Colorflow Garter Wrap
In celebration of sixteen new Cashmere Merino Bloom colors, our Colorflow Garter Wrap is a great resounding symphony played only in knit stitches and color!
We dipped into Cashmere Merino Bloom’s new palette of melodic color to design this joyful composition. Alternating colors each row creates a beautiful woven texture, while changing the colors you’re alternating builds long stripes…. Simple!
January demands an uplifting tune, and the joy of knitting your own Colorflow Garter Wrap is definitely that. Cashmere Merino Bloom is incredibly soft, lush, and satisfying to work with, while playful duets of color keep the knitting surprising.
Get started with all 10 skeins you’ll need to knit up your wonderfully toasty wrap. Pick from a Warm or Cool palette: the first, a medley from the red-pink end of the spectrum; the second, a wild tune from the land of purples!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
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, #PurlSohoColorflowGarterWrap, and #PurlSohoCashmereMerinoBloom. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To make your own Colorflow Garter Wrap you will need…
- 10 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino, 25% cashmere. Each skein of this light worsted/DK yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams.
- Color A: approximately 218 yards required
- Color B: approximately 142 yards required
- Color C: approximately 65 yards required
- Color D: approximately 50 yards required
- Color E: approximately 179 yards required
- Color F: approximately 87 yards required
- Color G: approximately 161 yards required
- Color H: approximately 100 yards required
- Color I: approximately 105 yards required
- Color J: approximately 74 yards required
NOTE: The pattern uses just about the full skein of Yarn A. To ensure that you have enough yarn, make sure to achieve this gauge and swatch in another color.
For our sample we used the Warm palette (NOTE: some colors may no longer be available), pictured above left. It includes…
- Color A: Rose Granite
- Color B: Autumn Oak
- Color C: Red Pine
- Color D: Blue Rust
- Color E: Red Poppy
- Color F: Bright Flamingo
- Color G: Pink Apricot
- Color H: Pink Begonia
- Color I: Honey Pink
- Color J: Wheat Flour
The Cool palette (NOTE: some colors may no longer be available), shown above right and below, includes…
- Color A: Blue Rust
- Color B: Red Pine
- Color C: Pumpernickel Brown
- Color D: Tide Pool
- Color E: Fresh Fig
- Color F: Lotus Flower
- Color G: Lilac Quartz
- Color H: Rose Granite
- Color I: Dove Gray
- Color J: Lavender Moon
You’ll also need…
- US 6 (4 mm), 47-inch circular needles
Gauge
19 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 17¼ inches wide x 68 inches long
Notes
Slip Stitches
Slip all slipped stitches purlwise unless pattern indicates otherwise.
Turn + Slide
When you work the Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern, you either “slide” or “turn” the work at the end of each row.
“Turn work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with circular needles: Transfer the needle from your left hand into your right hand and the needle from your right hand into your left, flipping the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
“Slide work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is right there waiting for you!
Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern
Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 with Yarn 1 in front and Yarn 2 in back, with Yarn 2, knit to end of row. Slide work.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 with yarn in front, with Yarn 1, purl to end of row. Turn work.
Row 3 (wrong side): Slip 1 with Yarn 2 in front and Yarn 1 in back, with Yarn 2, purl to end of row. Slide work.
Row 4 (wrong side): Slip 1 with yarn in back, with Yarn 1, knit to end of row. Turn work.
NOTE: If you’re introducing a new yarn color in Row 1 or 2, for the first slip stitch, just slip the old color yarn. You only introduce the new yarn when it’s time to knit or purl.
Pattern
Begin
With Color A (see MATERIALS), cast on 318 stitches. NOTE: When casting on so many stitches, we recommend placing a stitch marker (or piece of scrap yarn) every 50 stitches. That way, if you lose count, you don’t have to count from the very beginning of the row. Remove the markers as you work the first row.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 with yarn in front, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 two more times.
Color A + Color B
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern (see Notes)] three times, using Color A as Yarn 1 and Color B as Yarn 2.
Cut Color A.
Color C + Color B
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color C as Yarn 1 and Color B as Yarn 2.
Cut Color B.
