Rose Stitch Wrap
Yes, you need a scarf this summer. It may be stifling outside, but that always means arctic temperatures and a blast of air conditioning whenever you step inside. And that’s exactly when you pull your gossamer silk Rose Stitch Wrap from your bag and swing it nonchalantly around your neck. Perfect.
This diaphanous little wrap may appear complicated with its intricate little stitches and sumptuous texture, but achieving the details in this lightweight beauty could not be simpler. A beginner-friendly variation on the seed stitch, the rose stitch switches it up by throwing in some knits through the back loop every other row… A breeze.
If your summer plans include a long drive, a lengthy flight, or regular commutes, the Rose Stitch Wrap is the perfect project for tucking into your bag. Just 2 skeins of Cattail Silk, our fingering weight 100% silk, is all it takes to knit up this delightful, delicate, defense against the air conditioner!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoRoseStitchWrap, and #PurlSohoCattailSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% silk. Each skein is 618 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1000 yards required. We used Porcelain White.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), straight or circular needles
Gauge
23 stitches = 4 inches in Rose Stitch pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: 16½ inches wide x 68 inches long
Note
This stitch pattern works over an odd multiple of stitches.
Pattern
Cast on 95 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front (wyif), *k1, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1 through the back loop (tbl), k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 3: Slip 1 knitwise wyif, *p1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: Slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1, k1 tbl, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 68 inches from cast-on edge or until desired length, ending with Row 1.
With the right side facing you, bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and block as desired!
Hello, just want to say I love visiting your site for all your beautiful yarns and patterns. I already own 2 skeins of Cattail Silk. I am not sure if I will make the Terrace wrap or this one. I may want to increase the width by a few stitches. I just want to confirm that this is a 2+1 stitch pattern.
thank you
Hi Antoinette,
Thank you so much for your kind words! This pattern will work over any odd number of stitches!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Have’nt tried it yet, but will do so
Rose stitch wrap – cd you recommend any other yarn for this pattern, as I don’t use silk and it does look Lovely!
Jo
Hi Jo,
Great question! You can certainly use an alternate yarn here! I would suggest our Linen Quill or Line Weight! For both, you will need 3 skeins to get the correct yardage! All else should be the same but as with any yarn substitution, we recommend knitting a gauge swatch!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Question: This rose stitch wrap looks lovely. If I wanted to make this for a vegan I really can’t use silk. Is there another fingerling yarn that would work? I realize the drape would be different. I am not an experienced knitter but the pattern looks like something I could master. Thank you!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out! I think a linen yarn would be a wonderful vegan alternative and should still result in a soft, drapey, summer-weight wrap! You could use our Field Linen, Kalinka, or Habu Natural Linen XS-21.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
How might we make it wider, as more of a shawl?
Thank you.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! You certainly can make this wrap wider! To do so, cast on any odd number of stitches that will equal the width that you would like!
Best,
Cassy
If I made it wider, e.g., 20-25”, would I need more yarn?
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for the question! For the 16 1/2 inches that we got here, we used around 1000 yards. To get a 20-25″ wide wrap, one additional skein should get you there!
Best,
Cassy
Wonder what other fiber suggestions you have that would work well with this pattern? What about some of your linen yarns ?
Thank you!
Hi Julie,
We are happy to recommend alternate yarns! I would suggest our Linen Quill or Line Weight! For both, you will need 3 skeins to get the correct yardage! All else should be the same but as with any yarn substitution, we recommend knitting a gauge swatch!
Best,
Cassy
How wide is the current wrap, how wide are your typical shawls? Trying to figure out additional yarn. Thanks!
Hi Judi,
Great question! This wrap is 16 1/2 inches wide. We are always sure to list the finished measurements as well as the gauge in the pattern up near the top! For our other wraps, we typically have widths from 15 to 20 inches! You can certainly choose to make this lovely wrap wider by casting on additional stitches so long as you are sure to cast on an odd number!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Beautiful. Can’t wait to get this yarn. Going to order it in Cherry Blossom.
Is Rose Stitch the same on both sides or does it look different on each side? I can’t tell from the photos and it doesn’t say in the pattern or description. Thanks!
Hi Suzan,
Thanks for reaching out! This stitch does not appear the same on both sides but both sides do have a pleasing texture. I would say the the texture is not the same but rather complimentary creating a stitch pattern that I think looks lovely on both sides!
Best,
Cassy
How would I crochet this scarf? Thank you.
Hi Veda,
Thanks for reaching out! At present, we only have this pattern written as a knitting pattern. We will certainly keep you request in mind for the future!
