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!

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 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
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.

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