Color C + Color D
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] one time, using Color C as Yarn 1 and Color D as Yarn 2.
Cut Color C.
Color B + Color D
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color B as Yarn 1 and Color D as Yarn 2.
Cut Color B.
Color E + Color D
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color E as Yarn 1 and Color D as Yarn 2.
Cut Color D.
Color E + Color B
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] five times, using Color E as Yarn 1 and Color B as Yarn 2.
Cut Color B.
Color E + Color C
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color E as Yarn 1 and Color C as Yarn 2.
Cut Color C.
Color E + Color A
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] three times, using Color E as Yarn 1 and Color A as Yarn 2.
Cut Color A.
Color E + Color F
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color E as Yarn 1 and Color F as Yarn 2.
Cut Color E.
Color G + Color F
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] three times, using Color G as Yarn 1 and Color F as Yarn 2.
Cut Color F.
Color G + Color H
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color G as Yarn 1 and Color H as Yarn 2.
Cut Color G.
Color I + Color H
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] six times, using Color I as Yarn 1 and Color H as Yarn 2.
Cut Color H.
Color I + Color J
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color I as Yarn 1 and Color J as Yarn 2.
Cut Color I.
Color G + Color J
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] four times, using Color G as Yarn 1 and Color J as Yarn 2.
Cut Color J.
Color G + Color A
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] three times, using Color G as Yarn 1 and Color A as Yarn 2.
Cut Color G.
Color F + Color A
[Work Rows 1-4 of Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern] two times, using Color F as Yarn 1 and Color A as Yarn 2.
Cut Color F.
End
Row 1 (right side): With Color A, slip 1 wyif, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 three more times.
With right side facing you, bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and block!
Learn About Cashmere Merino Bloom + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Soft, supple, and toasty warm, Cashmere Merino Bloom is an absolute knitting joy! A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, it is made with 25% of the most exquisite cashmere in the world and 75% extra fine merino wool and benefits from both fibers: cashmere for over-the-top softness and beautiful bloom and merino for resilience, durability, and even more softness. Cashmere Merino Bloom has an incredible hand feel with a gentle halo that illuminates your knitting… A gorgeous choice!
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How much of the yarn does this pattern use? Is it possible to double up on Yarn A and make two wraps? (or how much of each skein is needed to make another one?)
Thanks!
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out- this is a great question! You use all of your color A and a significant amount of colors B E and G. You will however have about half a skein left of all the other colors so you could make a smaller project using your leftovers.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Oh my! PurlSoho you just took my breath away! What a stunningly beautiful wrap! And garter stitch…perfection! Thank you!
Julie
What cast on /bind off did you use for the samples?
Hello Catherine,
Thank you for reaching out! We did a long tail cast on and a basic bind off, knitwise.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is it possible to carry the yarn colors up the side for this project, or are we weaving in every time we switch colors?
Hi Ash,
Great question! We did not carry the yarns up the side on this lovely wrap in order to keep the edges neat and tidy while not adding bulk. Where you to carry the colors up along the side instead of cut them, some of the runs of would quite long indeed. Color A would be carried up over 6 sections. Additionally, each successive color would add to the bulk along the side. You could be carrying as many as 8 extra strands along the edge and this would create substantial bulk and color flashing along the edge. You can certainly carry the colors up the side if you like should you not mind!
Best,
Cassy
Hi PurlSoho!
Any chance for a video instruction for this pattern?
Sally
Hi Sally,
Thanks for writing in! While we do not have a video for this pattern, we are always happy to clarify any techniques that you may have questions about!
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
I’m very new to color work and wanted clarify how to join each color, specifically, Color B:
To start the 2 color garter stitch pattern, do I join Color B at the end of the third row of knitting Color A after the cast-on? I’m confused with introducing Color B here: Row 1: slip 1 w/Yarn 1 in front *and Yarn 2 in back…*
Thanks!