Best,
Cassy
Hi!
I purchased some manos del uruguay fino from Purl Soho about a month ago and am wondering whether it would be an appropriate yarn to use for this pattern. I don’t need a super light-weight wrap that gives the drape cattail silk does, but I would like the beautiful stitch pattern to be visible. If I can use the fino yarn, would I need to modify the pattern at all?
Thank you!
Isabel
Berkeley, California
Hi Isabel,
Thanks for writing! Fino would be a wonderful substitution in this pattern! I would recommend knitting a small gauge swatch before beginning to make sure you are happy with the stitch pattern since Fino has a different construction and the stitch definition may not be quite as crisp, but it should work quite well on the same size needles and still result in a wrap with nice drape due to the silk content.
Best of luck and please let us know how your version turns out!
Julianna
Thank you Julianna, I certainly will!
A silly question I’m sure but, when buying wool in skeins like this, is it necessary to wind them into a ball before knitting up? I do a lot of knitting but haven’t used wool in this format. I remember my mother winding wool into balls so have it in the back of my head that this is necessary. I would be grateful for your help, this pattern looks divine. Thank you, Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Yes, when yarn comes in a skein, it does need to be wound into a ball before you can knit with it. We are happy to wind it for you – just leave us a note in your order comments and we will wind your yarn before shipping!
Best,
Julianna
Is the rose stitch wrap reversible?
Hi Suzie,
Thanks for reaching out! This stitch does not appear the same on both sides but both sides do have a pleasing texture. I would say the the texture is not the same but rather complimentary creating a stitch pattern that I think looks lovely on both sides!
Best,
Cassy
Can you suggest a cotton and/or linen blend for this scarf?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! We have several linen yarns that would make wonderful wraps – our Field Linen, Kalinka, and Habu Natural Linen XS-21 would all knit to the same gauge as Cattail Silk. If you would prefer a cotton yarn, our sport weight Cotton Pure would make a lovely version, though it is a bit heavier! In order to adjust your cast on, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch on US 5 or 6 needles, multiplying your stitches per inch by 16.5, and rounding to the nearest odd number.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
How do you get from a slip stitch with yarn in front to a knit stitch without creating another stitch?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! After slipping the first stitch with the yarn in front, you will then move your yarn to the back to knit the next stitch.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Could one use a …?.. .needle and DK / or bulky yarn for a small child blanket?
? gauze needle suggestion
Many thanks Martha
Hi Martha,
Great idea! I think the Rose Stitch would be a great option for a blanket! To determine your cast on number, you can knit a gauge swatch with whatever size needles are recommended for your yarn – usually, you can find this information on the yarn label. Once you have figured out your stitches per inch you can multiply that number by the desired width of your blanket and round to the nearest odd number.
Best of luck! Please let us know how your Rose Stitch blanket turns out!
Julianna
Such a lovely pattern! I can’t decide which to make first: this or the Terrace Wrap! Would either pattern work in Linen Quill?
Hi Jennifer,
Great question! I think that both patterns would be lovely in Linen Quill! It knits up at a similar gauge in these patterns to Cattail Silk! For the both wraps, you will need 3 skeins of Linen Quill!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Greetings, Is this Rose Stitch wrap the same on both sides?
Hi Deena,
Thanks for reaching out! This stitch does not appear the same on both sides but both sides do have a pleasing texture. I would say the the texture is not the same but rather complimentary creating a stitch pattern that I think looks lovely on both sides!
Best,
Cassy
Hi
I am not sure about how to execute the first stitch: slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front. Please describe.
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for reaching out! When you are getting ready to knit each row, you will start with the working yarn in front of the right hand needle, slip the first stitch purlwise, then move your yarn to the back of the work to knit the next stitch.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
The instructions state slip Knitwise wyif and above you say purlwise. Which is correct? I’m having trouble with knitwise and avoiding creating an extra stitch. I’m a bit more than a beginner knitter.
Can you please clarify?
Hi Patty,
I apologize, I did mean Knitwise! After slipping the stitch knitwise with the yarn in front, you will then move your yarn to the back of the work between the needles before knitting the next stitch – this should prevent any unintended extra stitches!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
The Rose Stitch Wrap is simply beautiful. One of my two questions concerns row 2 of the pattern. Once you knit through the back loop, the next stitch is a K–is this stitch knitted through the front of the stitch or is it stitch knitted through the back? If I make my wrap a little wider by about four stitches will I need a third skein?
Thanks so much!
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for reaching out! The second stitch is knitted normally, so for row 2, you will be alternating knitting through the back loop and knitting through the front loop. You should have plenty of yarn if you are only adding four stitches!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
This is lovely. I have 800 yards of a similar yarn in my stash, so I am wondering how much of the second 600 yard skein is needed. Thank you.
Hi Karen,
Great question! We used roughly 1000 yards of yarn for this lovely wrap! If you have just 800 yards, you could make the wrap a touch thinner to accommodate the yarn that you do have. Doing a little back of the napkin math, I think that a cast on of 73 stitches should do the trick!
Best,
Cassy
So pretty, can’t wait to get started with my new yarn. Is there a preferred cast on method?
Hi Christina,
Thanks for writing in! We use a Long Tail Cast On for most of our projects, but a Cable Cast On would also work for this wrap!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks so much!
I would like to make this as a shawl using 3 colors, making it longer and wider, with the predominant color of Blue Bamboo [2 skeins] in the center and Flower Field and Thin Cloud on the edges – what would good dimensions be?
Hello Paige,
Thank you for reaching out- what a beautiful combination of colors! I would probably go about 1/3 larger which would make this wrap 22″ x 90.5″.
Let us know how it goes and happy knitting!
-Marilla
What length circular needles would be best?
Thank you!
Hi Alex,
Thanks for writing in! A 24 inch circular needle would probably be the most comfortable to use for this wrap, but a 32 inch needle would also work just fine!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi again!
I’m still curious about knitting with silk – difficult or similar to any other yarn – however, I ran across some yarn in my stash that might work for this Rose Stitch pattern (?) It’s HA Gaia Sport – 100% organic merino wool – 21sts and 30 rows = 4 inches in stickinette on 7US. Looks I bought this to make a shawl type wrap, so might this be okay for drape in the scarf pattern? Would I still use 7US with this yarn ….. or smaller?
Thanks,
Brenda
Hello Brenda,
Thank you for reaching out! To use this yarn for this wrap, I would first knit up a gauge swatch (on a US7) to see how many stitches per inch you are getting as well as to make sure you like the texture and look of it. Because you are knitting with wool at a much larger gauge the stitch pattern will look very different than it does in our Cattail Silk. I think it will still be beautiful with lovely drape, but it will have a very different look. Once you know how many stitches per inch you are getting you can use this information to calculate your cast on number. You will just need to make sure that it is an odd number.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
what is the point of the slip 1 stitch knitwise with yarn in front? i am used to slip 1 stitch purlwise .
Hello Karen,
Thank you for reaching out! For this particular stitch slipping your first stitch knitwise wyif will achieve the beautiful clean edge that most patterns achieve with slipping purlwise. The only deference between slipping knitwise and purlwise is the orientation of the stitch you are slipping. Slipping knitwise twists you stitch, while slipping purlwise keeps it exactly the same.
I hope this clears things up for you and happy knitting!
Marillla
My yarn should be arriving today! Did you just use a long tail cast-on for the pattern or do you recommend another type with the cattail silk? Thanks
Hello Mary,
Great question! You are correct, we used a long tail cast on for this project.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi,
I’m giving thought to making the Rose pattern wrap. I’d like it to be a neutral. But, how does Porcelain White and/or Moon White compare with Heirloom White (although it’s Alpaca). It’s hard to select the fine tuning aspect when the yarns aren’t in front of me! Can you give me your opinions?
Thanks,
Brenda
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for reaching out! I would say that the Moon White is more similar to the Heirloom White we carry in many of our other yarns. It is more of a bright and warm off white, while the Porcelain White has a bit of a muted beige tone.
We do our best to make sure our pictures on the website are as true to life as possible but it can be daunting to pick without seeing the yarn in person, so I hope that helps!
Best,
Julianna
Hi,
I need help picking one of two neutral colors for the Rose Stitch Wrap. I want a neutral but can’t distinguish between Porcelain white and Moon white. Can you describe the difference since it’s hard to tell. Is silk difficult to worth with, is my second question. Should I try silk as an intermediate beginner or use a safe linen/cotton alternative. I love the sheen of the silk but having never knitted with it, I’m debating!
Thanks,
Brenda
Hi Brenda,
I commented on the difference between Moon White and Porcelain White above, but I just saw your follow up question! Our Cattail Silk actually has a mostly matte appearance – it has a subtle sheen that gives it a luminous quality, but the overall effect is matte and tweedy. I personally find it quite easy to work with! The lovely complex texture of the yarn is quite forgiving, especially after blocking, so I encourage you to give it a try!
