Swath Wrap
Our Swath Wrap is beautiful and functional, but just as important, hidden within its folds is a fiber surprise designed especially for those of us who live for such things!

Close inspection reveals a sleight of hand, a shift from Flax Down to Linen Quill, two yarns very similar in fiber content and color but quite different in gauge. Using the same size needle, you knit two skeins of Flax Down, then one of Linen Quill, and wind up with a shift in texture from warm and cozy to light and airy, as well as a study in gauge, fiber, and fabric!

But beyond a fiber lesson, the Swath Wrap is also a wonderful multi-tasker. Wear it Flax Down side up for a toasty chill chaser or Linen Quill side up for a beautiful shoulder draper.

Such subtle fiber play gives the Swath Wrap a restrained sophistication, particularly when both yarns hail from the same family of color. We’ve added nine gorgeous new colors to our Flax Down collection, all of which pair up with a Linen Quill color for a monochromatic match.

Add to that some more same-color pairings, and you have 16 different Swath Wrap Bundles to choose from! Each is just three total skeins of yarn, and all are as evocative and subtle as the Swatch Wrap itself!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Update: New Colors
September 21, 2020
Now with new colors of both Linen Quill and Flax Down, choosing a Swath Wrap Bundle is even more inspiring! Eight new palettes join the party, including this incredibly deep and gorgeous Wild Violet. View the story here!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoSwathWrap, #PurlSohoFlaxDown, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials

Our Swath Wrap Bundle (no longer available) includes…
- Yarn A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Flax Down, 43% baby alpaca, 42% extra fine merino wool, 15% linen. Each skein is 219 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 438 yards required. We used High Tide.
- Yarn B: 1 skein 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 429 yards required. We used High Tide.
You’ll also need…
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 40-, 47- or 60-inch circular needles
- 6 stitch markers (optional)
Our Swath Wrap Bundle comes in additional palettes. They are…
Top Row: Rosewood Pink, Red Poppy + Kiln Red
Second Row: Clover Green, Fresh Pickle + Juniper Green
Third Row: Heirloom White, Vintage Celadon + True Turquoise
Fourth Row: Cobalt Blue, Blue Blue + Stillwater Blue
Fifth Row: Dark Iris, Wild Violet + Bougainvillea Pink
Bottom Row: Crocus Bud, Stonewall Gray + Kettle Black
Gauge
20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, using either Yarn A or Yarn B
Size
Finished Dimensions: 17½ inches wide x 72 inches long
Pattern
Using Yarn A, cast on 355 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On. (A little tip: When you’re casting on so many stitches, it helps to place a marker or piece of scrap yarn every 50 stitches, so if you lose your place, you don’t have to start counting from the very beginning! Remove them as you work the first row.)
Row 1 (wrong side): K2, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.
Row 2 (right side): K1, p1, knit to last 2 stitches, p1, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you’ve used both skeins of Yarn A or until piece measures approximately 8 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a right-side row.
Cut Yarn A, if necessary.
Join Yarn B.
Continue in pattern, repeating Rows 1 and 2, until approximately 6 to 7 yards of Yarn B remain or until piece measures approximately 17½ inches from cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.
Bind off in pattern.
Weave in ends and block as desired!

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!
Très bonne idée l alternance. Et le fil est très joli
Reviens de vous rencontrer un jour.
Martine
I’m a bit of a newbie to knitting (about a year), and I just ordered the bundle in Lavender Opal. My hope/goal is that this wrap will be my first “investment” piece, i.e., not using cheap yarn due to my fledgling yarn wrangling skills. With that in mind, I’m wondering if you have any advice as to the best type of cast-on for this piece? Thanks! Can’t wait to get started.
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! We recommend a Long Tail Cast On for most of our projects, but any stable, attractive cast on would work well for this wrap – a Cable Cast On would be a great alternative. I hope you enjoy knitting the Swath Wrap as much as you enjoy wearing it – both Flax Down and Linen Quill are some of my favorite yarns to work with!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi guys are open?
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we have not been able to reopen yet. We’re eager to open our doors again, but at present, we do not know when we will be reopening. Our top priority is the safety of our staff, customers, and community. With that in mind, it seems very unlikely that we’ll open anytime soon, but please stay in the loop by visiting this page on our site: https://www.purlsoho.com/covid-19-updates
In the meantime, our online shop is offering reduced shipping rates. Until further notice, absolutely everything ships free to anywhere in the United States with our economy shipping rate. Plus, ship economy to Canada for $8 and to anywhere else in the world for just $12. Not the same as an in-person visit, we know, but hopefully, a pretty good plan B!
Best,
Gianna
Your yarn looks delicious, but it’s not in this month’s budget. I also really like the pattern. I just can’t get it to download the pattern. Could you please help. I have some of your yarn that my sister gave me when she moved to Florida. Thank you so very much for any help you can share with me.
Sincerely,
CherylMasters
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for the kind words! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you substitute Good Wool for the Flax Down and pair it with a coordinating color of Linen Quill. Although it is not available in as wide of a color range as Flax Down, I think you could make a lovely neutral or color blocked wrap!
In order to download the pattern, 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%.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
As a man and a knitter, it is so frustrating that 90% of clothing patterns are for women.
Could you perhaps suggest a pattern based on the Swatch Wrap that could be a Poncho for Men or Women? I can imagine requiring two bundle kits, and would happily make two ponchos for myself.
Hi Jury,
Thanks for reaching out! Although we have the wrap modeled on a woman, I think the Swath Wrap is definitely a gender neutral piece! We do share your concern that patterns be as inclusive as possible, and a simple, unadorned rectangle that lets the beauty of the yarn shine can be worn by everyone. Although we don’t have a specific pattern, you could easily turn the Swath Wrap into an easy-wearing asymmetrical poncho by folding the finished wrap in half lengthwise and sewing the two long sides together, beginning at the open end and stopping about 12 inches from the folded end to leave a neck opening.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thanks for the suggestion for casting on stitches.
I started this wrap, but I am concerned because it’s curling terribly on the long edge as it usually does with stockinette stitches. Would blocking it afterwards uncurl it completely?
Hello Lucinda,
Thank you for writing us! You are correct in your suspicion that blocking will eliminate the curling issue. I would recommend wet blocking this project 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!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Alas, although I blocked my shawl VERY carefully (following your instructions), it curls terribly–forming basically a tube. The yarn is lovely, but the result is very disappointing. I’m planning to try blocking this again, but I’d be grateful for any tips you can provide. Jean
Hello Jean,
Thank you for writing- I’m distressed to hear about your situation! Which blocking style did you use block you shawl? How did the second blocking go? I would reccomend wet blocking to eliminate that amount of curling. I would submerge your project in water for about 30 minutes with some blocking soap, such as Soak, and laying it flat to air dry.
I hope this helps and let us know if you continue to have any issues.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would an I-cord edging solve the problem of curling, or would it be too heavy for the project? Or would making the two-stitch border a little wider solve the problem? I do a lot of prayer shawls, and this has been my solution in the past.
I know this won’t help once the project is completed, but maybe for those just starting out it’s something to explore.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! I think an I-cord would be a great alternative edging if you are concerned about the edges curling. You are correct that another option would be to increase the garter edging to 5 or so stitches on each edge. Although most people do find that wet blocking does result in fairly flat edges, adding a lay-flat edge treatment will also help!
Best,
Julianna
May seem like a silly question but is this yarn soft? I can’t stand anything even slightly itchy near my neck. Please advise.
Thank you!
Hello Beth,
Thank you for reaching out! While everyone has a different idea of what is soft, I think this wrap is quite soft. I would say that our Flax Down is softer than our Linen Quill due to the fact that it has Merino Wool rather than Highland Wool. This means our Linen Quill is a little more “wooly” than our Flax Down.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can this be knitted using straight needles and if so, what size do you recommend?
Hello Eileen,
Thank you for reaching out! Because this project is knit from side to side rather than top to bottom it has a cast on of 355 stitches. This cast on will only fit on circular needles so it would not work for straight needles. I would recommend checking out our Shiny + Matte Wrap which has a similar drape and texture change.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
If I use the yarn I purchased for this pattern to make the Shiny & Matte Wrap, how would you suggest I use it? Which yarn on each end, or half and half?
Hi Deb,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest beginning with one skein of Flax Down and switching to Linen Quill after you have knitted the entire skein. You will then finish the wrap with the second skein of Flax Down. In addition, since Flax Down is quite a bit thicker than the Spun Silk we used in the Shiny + Matte Wrap, it would probably be a good idea to knit the wrap on US 7 needles as we did for the Swath Wrap.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks!
Loved this the minute I saw it. The simplicity and the modern detail of fiber change to the Linen Quill was right up my aesthetic. Received my package the other day, can’t wait to get one on the sticks.
I purchased two bundles to knit a black and a gray version of the Swath Wrap. I have twice attempted to do a long tail cast on with the Linen Quill and the long tail virtually pulls apart after the 50th stitch. Can you please advise? Also, if this continues to be a problem, can I return the bundles? Thanks. Ken S.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for reaching out! We haven’t heard of this happening before with the Linen Quill, but when working a Long Tail Cast On, it does remove twist from the tail and more delicate yarns can break when the twist is removed. I usually re-twist my yarn by spinning it between my fingers every few inches, but you could also try a Cable Cast On – it doesn’t remove twist from the yarn, and as a bonus, you won’t have to estimate how much yarn you need to cast on such a large amount of stitches. If, however, you continue to have difficulties, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Received my yarn today in Vintage Celadon – it’s beautiful. Any chance of turning this into a cowl or caplet? Thank you.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for the kind words! While it would be a bit more work to create a capelet version, you could easily turn this into a cowl by joining your cast on into the round and knitting every round!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love the pattern. I want to make for someone allergic to wool. Any substitute yarns you think would work well?
Thank you
Hello Allison,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this wrap could be beautiful in our Cattail Silk and Cotton Pure. It will change the texture a bit, but I think it would work nicely!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
hi. what is the difference between this and the swath wrap? i’m wanting to make one and can’t decide which.
Hello Nicole,
Thank you for reaching out and your interest in our Swath Wrap! Which other wrap are you thinking of knitting?
I hope we can help!
-Marilla
I have the yarn! But am procrastinating as I’ve never cast on 355 stitches! Any recommendations on how much (inches? feet?) yarn I should measure out before starting casting on? I’ve tried the cable cast on but prefer the long tail cast on. Many thanks!
Hello Sheela,
Thank you for reaching out! For a long tail cast on I measure out three times the width of the thing I’m casting on for. In this case I would measure out 216 inches + a little to be on the safe side.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Please tell me approximately how much yarn advance I need to cast on so many stitches… I have never had so many on at once and obviously don’t want to run out of tail after, say 200 or so! Thanks!
Hi Annie,
Thanks for reaching out! As a good general rule you want the tail to be three times the width of your project’s on edge plus a little bit. This means that for this tail it will need to be approximately 230″ or about 19 feet.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi again. I measured out 230 inches for long tail cast on. Cast on 100 stitches and the yarn broke! I definitely don’t want to waste the yarn–is there a way to repair this? I don’t have any experience in this. Thanks.
Hi Sheela,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so sorry to hear that your tail broke! Fortunately, we have a good fix! Flax Down will easily felt so you can use our wet splicing tutorial to splice the ends together.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I would like to make this into a circular wrap. What is the best way to sew the short ends? Mattress stitch?
Hello Carla,
Thank you for reaching out! Because this wrap is cast on along the edge and knit side to side, rather than top to bottom, you will want to seam the edges together using this technique.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hello. I loved this pattern when I saw it and ordered the yarn right away. I have just finished it but I’m having some trouble styling it. I used the yarn and needle size in the pattern, but my wrap ended up about 10 inches longer and 4 inches wider than your finished size. Because of that, it is too long. Any ideas of how to style it? Or should I attempt to shrink it a bit? Thanks in advance for your advice!
Hello Robyn,
Thank you for reaching out and congratulations on being finished with this lovely wrap! There are lots of great ways to style this piece, in your case it sounds like you can create a beautifully dramatic wrap. I would do a full wrap letting the ends drape in front.
Attempting to shrink it would be risky as it is hard to have control over the end result. If you really want it to be smaller you could always take out a couple of rows and re-bind off, though I know this would be a lot of extra work and would only make it thinner and not shorter.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi?
I think I’m confused by the 3skein yarns in this pattern. If 2 skeins of one yarn are knitted and the 3rd of a different skein is added, wouldn’t there be a sharp contrast/striping even though the colors are identical? Not sure I understand the reasoning behind using the 3rd skein when you could just knit the same Color A as you did in the first 2? Perhaps I’m missing something. I love the High Tide and will probably order. Just wondering about the design though.
Thanks,
Brenda?
Hello Brenda,
Thank you for reaching out! This wrap is all about texture, the subtle transition from Flax Down into Linen Quill elevates the textural beauty of each yarn by providing contrast. It is particularly beautiful when it catches the light.
Warmly,
-Marilla
I finished knitting this in the Dark Iris (it was supposed to be for my mother-in-law, but I may just have to keep it!). Because of the difference in gauge, I’m having a hard time blocking it. The wool side has much more length than the linen side. I thought about blocking the ends at a diagonal, but would love to have squared up ends. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for reaching out! If you take a peek at the last picture in the pattern, where the wrap is laid out mostly flat but folded in half, you can see that the ends do flare out slightly on the Flax Down side of the wrap. This is unavoidable to some extent due to the gauge difference, but I think if you try to be as gentle as possible with the Flax Down and quite aggressive with the Linen Quill, you should be able to get a mostly even rectangle. I would strongly recommend wet blocking this piece so that you can stretch out the Linen Quill as much as possible.
I hope that helps! Best of luck, and please let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi! I just completed my latest project and am so excited to begin my Swath Wrap in Vintage Celadon. While I don’t typically knit a swatch to test gauge, I certainly will for this project! To prevent the flaring when switching to the Flax Down, can I change needle sizes when I switch yarns based on what I get from my swatching? Might this help with the flare? Or would I lose the gorgeous transition to the more open texture? Thanks for the great patterns and wonderful replies to all of the comments – they’re so helpful to a new knitter like me!
Hello Cindy,
Thank you for reaching out! You can certainly change the needles used based on your gauge! If you are getting the same gauge as we got then you will get the same texture that we got.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
-Marilla
Which bind off did you use for the Swath Wrap? What would you suggest to use? Thank you!
Hi Lori,
Great question! We use a Basic Bind Off for all of our patterns, including this one, unless otherwise noted in the pattern. In a project that is knitted sideways, like this one, it is extra important to make sure you bind off loosely to match your cast on edge!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
I followed these instructions exactly with the yarn bundle and it came about about 2 feet too long and a few inches wider. The extra width is fine but it’s unwearable with the extra length. Any suggestions for how to sew it into something I can actually wear?
Hello Lauren,
Thank you for reaching out! It sounds like your gauge was larger than expected, in the future you can solve this by just going down in needle size. You could turn your wrap into a tube by seaming the sides together using the Mattress Stitch, or you could try seaming the edges a couple of inches.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Would it be unusual to have to go down to a size 4 for this project? A size 5 needle is still too large with the flax down. After reading the other comments, I don’t want to risk it being too long.
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out! It is certainly not unheard of for looser knitters to have to go down two or three needle sizes to obtain the correct gauge. Needle sizes in patterns are just suggestions – since every knitter has their own unique tension, then whatever size needle gives you the correct gauge is the right needle size for you, regardless of what we used!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Loving this project! HOWEVER, need help!
Look forward to answer:
I’m a bit confused about the binding off instruction. Do I bind off WHILE PURLING WRONG Side (row 1)?
Thanks!
Hello Charlotte,
Thank you for reaching out- this is a great questions! You bind off after completing a purled wrong side row. This means you will be binding off on a right side row.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I received this bundle of yarns as a gift and look forward to knitting with them. I am more interested in making a scarf than a wrap, though. Do you have any pattern suggestions for these three skeins? I am a beginner so I am looking for simple patterns as well. Thank you!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly adapt the Swath Wrap into a scarf if you wish! The wrap is quite long, so I would start with the same number of stitches, but would make it narrower by switching to Linen Quill after finishing the first skein of Flax Down, and then cast off after the Linen Quill section is the same width as the Flax Down or once the scarf is your desired width. You may also want to consider working the scarf in garter stitch, both because it will be quite easy to knit every row but also because the narrower scarf will be more prone to curling up than the wrap.
With your extra skein of Flax Down, you could knit a Reversible Pleat Hat to match, and possibly a shortened pair of Ribbed Hand Warmers with the leftover Linen Quill, depending how much you have left!
Happy knitting, and please let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I have 1 skein of Linen Quill in the color ‘trout brown.”
What color of the Flax Down would go with trout brown for the Swath Wrap – ….I thought on my monitor the ‘gray fig’ looked compatible. Any thoughts?
Hello Bonnie,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this would be a beautiful combination. Trout Brown is a very Blue Brown, while Grey Fig is a very purple brown. I think Trout Brown would also look nice with Stillwater Blue.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I want to make this in Posy and Cashmere Merino bloom. Can you suggest some color combinations that would be good using these two yarns? Thank you!
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for reaching out, and what a lovely idea – Posy and Cashmere Merino Bloom would be so soft and snuggly together! While there aren’t quite as many matching colors between the two yarns, I think there are some good combinations. For the following list, the Posy color is listed first, followed by the Cashmere Merino Bloom color:
Lilac Mist, Lavender Moon
Drizzle Gray, Dove Gray
Weathervane Gray, Charcoal Onyx
Teal Twilight, High Tide
Beetle Blue, True Tourquoise
Chili Pepper, Red Poppy
Pink Papaya, Bright Flamingo
Pink Peppermint, Ballet Pink
Pink Nectar, Honey Pink
Heirloom White, Heirloom White
Mourning Dove, Wheat Flour
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Thanks you!
I love the color. The yarn is so soft and my wrap is 92 inches in length !!! Now what do I do?
Hi Robin,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for writing in! If you started with the correct number of stitches, it sounds like you might have a gauge problem. Our wrap is knit at 20 stitches per four inches, so if you are a looser knitter, you will end up with a longer wrap. There isn’t really an easy fix for this, unfortunately! I would first try blocking the wrap and stretching it as much as possible widthwise, which will make the length contract a bit. If it is still too long, you would have to either start over with a smaller needle size or fewer stitches, or shorten it by steeking one or both ends. I would recommend only using that option as a last resort!
Best of luck and I hope that helps!
Julianna
I’m going to be casting on this project soon. Would the English Slip Stitch Selvedge help eliminate some of the curling?
Hello Carol,
Thank you for reaching out! This project has a garter stitch edge to help prevent curling. If you want some extra help with keeping it flat you could do a two stitch garter edge rather than a one stitch. In addition, blocking your wrap will relaxing you yarn and keep it from curling.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I just finished my wrap and love it! It has been a knitting lesson as it looked deceptively easy! Some are obvious things to do for a garment lets say 🙂 I would check your gauge even after you swatch. Because I didn’t mine is longer than designed and not as wide at rest. I had to tug it to shape for the desired width when blocking which is causing my edges to curl a little. It was also a great blocking lesson as this yarn stretched to enormous lengths when wet you need to form it, not take it sink to table and dry it. Maybe obvious for some but not for me attempting a basic knit purl rectangle 🙂 all that said the beauty of the yarn is worth every effort ! So much so I’m considering another batch. Namaste xxx
I’ve completed this wrap and find it too long. Can you suggest a way to cut it to @2/3 size? Thanks so much !
Hello Bobbie,
Thanks for reaching out! Oh no! Because this wrap is knit lengthwise there isn’t really a ways to shorten it that drastically. You could try hemming the sides in, but this will add extra bulk to both sides. You could also try felting it, but this is unpredictable in how it will come out.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Best,
Marilla
Do you think Steek with Knit Facing (from your tutorials) will work?
Hi Bobbie,
Yes, that would be a great tutorial to use to hem the edges of your wrap. As Marilla mentioned it will create some bulk along the hem, so I would suggest trying it out on a small swatch to make sure you will be happy with the effect before cutting your wrap.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thanks so much !
Your yarns are GORGEOUS!
In the latest sample (blue shawl) there are 2 versions listed. Which version is the SOFTEST?
Thank you!
Andrea
Hello Andrea,
Thank you for reaching out! This wrap is actually knit with Flax Down and Linen Quill. This creates a beautiful shift in texture half way through.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I have just ordered the Vintage Celedon bundle and read the comments. Would doing a couple of rows of garter stitch on the length wise side of the wrap help prevent curling? If so, how many rows of garter stitch do you recommend?
Thanks
Hello Clara,
Thank you for reaching out! Adding a couple of rows of garter will help to stabilize your edge. I would recommend adding 4 rows to your edge.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love this design and am so excited to make it! I prefer to knit with straight needles – can you provide changes/suggestions/alterations to the instructions if circular needles aren’t used?
THANK YOU!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for reaching out! Although we used circular needles for this project, we knit it flat, meaning back in forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row, so if you do knit it on straight needles, you won’t need to make any modifications. The reason we sometimes use circular needles for flat knitting is to accommodate a lot of stitches – in this case, 355 stitches. Cramming a large number of stitches onto long straight needles can be pretty cumbersome and sometimes even, impossible. We strongly recommend using circular needles for such a large cast on, but you could try to fit all the stitches on very long straight needles if you prefer!
Best,
Julianna
If I slip the first stitch in to make an even edge, should I still cast on 355 stitches ?
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for reaching out! Slipping the first stitch of each row has a very minimal impact on the width (or length, in this case) of a knitted item, so it’s really up to you. I’m sure you won’t notice a difference in the length of the wrap if you stick with the 355 stitch cast on, but you could add a stitch or two if you would like!
Warmly,
Julianna
I love this wrap. I wear a plus size 2/3X and would want to have it ay least 80”. How many additional skeins of yarn would you suggest and would you suggest the flax down or linen quill?
Your patterns are fantastic.
Thanks so much.
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
Thank you so much for the kind words and for reaching out! If you purchase one additional skein each of Flax Down and Linen Quill, you will have plenty of yarn to make the wrap 80 inches long, or even a bit more. We used almost all of both yarns, so I would recommend getting an extra skein of both. Be sure to let us know in the comments on your order that you are planning on using the additional skeins along with the bundle and we will be happy to make sure the dye lots match!
Best,
Julianna
I notice that the linen quill is much thinner than the flax down. I made a test swatch using the linen quill, because the directions say you can make a test swatch using either yarn and get the same gauge. However, since the flax down is a much thicker yarn, wouldn’t that account for why some people are getting a longer finished wrap?
Hello Melissa,
Thank you for reaching out! For this wrap we got the same gauge for each yarn, but a very different texture. Flax Down has a dense texture while Linen Quill has an open texture. It is always a good idea to knit up a gauge swatch before jumping into a new project to prevent any surprises.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’m about 8 rows in on this shawl and I’m terribly disappointed. The Flax Down is very soft, but the linen in it is driving me crazy. There are pieces hanging out everywhere, especially at the cast on edge so that it looks sloppy. I’m going to have to shave the shawl after I make it, so why continue? I used the Cable Cast On and even within the upper rows the linen gives me a ‘halo’ that is shedding. I would be afraid to wear this with anything nice for fear it would shed all over my outfit. Also, it is curling badly and so I’m going to cast on a third time with wider garter edges all around, or else forget it and try and use the yarn in something else. The first time casting on was with a metal needle that liked to split the yarn, so I switched to a blunt end bamboo needle that stopped that. This is an expensive kit that now is going to be just an ordinary knock-around shawl with jeans. It certainly isn’t what I wanted.
Hello Diane,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that you have had this experience! I would recommend doing your cast on with the Flax Down rather than the Linen Quill. Because Linen Quill is such an open knit, when using a US7, which can give you a loose, and potentially messy, cast on. We used a long tail cast on for our shawl, though a cable cast on should work as well. Also, blocking your shawl will soften and straighten you stitches, giving your shawl a more crisp professional look.
I hope this is helpful and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello,
I asked my husband to shop at yours store and got 2 sets of the Swath wrap. Finished the black one for him (so next time he would do again!!)
Loving it !!!! but I find out to blocked it is a pain for me. Read all your tips and did it twice !!!
Pls do correct me; to started with one skein at the time ??? Because my first project was black and it did not look like the picture from the kit.
I can not wait to start my 2nd one and it easy to do so(for beginner like me!)
Thank you
Jarr UK.
Hi Jarr,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m so glad you are happy with your wrap after blocking! It can be tedious, but so worth it in the end! For this wrap, you should be using just one strand of yarn at a time, first in Flax Down, and then in Linen Quill.
Best,
Julianna
I just completed the swath wrap and blocked it. I am wondering how did they drape it on the model so that it looks like the picture. Also, is it pinned in place so it stays where you want it? I am having trouble figuring out how this was done. Thank you.
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for writing in, and congratulations on the finished wrap! For our pictures, the shawl is not pinned and just has one corner draped over the model’s shoulder. For a similar look that will stay in place, I would recommend securing the corner of the wrap either with a safety pin on the wrong side or with a decorative shawl pin on the outside of the wrap at your shoulder.
Best,
Julianna
Can a beginner do this shawl
Hello Peggy,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a great beginner project. If you have any questions along the way we are here to help!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Just finished my first skein of Flax Down and although my gauge is correct, I’m worried I won’t get to 17.5″ for final width. Unblocked I’m only at about 4″ after the 1st skein. Can you give me an approx width for the 2 skeins of Flax Down? Thanks!
Hi Daniela,
Thanks for reaching out! It sounds like your wrap is spot on so far! After knitting up both skeins of Flax Down, the wrap should measure about 8 inches, and the Linen Quill section will measure a further nine and a half inches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Help please. I have some beautiful, the color is wonderful, madelinetosh DK yarn. I thought of making this pattern but wasn’t sure what to combine with it to make this pattern. Thanks so much.
Hello Marcia,
Thanks for reaching out! To achieve the beautiful texture change that we have in this patter I would recommend using a fingering weight yarn. Particularly Linen Quill, the yarn we used, would look lovely with your Madelinetosh.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
This yarn is lovely and feels so good I stop knitting from time to time just to feel it as the wrap takes shape. It is true the star of this pattern is the yarn, although I like the simplicity of the pattern, and I can’t wait to get to the Linen Quill section. My only gripe is that my edges are not coming out as tidy as I would want. Do you suggest any alternative stitches for the beginning and end of the rows? The wrong side looks ok but the right side edges look wonky. Thank you!
Hello Luzmin,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m so happy to hear how much you are enjoying the yarn! I will say that our wrap is blocked which will straighten up your edges quite a bit. In addition we got a slight roll on our edges which also cleans up the edges.
I hope this is helpful and let us know if you have any further questions.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I completed this pattern in the crocus bud color last summer and have been enjoying it all winter. It’s soft and warm, a beautiful color and just the right weight. I would like to make another one in a light pink. Since your bundles don’t offer light pink, I thought I would try to combine the Flax Down Ballet Pink with the Linen Quill Peony Pink. I don’t mind if they’re not a perfect match, I was just wondering if you could give me an opinion on how they would look together, since I can’t see them in person. Alternately, since Peony Pink is out of stock I was wondering about the Pale Oats Linen Quill with the Ballet Pink Flax down. Also, will Peony Pink ever come back in stock if I get started with the Ballet Pink Flax Down (I’m a slow knitter). Thanks!
Marcy
Hi Marcy,
Thanks for writing in, and I’m so glad to hear how happy you are with your first wrap! Peony Pink is a little darker than Ballet Pink, but they have very similar undertones so I think they would look lovely together. Pale Oats also has the same warm undertones so I think that would work as well if you don’t want to wait! We will certainly be restocking Peony Pink, and if you enter your email address on the Linen Quill product page, we will let you know as soon as it’s available!
Best,
Julianna
After washing and blocking the wrap, I find that the top and bottom edges still roll quite a bit, more than I would like how can I make it straighten out?
Thanks for your help, Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing in! I would try working a row or two of single crochet or an Attached I-Cord around the outside edge of the wrap to help it lay flatter. If you make the wrap again in the future, you might also want to consider moving up a needle size, as a looser gauge will also help with this!
Best,
Julianna
Hi again, you’ve helped me before and I have another question please. I’d like to make this wrap using some of my stash. I have three skeins of Madelinetosh Steven Be DK yarn in Steven Be blue. I would like to use Malabrigo Susurro (sport weight) in whales road color. Your opinion please. Thanks so much. Please be safe
Hi Marcia!
Thanks for reaching out! I looked at those two colors and I think it would be a lovely combination, with a bit more variegation than we used for our Swath Wraps, but that could be lots of fun! Our Flax Down is a DK, and our Linen Quill is a fingering, so your combination might not have as much difference in gauge, but I think that the Swath Wrap is a great field for exploring yarn combinations and textures!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
I have a question. I am an advanced-beginner knitter looking for a quarantine project and I have 3 skeins of the Flax Down in Gray Fig, Oyster Gray, and Stonewall Gray that I don’t know what to do with. Your Swath Wrap looks like a perfect way to use this yarn. But, I see you don’t have the Linen Quill in any color but stonewall gray. Are there colors of the Linen Quill that would match the Gray Fig or the Oyster Gray closely enough? Alternately, how do you think the wrap would work if I made it in gradually alternating stripes, creating a gradually shifting effect from light to dark, as in your stripey tube scarf? Last but not least: do you have another simple pattern that might work with these three strands of beautiful Flax Down that I have? The colors all go so beautifully together.
Thank you, and stay well.
Hi Diana,
Thanks for writing in! I agree that those three shades of Flax Down look gorgeous together! Linen Quill in Fieldstone Gray is a great match for Flax Down in Oyster Gray, but we don’t have a very close color to Gray Fig. I would probably go with either Dark Iris or Trout Brown, depending whether you wanted to lean more towards gray or purple.
It would be very interesting to work a striped version of this wrap, although if you alternated all three colors in both yarns together the textures would blend together more so the contrasting weights might not stand as well. You might consider a colorblocked version instead, going from Gray Fig to Stonewall Gray to Oyster Gray in Flax Down, and then reversing the order to knit Fieldstone Gray, Stonewall Gray, and then either Trout Brown or Dark Iris for the Linen Quill half. Both options sound like they have their merits, so I would recommend knitting a few swatches to see what you prefer! Another pattern you might like is our Helix Tube Scarf. Although you will have to adjust the gauge, I think it would be lovely to see how all three colors blend together in single rows of reverse stockinette!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi
I am knitting along And I have noticed that the cast on edge is rolling up..
In the picture it is laying flat.. can anyone please tell me it the wrap was steamed to lay flat.. because it won’t stay flat???
Thanks
maria
Hi Maria,
Thanks for writing in and asking about this! We wet blocked the Swath Wrap rather than steaming – a good soak and laying it flat to dry after squeezing out any excess water in a towel should do the trick to flatten out the curling at the edges when you finish your wrap. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions!
Best,
Cassandra
Hello,
I am allergic to alpaca, what could I substitute for it and keep the change in texture/gauge?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! I am sorry to hear about your alpaca allergy. For this pattern you can substitute the Linen Quill for any fingering weight yarn like our Line Weight, Brooklyn Tweed Peerie or even Manos Del Uruguay Fino and then substitute the Flax Down for any light worsted/DK weight like our Cashmere Merino Bloom , or Brooklyn Tweed Arbor! The texture with any of these yarns will be much different from the original Linen Quill and Flax Down combination since the alpaca/linen blend is completely unique, but will still result in a beautiful wrap. I would also recommend doing a gauge swatch with whichever yarns you choose to insure your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
I hope this is helpful, happy knitting!
Gianna
I have a question about the first row instructions. It says knit 2 purl to last 2 stitches. Does that mean k2 p 2? Or should it be k2 p1?
Hi Jenn,
Thanks for reaching out! The first row means you knit the first 2 stitches, then purl across the entire row to the last 2 stitches and then knit the last two stitches! So the first and last 2 stitches of the row are knit and all the rest of the stitches are purled in between!
I hope this clarifies things!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Thanks it helps a lot.
I have to say that I love the look and feel of the yarns, but the curling is definitely an issue. I cast on 300 stitches instead of 350, so the scarf could be shorter and wider, but still it is way long, and has the effect of a long narrow scarf unlike in the photo. I blocked it, and even steamed the curling edges with an iron, which was some help. I am not willing to unravel it and start over, so I will just enjoy it as something different than what I expected.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for reaching out! I am glad to hear that you are enjoying our yarn! I am sorry to hear that you are not please with the curling, unfortunately due to the nature of stockinette stitch curling of the edges is expected. Even our sample has curling! Heavily blocking the wrap should help quite a bit and for future reference to avoid some of the curling nature you can start the work with a “set up row” of K1 P1 before starting the stockinette stitch.
All the best,
Gianna
I hit upon a solution the other day. I folded the curling edges down about 3/8″ and using the finer yarn, and a crochet hook, did a chain stitch hem along both sides to hold the “hem” in place. Then, I gently steamed it with an iron, Now it lies much flatter, and has more of the look that I admired in the photo. Nest time, I’ll know to do a ribbed edge first.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for writing in! I am glad you found a solution to the curling edge and thank you for sharing your tips, it is much appreciated!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi, I had a question about the length of the needles, we don’t have needles past the length of 90 cms where I live, is it okay to use a 90cm straight or even circular needle in that length needle as opposed to 47 or 60 inch needles?
Hi Sneha,
Thanks for reaching out! When we recommend a 47 or 60 inch needles we are referring to circular needles (in US sizing!) I would not recommend working with straight needles for this pattern since there are so many stitches you will be working over, circular needles are definitely the way to go!
All the best,
Gianna
Is this project suitable for someone who is a beginner? I’ve completed two hats (one on circular needles), and have been practicing various dishcloth patterns
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, this would be a wonderful project for a new knitter! Using the same size needle, you knit two skeins of Flax Down, then one of Linen Quill, and wind up with a shift in texture from warm and cozy to light and airy, as well as a study in gauge, fiber, and fabric! It’s a very simple pattern to follow, and the simplicity of the stitch allows the shift in the weights of yarn to take center stage.
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! This is an excellent project for a beginner knitter! The pattern is worked flat in stockinette stitch on a US 7, 40-, 47- or 60-inch circular needles horizontally (so you are casting on the wide section and working till it measures 17½.)
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Question….if I wanted to make the wrap even longer for wide shoulders, will I have enough yarn in the bundle to cast on 325 stitches?
Hi Gayle,
Thanks for reaching out! We used the full 2 skeins of Flax Down and almost the Full skein of Linen Quill (429 yards used of 439) for this pattern. However, we cast on 355 stitches for this wrap so if you plan on casting on 325 you should have plenty. If you would like to make it larger (casting on more than 355) I would suggest getting an extra skein of each to insure you have enough yarn to complete your wrap! If you don’t end up using the extra skeins, you can return them for store credit within 6 month as long as they are in the original condition!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Curious why the circular length is 40, 47 or 60?
Hi Meg,
Thanks for reaching out! We suggest those 3 sizes because they will all work with the pattern but allow for the customer to select a size based on their preference and what they are comfortable working with! For example, if you prefer more room and space when you are knitting I would suggest the 60″, if you prefer less space and to have your stitches closer together I would suggest the 40″, while on the other hand the 47″ if kind of the happy medium.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
I just ordered the Swath Wrap bundle in Wild orchid and purchased an additional skein of each yarn so I can make the wrap wider. The length of 72” is just right, but I would like to make it wider. I am 5’10” with broad shoulders (narrow everywhere else) and many of my wraps that I own are between 23”-27” wide. Could you please recommend which width would work best to keep the intended drape of the pattern but adjusted for my height and how to modify the pattern? Also, do I have enough extra yarn to add the width. Thank you so much. I love Purl Soho patterns and yarn and look forward to this project.
Hi Robin,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern is very easy to adjust! Since it is knit horizontally, to add length you will simply need to add more stitches to your cast on amount, and then to make the wrap wider you can simply knit more rows until you reach your desired width. I think you should be fine with an extra skein of each color, but if you want to be extra safe you can always order an additional extra of each, and then if you don’t end up using them you can return the skeins in original condition within 6 months for store credit!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions, happy knitting!
Gianna
Could this pattern be done in the round so you don’t have to purl? It would make it much easier to complete.
Mary Jo
Hi Mary Jo,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly knit this wrap in the round! Once you cast on simply place a marker and join the work in the round, and follow row 2 the whole time, you can also omit selvage instructions at the beginning and end row (the K1, p1, and, p1, k1) and only work in stockinette!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi, Knitting this in the round is appealing to me…..but won’t we end up with a large tube, thus a different shape? (Note: I am a newer knitter hence my question)
Sam
Hi Sam,
Thanks for writing in. Yes, you’ll end up with a large tube instead if you knit this pattern in the round! It will look different, but some knitters prefer working in the round so they don’t have to purl and don’t mind the difference. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I’m a beginning knitter and am just starting this project. How can I make a simple adjustment to the pattern to create a border to help prevent curling? Thank you.
Pat
Hi Pat,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest either working the first two rows as a k1, p1 rib stitch or working the first two rows in garter stitch to avoid curling!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi Gianna
Would you also recommend doing 2 rows of k1 p1 rib before binding off? And if so would you bind off in rib??
Hi James,
Yes, you can absolutely work 2 rows of 1 x 1 ribbing before bind off! In that case, I would recommend binding off in pattern (ribbing). Hope this clarifies things!
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
2 questions:
When will you get wild violet back in stock and can you suggest a border for making a scarf of stockinette stitch so it won’t curl?
Thanks
Hi Robin,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, Wild Violet is being discontinued, so we no longer have it available in Linen Quill, but there are a few skeins left of Wild Violet in Flax Down! If you would like, you could use Wild Violet as the base in flax down, and then choose another shade of purple in Linen Quill. I think Crocus Bud or Purple Smoke could be beautiful!
For a border, we have included an edge treatment on the vertical edges of the scarf to help avoid curling, but for the cast on and bind off edges I would suggest working one row of garter after casting on and one row of garter before binding off!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any questions!
Gianna
Hello.
Am I correct to eliminate or decrease curling:
1. CAST ON Stitches
2. SET UP ROW 》 K1P1 across
3. START PATTERN
Hi Felicity,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, that is correct, working a setup row of k1, p1 across should help eliminate some of the curling!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello! What yarn do you recommend pairing with Linen Quill now that the other yarn has been discontinued?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for writing in! I would recommend using another one of our DK weight yarns in place of Flax Down. In particular, I think Note or Cashmere Merino Bloom would be great choices!
All the best,
Lili