Hi Ann,
Thanks for reaching out, and I apologize for the confusion! The instruction to hold Yarn 1 in front and Yarn 2 in back only applies to yarns that are already attached. In this case, when you are working the first repeat of the Two-Color Garter Stitch Pattern, Yarn 2 is not yet attached, so you won’t be able to hold it in the back while slipping the first stitch. After slipping that stitch, you will simply start knitting with your new strand of Color B as Yarn 2.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi – is it possible to do this in seed stitch or will it use up too much yarn? Thanks.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for reaching out! Since we did not use up a full skein of any of the colors, with the exception of Yarn A, you have plenty of extra yarn to work this wrap in seed stitch. It will, however, turn out quite a bit wider than our wrap since garter stitch turns out much shorter than seed stitch, so if you do not want a wider wrap, you will need to shorten some of the stripes.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I love this wrap and want to make it in the “cool” colors. However, I find the bright purple too jarring, and want to substitute a more neutral color. What would you recommend?
Hi Norma,
Thanks for writing in! Since you will have plenty of extra yarn from most of the colors in the wrap, I would suggest substituting any other color from the bundle that you like the best, or increasing the width of a few stripes that do not include Lotus Flower. The only colors that you will not have enough spare yarn to either use in another stripe or to increase the width of their stripes would be Rose Granite, Red Poppy, Pink Apricot, and Autumn Oak.
Happy knitting, and I hope that helps!
Julianna
What would be the instructions if I chose to simply use a multicolor yarn?
Hi Wanda,
Thanks for reaching out! If you prefer to use a variegated or self striping yarn and won’t be changing colors, you can simply cast on and knit every row until the wrap is 17 inches wide. This sounds like a lovely relaxing project!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Do you have an alternate instructions using straight knitting needles?
Thanks!
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not have instructions for knitting this wrap on straight needles, since the pattern sometimes requires knitting or purling from either edge of the work, which cannot be done on straight needles. You could knit it on straight needles if you don’t mind the color change rows looking a bit different from ours. To do so, the Two Color Garter Stitch Pattern would be:
Row 1: Slip 1 with Yarn 1 in front and Yarn 2 in back, with Yarn 2, knit to end of row
Row 2: Slip 1 with yarn in front, knit with Yarn 2 to end of row
Row 3: Slip 1 with Yarn 2 in front and Yarn 1 in back, with Yarn 1, knit to end of row
Row 4: Slip 1 with yarn in front, knit with Yarn 1 to end of row
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I was just in our NYC store and saw this wrap in person. It is even more beautiful than the pictures. And so soft. I would love to knit it as a throw, rather than a wrap. How would you change the pattern and how much additional yarn do you think I would need. Thanks so much.
Hi Jody,
What a wonderful idea! For a throw, I would reduce the cast on to 190 stitches for an approximately 40 inch wide throw, and once you have finished the color sequence as written, simply start over and continue repeating the colors until the throw is about 54 inches long or your desired length. You will need to purchase an extra skein of yarns A, B, E, G, H, and I.
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I am just finishing up this beautiful wrap, in the cool colors, and it drop-dead gorgeous! Kudos to the designer!! It has been a perfect winter project, for our ornery Maine weather, and has been fun to do. Once you get the hang of the pattern it is easily followed. Question: what would be the advantage of blocking this wrap? Would it calm the “bloom” or do you think it is necessary? Thanks again for an exquisite project.
Hello Theo,
Thank you for reaching out and for you kind words! Blocking is not required, but it will actually emphasize the bloom, becoming even softer.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I think this striped wrap is gorgeous and printed out the pattern today. However, since it’s a “garter stitch” wrap I think someone needs to fix the pattern instructions. They currently say to purl to the end of the row on rows 2 and 3. OOPS!!
Thanks for so many beautiful patterns!!!
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for reaching out! I am happy to help! These rows are written correctly. With this lovely wrap, for some rows, rather than turning your work as you would normally do, you will slide your work back to the beginning of the row that you just completed and begin again. Here, in order to maintain garter stitch, you will need to purl!
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
How do you suggest weaving in the ends? Because every row is a different color, it seems like I have to weave them in horizontally – in the 1 row of the color…it doesn’t look good at all. Help!
Hello Stacy,
Thank you for reaching out! I would check out our tutorial for weaving in your ends with duplicate stitch on a garter stitch.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Beautiful pattern!
For the slip stitches at the beginning of each row – are these slipped knitwise or purlwise? Is this the same for each row or does it vary depending on if it is a knit row or a purl row?
Thanks!
Hi Amy,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! For this pattern, you will slip all stitches purlwise unless otherwise indicated. You can find this information in the “Notes” section above!
Best,
Julianna
Hi- Will you be getting the yarn in for the warm wrap? There’s several missing colors and I’d love to make this!
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately several colors we used in this original wrap have been discontinued – I’m so sorry about that! For a similar look using our current selection of Cashmere Merino Bloom, I would suggest using the following colors:
Color A: Lilac Quartz
Color B: Autumn Oak
Color C: Red Pine
Color D: Blue Rust
Color E: Red Poppy
Color F: Fresh Fig
Color G: Ballet Pink
Color H: Pink Begonia
Color I: Heirloom White
Color J: Wheat Flour
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for your kindness in answering all these questions. It has already helped me a lot and I am only now beginning to cast on. I had a tip I wanted to share. It might help someone else. I was appalled at the idea of keeping track of the colors by letter without some sort of guide and came up with putting labels on stitch markers and letting them slide over each yarn. That way the label with the numbers will always be attached to the color I need and I can grab it as I go along. I know I am going to get the hang of it quickly and may be without my pattern at times.
Can you please tell me why you slip one at the beginning of every row? Thanks!
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out! We use the slip stitch at the beginning of the wrap as an edge stitch. Slipping the first stitch of each row creates a nice boarder along the sides!
All the best,
Gianna
I noticed you have new Cashmere Merino Bloom colors — what sequence and colors would you recommend in blues, greens, lilac or crocus bud, heirloom white, or wheat flour? I would like to make a throw. Thanks!
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out! For a blue, green purple color palette I would recommend:
* Color A: Blue Rust
* Color B: Night Blue
* Color C: Frond Green
* Color D: Tide Pool
* Color E: High Tide
* Color F: Crocus Bud
* Color G: Lilac Quartz
* Color H: Blue Jeans
* Color I: Dove Gray
* Color J: Heirloom White
All the best,
Gianna
Thanks Gianna!
I tried to click on “buy this bundle”; but, page is not found. Is this still available? The Cool Palette.
Hi Christa,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we no longer cary these bundles since many of the Cashmere Merino Bloom colors have been discontinued. You can pick your own color palette from our new Cashmere Merino Bloom colors, you will need 10 skeins! I would also be happy to suggest an alternate “Cool” palette! I would recommend Blue Rust, Red Pine, Tide Pool, Red Mulberry, Fresh Fig, Blue Jeans, Dove Gray, Lilac Quartz, Night Blue and Crocus Bud!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi there! Quick question about the length that’s listed for this wrap. Is 68 inches accurate? I’ve got the correct gauge, cast on 318 stitches, and have gotten started, but I’m not seeing how the length will end up being 68 inches. Right now the project comfortably fills my 47-inch circular needles, but how will it stretch another 20 inches? I might be missing something obvious, lol. Any confirmation would be helpful / appreciated!! (You are amazing and I love so many of your patterns!) Thank you! 🙂
Ooh, I just double-checked my gauge swatch, and while my 42 rows match 4 inches across in width, the 19 stitches are only 3.5 inches in length…which would make a 58-inch-long wrap for me, if I did the math right. I loooove Cashmere Merino Bloom, and I’ve never blocked it…I might just cast on more stitches to get more length. Anyway, just wanted to let you know I figured out my measurement issue! Thank you!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, the wrap should come out to 68″ if your gauge is accurate, so it sounds like your gauge is a bit off! We take all of our gauge measurements post-blocking unless otherwise stated, so blocking your finished wrap may help you achieve the correct length! Luckily Cashmere Merino Bloom blocks beautifully, for more tips on that I would suggest checking out our Blocking tutorial. You could also add more stitches to make up for the missing length depending on what your gauge is actually measuring. For more info on that, I would also suggest checking out our tutorial All About Guage!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Gianna
Hi. I’d love to make this as a throw as suggested above in the warm tones but not sure about using the Fresh Fig that was recommended as a substitute for the original Color F. I’d prefer not to go so purple. What else might I substitute? I also see the Red Pine and Pink Begonia are currently out of stock. Any suggestions for what might work instead of those colors while still keeping in the pink and muted reddish family? I could also wait for these two colors assuming they’ll be back in stock relatively soon.
Thanks!
Hi Tracey,
Thanks for your question! I’m very sorry to report that Red Pine and Pink Begonia have been discontinued. In the meantime, we came up with an alternate warm color palette that we wanted to share with you! Here it is:
Color A: Red Mulberry
Color B: Autumn Oak
Color C: Warm Honey
Color D: Blue Rust
Color E: Red Poppy
Color F: Ballet Pink
Color G: Lilac Quartz
Color H: Rosebud Pink
Color I: Conch Shell
Color J: Wheat Flour
I hope these Cashmere Merino Bloom color suggestions are helpful! Have a great rest of your day!
All the best,
Cat
Would you mind updating the cool palette one more time using the current, available options? It’s such a gorgeous wrap and I’d love to make it! Thank you!
Hi Holly,
Thanks for reaching out! I would love to recommend a cool palette for you! I would suggest using the following:
Color A: Blue Rust
Color B: Red Mulberry
Color C: Blue Jeans
Color D: Night Blue
Color E: Fresh Fig
Color F: Crocus Bud
Color G: Lilac Quartz
Color H: Rosebud Pink
Color I: Reed Gray
Color J: Hydrangea Blossom
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Gianna
I would live to make this wrap using your updated Cashmere Merino Bloom colors. Do you think this palette would work—
True Turquoise
Night Blue
Fresh Fig
Hydrangea Blue
High Tide
Crocus Bud
Lilac Quartz
Blue Jeans
Dove Gray
Heirloom White
And if I wanted to make the wrap wider—say 22-24 inches, how much extra yarn would I need.
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Jody,
Thanks for reaching out. I think that the colors you’ve chosen will look lovely together! I actually don’t think you’ll need any extra yarn to make this wrap wider. For many of the colors, you only use a very small amount of yardage, so I’d recommend lengthening the sections that use these colors in order to add more width. The only color you’ll need to be careful with is Color A, because the pattern as written already uses up an entire skein! I hope this helps.
All the best,
Lili
Hi I would love to do this in a warm palette however some of the colours are unavailable. Please could you suggest a scheme that would be warm in the colours you currently have? Many thanks Fay
Hi Fay,
Here’s my idea for a warm color palette! These colors will all look great together, but you can feel free to switch around the order depending on your own preference.
Color A: Reed Gray
Color B: Warm Honey
Color C: Red Mulberry
Color D: Charcoal Onyx
Color E: Red Poppy
Color F: Rosebud Pink
Color G: Conch Shell
Color H: Fresh Fig
Color I: Heirloom White
Color J: Wheat Flour
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi. Thank you for this beautiful pattern. I’m inspired my New Mexico warm and cool palette. Excited to see my project journey.
Can you help guide me how I get to start/ add the second color and when in fourth row? Row 1 is repeated X 3 at beginning and then knit starts with yarn 2. New to color work, when do I add Color B?
Is there a technique to look up?
Hi Sara,
Thank you for writing in! We recommend knitting with the new yarn in the same fashion you would when adding a new ball of yarn. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting!
Gavriella
After slipping that stitch, you will simply “start knitting with your new strand of Color B as Yarn 2.”
You just start knitting with color B after slipping first stitch in Row 4?
Hi Sara! Yep, you are correct! It sounds like you are right on track but please let us know if you have any other questions along the way!
Hello! I’m so excited for this scarf. I would like to knit in shades of blues. What would you recommend for a mixture?
Thank you!
Hi Allison,
That would look so lovely! Here’s what I recommend:
Color A: Night Blue
Color B: Vintage Jade
Color C: Tide Pool
Color D: Charcoal Onyx
Color E: Icicle Blue
Color F: True Turquoise
Color G: Reed Gray
Color H: High Tide
Color I: Fresh Pickle
Color J: Dove Gray
All the best,
Lili