Best,
Julianna
I’m making progress on my wrap and even though I am no where near completion my mind wanders to that time. My question is in regards to blocking the cattail silk: does one simply soak, press out excess moisture and lay out with gentle shaping or shape, stretch and pin with this fiber?
Thank you.
Mary
Hi Mary,
Great question! This is entirely up to you – in this pattern, you can see that our knitted dimensions are the same as the blocked or finished dimensions, so we did not block the wrap aggressively. I would probably still use pins and blocking wires if you have them to ensure straight edges and a uniform rectangle, but you can gently shape it to the correct dimensions, or if you would like to encourage a bit of extra length or width give it a little stretch!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Okay, I give up. I have knitted a few rows in this pattern and still am not sure of how to to start the knit st after slipping the first st knit wise wyif. Do I take the working yarn up behind the next st or keep it under the right needle and swing the yarn under and to the back? Also, it seems there is nothing on youtube showing a slipped st knit wise wyif at the beginning of a row. I feel like a dunce, but I just have to know the right way. Otherwise, this is a great knit and is going to be beautiful once I can clear this up.
Thank you!
Dianne
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for reaching out! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties! To slip the first stitch knitwise with the yarn in the front, you will hold the yarn to the front of the work and then slip the first stitch as if to knit. The next stitch being a knit stitch, you will then take the working yarn from the front and move it to the back between the stitch that you just slipped and the stitch on the left hand needle being sure not to place the yarn over the needle but rather in the space between the stitch on the right hand needle and the stitch on the left hand needle. Your yarn will now be in the back to start your knit stitch. This is much the way that you would move you yarn to the back after a purl stitch.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I finally got it! Thank you so much. But until I got used to holding the yarn in front of the first stitch before and during the slip stitch, I found I had to stop and and concentrate on what I was doing. It just wasn’t automatic for me. But it’s working well now and I’ve got about 12″ of this pattern done. I found that after a while you get in a flow.
Thank you again for your very clear explanation.
Dianne
Hi Dianne,
I am so glad to hear that it worked out! Thank you so much for your very kind words!
Happy knitting,
Cassy
Would Porcelain White compliment Blue Bamboo better than Moon White? Also, can you suggest an edge stitch at the beginning and end of the wrap for a little more interest? Thanks.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! Although both Porcelain White and Moon White look great with Blue Bamboo, I would lean towards Moon White because it is a brighter white that goes a bit better with the bright tones of Blue Bamboo. We used a simple slip stitch to keep the edges of the wrap tidy and I don’t have any specific recommendations for a decorative edging, but if there is one you like and are familiar with you could certainly add it!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Would this pattern work in line weight? I love the look of the cattail silk but I am worried about it not being soft enough. My neck seems to be the most sensitive to yarn that’s even the slightest bit scratchy, and this wrap is so beautiful I want to make sure I’ll be able to wear it all the time!
Hello Maggie,
Thanks for reaching out! Line Weight would be a beautiful substitute for this wrap.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I am thinking of knitting one skein in the rose stitch, the second skein in a different but complimentary stitch, the third skein in the rose stitch and the fourth skein in the complimentary stitch. Would you have a suggestion for a complimentary stitch that would highlight the beauty of the rose stitch?
Thank you.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! Your idea sounds very similar to our Stitch Block Cowl, which moves through a lovely variety of stitches. I think that the stitches from our Mistake Rib Scarf, Open Air Wrap, and Little Ladders Scarf would all be wonderful options!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I emailed earlier today asking for a suggestion for a coordinating stitch to use with the rose stitch to make four sections. I failed to mention that I am using Burnish, not Cattail Silk for my project although I am not sure if it will make any difference to a suggestion you might have.
Thank you.
Mary
Hi Mary,
All of these stitches would look equally wonderful in Burnish!
Best,
Julianna
Dear Julianna,
I really love this project and I almost finished the scarf, using the cottage merino from Walk, 100% wool. The edges of my scarf are more curling than the one on purlsoho. Is there anything I could do in this case?
Thanks! Tessel
Hi Tessel,
Thanks so much for writing in, and congratulations on your nearly finished wrap! Wet blocking the finished wrap should held the edges lay quite flat!
Best,
Julianna
I love this pattern. Would it be difficult to translate the pattern to knit it in the round for a cowl?
Thank you!
Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! No, it’s not too hard at all! To knit this stitch in the round, you will need to cast on an even number of stitches and knit it as follows:
Round 1: *P1, k1* to end of round
Round 2: *K1tbl, k1* to end of round
Round 3: *K1, p1* to end of round
Round 4: *K1, k1tbl* to end of round.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi,
While knitting this, I noticed that the sides switched. So I have both sides on one face. What mistake did I make to achieve this?
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for reaching out! I would love to help figure this out, if you could send a photo of your work to our team at customerservice@purlsoho.com we can troubleshoot what may be going on further from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
Good Evening
Will this pattern work with Tussock?
Also, my hands are somewhat arthritic and I notice with the lace weight yarns it seems to be more difficult for me to knit with any speed due to the discomfort and slippery needles. Do you recommend andy specific bamboo circular needles and/or any recommendations for other types of needles or other accessories that an easier time for arthritic hands? I find need to use my right hand throw technique more often which slows me down. Thank you.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly use Tussock for this pattern! I would just recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure you are consistent with the pattern! I would also recommend using bamboo or wooden needles, they are much less slippery and come knitters find them easier to work with! I would recommend using Addi Natural Circular Needles !
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi, I am confused, as some others were, by the Slip first stitch knitwise with yarn in front. I haven’t found any video tutorials online. What I am doing is slipping first st knitwise then bringing the yarn under right needle to front and up and back in between slipped and next stitch.
I hope this is correct!? I know I’m probably over thinking 🤔 it 😃 Thanks for any help!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reaching out! This is a very easy technique to achieve a nice slip stitch edging to the wrap, you will simply slip the first stitch knitwise (going into the stitch as if to knit it) but instead of knitting it, you are just moving it from your left to right needle. You will do this with the working yarn in front of your knitting as if you are wrapping the yarn around the front of the slipped stitch. From there you will move the yarn around the stitch to the back of the work between your needles so that you can continue on and knit the next stitch!
I hope this clears things up, happy knitting!
Gianna
Can I use Cashmere Merino Bloom for this pattern? I have 8 skeins!!
Hi Katie,
You could absolutely use Cashmere Merino Bloom for this pattern, though you would almost certainly need to bump up to a larger needle size and adapt the number of stitches cast on to accommodate its thicker weight. I’d recommend starting with a US5 or US6 and working up a gauge swatch in pattern. That will allow you to determine how many stitches you’re getting per inch, which you can then use to adapt the number of stitches you cast on for your wrap! The stitch pattern is worked over an odd number of stitches, so it should be easy to adjust! You can check out our tutorial All About Gauge for more information!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Do the sides of this wrap roll?
Hi Mimi,
Thanks for your question! The sides of this wrap should not roll since the stitch pattern will help keep the fabric flat. The Cattail Silk also has an even more wonderful drape after blocking, so I’d suggest blocking your project too to maximize on that! I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Hello Cat,
I have several colors and skeins of Tussock mohair that I’ve purchased from you over the past 2-6 years. I love lace knitting; I never worked with mohair before and I have learned how difficult it is to correct yarn over errors with mohair so I need another plan as to what to do with all my beautiful Tussock.
Please let me know which of your patterns are best for me to use mohair alone or what other patterns with which of your other fibers can I use to make scarfs or wraps.
Thank you so very much.
Andrea
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for writing in! We’ve designed a few wrap patterns in Tussock alone (or held double), so those are all great options to take a look through first. I’ll link to them below:
Seashell Lace Wrap
Checkerboard Lace Scarf
Open Air Wrap
Dewdrops Wrap
Lace Columns Wrap
Tulle Wrap
Cumulus Wrap
Many of our other lace wrap patterns would work great in Tussock as well! You may just need to adjust the stitch count if your gauge with Tussock is different. If another pattern catches your eye, and you’re curious how it would work with Tussock, just let me know, and I can provide guidance on adjusting the stitch count.
I also wanted to mention that one trick that we have found to be helpful when working with Tussock (or any mohair yarn) is putting it in the freezer. This actually relaxes the fibers, making it easier to undo stitches and mistakes! If you find a mistake that you want to correct, I’d recommend putting your project into a ziploc freezer bag and leaving it in the freezer. After a few hours, you can take it out, and it should be much easier to undo the stitches!
All the best,
Lili
When the pattern says bind off knit wise does that mean knit stitch only or following row #2 pattern?
—>Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 68 inches from cast-on edge or until desired length, ending with Row 1.
With the right side facing you, bind off knitwise.
Hi Dell,
Thank you for writing in! That is absolutely correct! With the right side facing you, you will knit a stitch, then bind it off and continue these steps all the way down the row until you have no stitches left. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella