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!
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. (NOTE: We no longer offer Flax Down, but choose from one of our other light worsted/dk weight yarns.)
- Yarn B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein 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!
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