongly. The slightly looser gauge will help the wrap relax and lay flat when blocked!
Best,
Julianna
I have 3 skeins of linen quill. What scarfs can I make with this amount of yarn?
Thank you,
Caroline Faris
Hi Caroline,
Great question! We have quite a few wraps and projects you can knit with three skeins of Linen Quill! Our Open Air Wrap in Linen Quill, Aperture Wrap, Bias Wrap, and Mini Honeycomb Scarf are all written for Linen Quill and take two or three skeins. Although they don’t call for Linen Quill, our Little Ladders Scarf, Cat Eye Lace Wrap, and Ramble Wrap are also written for fingering weight yarns and you will have plenty of yardage for these options!
I hope that one of these patterns will appeal to you!
Julianna
Oh my god. I can’t put this yarn down.
Hi I have developed a wool allergy and wondering if there is an alternative I could use for this wrap.
Hi Jen,
Thank you for reaching out! I am so sorry to hear about your wool allergy. Luckily, the Elementary Wrap pattern is adapted for several of our yarns besides the Linen Quill. A few of the options are Elementary Wrap in Understory which is a blend of 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. The Elementary Wrap in Tussock which uses our beautiful 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk blend. The Elementary Wrap in Mineral Silk + Tussock which features our Tussock yarn again with the addition of Mineral Silk. Finally, we have the Elementary Wrap in Season Alpaca which features our lovely 100% baby alpaca yarn.
I hope one of these options works for you! Happy Knitting!
Gianna
Hello! Perhaps a silly question, but if I’m gifting this, how do I explain how to take care of it? If they hand wash it, will they need to block it as well? Thanks!!
Hi Mindy,
Thanks for reaching out! I would just explain to hand wash the wrap in cold water and then lay flat to dry!
All the best,
Gianna
I am thrilled with this pattern but
very uncomfortable with the #24 circular needles. Please tell me what size straight needles to use. Thanks so much for being available during this difficult time . Stay safe!
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! If you would like to use straight needles I would recommend using a 12″ or 14″ set!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi. I’ve started using a subset of my Linen Quill stash, left over from my version of the Nature’s Palette Blanket. I’m going to use five colors. Starting with Stillwater Blue (I have a total of 200g); then Stonewall Gray, Twig Brown, for both of which I have about 35g; then Wheat Flour (100g) and finally Pale Mushroom (64g). Then I’ll do a wider segment of Wheat Flour, and reverse the colors back to Stillwater Blue. Do you think I should do some color change rows? And if so, what pattern would you suggest? Thanks in advance – I have plenty of time, since I will be knitting Stillwater Blue for a little while before the first switch.
Hi Leigh,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds like such a fun idea!! I think you could go either way depending on your personal preference, moving straight to the next color (more color blocking) or doing a color transition! If you would like the color transition (which I personally think would look very cool!) I would recommend following the same technique as we used for the Natures Palette blanket!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you. I’ll adapt that pattern of color change rows from the blanket!
I knitted a swatch in Linen Quill on size 4 needles, but it seemed a little stiff. Can I go up so size 5 needle and wold I need more than 3 skeins of Linen Quill to make the same size wrap?
thanks!
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend blocking your swatch first before adjusting the needle size, but if you decide to go up in needle size, 3 skeins should still be plenty to complete the wrap!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi there,
I would like to make this wrap/scarf but thinner so that it fits under a man’s coat. How many cast on stitches would you recommend?
TIA
Hi Alexandra,
Thanks for reaching out. If you’d like to make a thinner scarf, you can simply adjust the number of stitches at cast-on! To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. 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. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Bonjour,
Quand vous dites 1m end,1m,1m ça veut bien dire 3m end ?
Merci pour ce modèle somptueux.
Hi Mamiannie!
Thank you for your question. The last three stitches of each wrong side row are knit 1, purl 1, knit 1. The last three stitches of each right side row are purl 1, knit 2.
I hope this helps answer your question, but please let us know if there is anything else we can help with!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi, this is a beautiful pattern but just wondering if I do it in worsted yarn, would that border that is suggested in shiny and matte wrap work or should I just use a garter stitch border. Hate when the scarf rolls up…
Thanks
Hi Robin,
Thanks for writing in! This pattern would be lovely in a worsted weight yarn but you would have to adjust the number of stitches you cast on at the beginning to make sure your wrap dimensions stay consistent with what’s in the pattern. I would suggest doing a gauge swatch, finding out how many stitches you knit per inch with your preferred needle size, and multiplying that by your desired width to know how many stitches to cast on. We have a tutorial on swatching called All About Gauge if you’re interested! And if you’re concerned with the fabric rolling up, I would recommend doing a garter stitch border to ensure that doesn’t happen. Even though the edge that’s created from how the pattern is designed is very neat and sleek, the very nature of stockinette still makes it difficult for the ends to not curl up. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
I just finished this wrap and it is so beautiful! It’s the simplicity
of the pattern and the texture of the yarn that is stunning. I made
this for my daughter and I’m going to make one for myself next!
Thank you Purl Soho for your modern and elegant style and for
the exquisite natural fibers of your yarns. It took me months to finish but it was so worth it.
I would like to see other colors but can’t find them.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find our full color selection here: Linen Quill
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
I purchased three skeins of the line quill and am using a 24” US 4 circular needle. But after casting on the 120 stitches, they are too spread apart on this needle to knit! In order to start the join and start, the yarn has to be stretched way too far. This is not my first time knitting in the round but my first time using this yarn and these needles. What is happening that this is not working? Please help! Thank you.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for reaching out! This wrap is actually knit flat, not in the round, so you should be turning your work after each row. The stitches will all fit on the needle that way!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
Does Linen Quill in stockinette grow after blocking?
I’m knitting my gauge swatch and I have about 27 stitches/4″, but I have not blocked the swatch yet.
I will block it to see how it changes, but in the meantime I am eager to hear about how this yarn behaves
Hi Natalie,
In my experiences with Linen Quill, it hasn’t grown after blocking. But the best way to find out the answer would be to block your swatch! If you measure the gauge before blocking and the gauge after blocking, you can pinpoint exactly how the yarn behaves and incorporate that into your needle choice for this project.
All the best,
Lili
Ok- thanks for the reply.
In my head I was mixing up gauge from a different pattern, and so when I wrote in I was thinking my gauge was way off! think I’m good with 27 stitches/4″ and I can stick with the recommended needle size of #5.
(Though I will still go ahead and block the swatch and see what happens.)
Thanks!
Je meurs d’envie de tricoter cette merveille pour mes deux filles chéries.
Ce sera ma manière de leur dire tout mon amour.
J’ai 71 ans et je vous remercie pour ce beau cadeau que vous faites à la mamie que je suis en donnant gratuitement toutes les explications .
Where is the Shine+Matte pattern located please, so I can check the boarder knit to possibly use for your Elementary Wrap in Linen Quill
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find the Shiny + Matte Wrap here. The edge is a few stitches of 1 x 1 ribbing–this is very similar to the edge for the Elementary Wrap, but it extends a bit further into the wrap. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there! This is a gorgeous pattern, but I’m curious if it is itchy at all on bare skin (e.g. if you wore it as a shawl over a dress)? Thanks!
Hi Gretchen,
I’m afraid that Linen Quill does tend to itch since it’s made with highland wool, which is relatively scratchy. We’ve actually designed this pattern in a number of different yarns, so if you’re looking for a very soft yarn, then I’d recommend checking out the versions in Quartz, Santolina, Season Alpaca, Simply Camel, and Morning!
All the best,
Lili
I would like to make the elementary wrap in a summer weight yarn (perhaps with cotton, linen, and/or silk in the mix? ). Do you have yarn recommendation(s)? There are so many beautiful options. This will be my first Purl Soho purchase. Thank you!!
Hi Peyton,
Thank you for writing in! I would recommend checking out our collection of Elementary wraps to see what you like best but I definitely think you will especially enjoy this pattern in our Santolina or Morning yarn! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi,
If I wanted to knit the wrap using 4 skeins of linen quill to get as wide a wrap as possible but still keeping the length to 73 inches, how many stitches would I cast on? Thank you!
Hi Naomi,
Thank you for your question! To modify this pattern you will want to start with a gauge swatch. You will then measure your stitches per inch and multiply that number by the desired width of your wrap and that will give you your cast on number. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella