Elementary Wrap in Posy + Tussock
As even a casual follower of Purl Soho probably knows, we love a swath of stockinette fabric, and nothing does it better than our simple-as-pie Elementary Wrap pattern!
For this version, we add a layer of visual complexity without complicating the pattern itself by combining a strand of our hand-dyed Posy with a strand of mohair-silk Tussock. The effect is a mysterious stew of color and texture, a beautiful blend of all the things we love about fiber!
We’ve put together the ingredients for your own fiber feast with seven Elementary Wrap In Posy + Tussock Bundles. Each one combines colors that bring surprising flavors to the finished piece and make simple stockinette a little something more!
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!
Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoElementaryWrap, #PurlSohoPosy, and #PurlSohoTussock. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Elementary Wrap in Posy + Tussock you will need…
- Yarn A: 4(8) skeins of Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is 159 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 636 (1,272) yards required.
- Yarn B: 2(4) skeins of Purl Soho’s Tussock, 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk. Each skein of this fingering-weight yarn is 328 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 607 (1,214) yards required.
For both versions, you will also need…
- US 5 (3.75 mm) circular or straight needles
For our samples we used the following bundles, pictured above from left to right…
Yarn A: PINK PAPAYA + Yarn B: BRIGHT VERDIGRIS
Yarn A: TEAL TWILIGHT + Yarn B: ANJOU PEAR
More color choices for inspiration!
Yarn A: WINTER HEATH + Yarn B: PINK JOY
Yarn A: CHILI PEPPER + Yarn B: BRIGHT THISTLE
Yarn A: SOUR GOOSEBERRY + Yarn B: SQUASH BLOSSOM
Yarn A: MOURNING DOVE + Yarn B: LIGHTNING YELLOW
Yarn A: DRIZZLE GRAY + Yarn B: HEIRLOOM WHITE
Yarn A: WEATHERVANE GRAY + YARN B: SILVER NEEDLE
Gauge
24 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, holding Yarns A and B together
Sizes
Scarf (Wrap)
Finished Dimensions: 9 (18¼) inches wide x 70 inches long
NOTE: Our samples are the Wrap size. If you’re making the 9-inch wide Scarf size, please be aware that its edges may curl more due to the nature of stockinette stitch at the narrower width.
Pattern
With one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B, cast on 54 (110) stitches.
Row 1 (wrong side): K1, p1, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p1, k1.
Row 2 (right side): K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures approximately 70 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.
Bind-off Row (right side): Bind off in pattern.
Weave in the ends and wet block flat.
LEARN ABOUT TUSSOCK + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Tussock is impossible to replace! Spun and dyed in Japan, it is 60% super fine kid mohair, the softest quality there is, plus 40% silk, which is much more than most mohair-silk blends and makes for a super lustrous yarn. Technically a fine lace-weight, Tussock’s mohair blooms so beautifully that we prefer to use it as a fingering-weight yarn, either alone on US 3-6 needles or alongside other yarns for plumping up a companion or deepening its complexity. Choose from 26 gorgeous colors, inspired by juicy, ripe berries and mimosas in bloom, lapping waters and zippy wildflowers… Pure joy!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of free Tussock knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarn
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop mohair yarn
- Shop silk yarn
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!
I am looking forward to coming into your shop when I come to New York in October. I am going to have to have an empty suitcase to bring home all I want to buy ???
Hello!
I was unable to find how many stitches to cast on for either the wrap or the scarf.
Thank you for your help.
JanZ
HI Jan,
Thanks for writing in! The cast on for both is listed under the “Pattern” heading just after the note! The cast on instructions are….
With one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B, cast on 54 (110) stitches.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
This is beautiful. While I would love to use the two featured yarns to make the wrap, it costs more than my budget allows at the moment . Any suggestions you might have for alternate yarns that would work well would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hello Christina,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! I hear you- we actually knit this pattern up with our Linen Quill yarn which has a more comfortable price point. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love the subtle play of color with these yarns and the pattern – but I find that some cashmere yarns can irritate. Are there other yarns that you can suggest that are merino or a merino and silk blend that will work for this pattern?
Hello Barbara,
Thank you for reaching out! We actually originally knit this wrap up in Understory which is an Alpaca, Silk and Yak blend. This version is holding just one strand, but if you wanted to hold Tussock with another yarn I think that our Line Weight yarn would be a beautiful option.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Why is it written cast in 54 (110 stitches) do you cast in 54 or 110
Hi Helene,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this wrap can either be knit as a narrower scarf or a wider wrap, the first number would be the amount to cast on for the scarf, and the second number is the amount to cast on for the wrap.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi — I love the colors of the posy wrap, but dread that much stockinette stitch. Any thoughts on doing it in garter, or maybe the slipstitch you have going for that sweet grass blanket?
Hello Mary,
I thank you for writing! You can absolutely do a garter stitch or a slip stitch version of this wrap. Because it is a flat rectangle it is a simple to customize. You will just want to knit up a small gauge swatch to figure out how many stitches per inch you are getting in your desired stitch and multiply that number by your desired width to get your cast on number. For the Sand Drift Blanket stitch you will just want to make sire that you are casting on an odd number of stitches.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’m confused about the cast on. Do you alternate the cast on between the colors?
Hello Christine,
Thank you for reaching out! For this pattern you are holding the two strands at once so you are casting on both colors at once for each stitch.
I hope this makes sense and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Do the edges tend to roll less in the Posy & Tussock Vs the Understory yarn?
Please advise. Thanks!
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! These wraps do have a tendency to curl before blocking, but with both of these wraps the best way to prevent curling is to block your finished wrap.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi,
I’m wanting to make the wrap.
2 questions:
I want to use the Tussak Cerulean Blue. I’m thinking of the Jade Green Posy as the second yarn. I’d really like your opinion/suggestions.
I’m only 5’ tall. I want the wrap but I don’t want to drown in it. Would using three skeins work? Suggested cast on #. I don’t need another scarf!
Thank you!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Tussock in Cerulean Sea and Posy in Fern Green would be just lovely together! For a slightly smaller wrap, I would suggest casting on 96 stitches for a 16 inch wrap. With three skeins of each, you should be able to get to 55 to 60 inches long, which should be plenty for someone with a smaller frame.
I hope that helps and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I love the wrap and wish to make it for my sons’ girl friend. this way she can wear a wrap instead of a short jackets with zippers to formal occasions, ( I really do like her and I am not really difficult). Will these two colors work? The shawl should be neutral to go with any formal dress. Blue Cloud and Weathervane Gray, or do you have a better suggestion?
Thanks
Hi Daphne,
Thanks for reaching out, and this sounds like a lovely and thoughtful gift! Cloud Blue and Weathervane Gray would be quite wonderful together – Cloud Blue will add just a hint of sparkle and light to Weathervane Gray for a cool toned neutral wrap that would go with almost anything. I think you’ve chosen well, and I am sure your son’s girlfriend will love it!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I am knitting the Elementary Wrap in Posy and Tussock. Do you have any trick on getting the tussock to show up better? It is. It consistently showing through on the front side of the garmet.
Hello Helen,
Thank you for reaching out! When you combine Tussock with Posy it does make the affect of Tussock more subtle. There will be some change after blocking, but it will still maintain its subtly.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi-
I would love to make this as a baby blanket for my little girl. What would you recommend for amount of each yarn to use and how many stitches to catch on? I’m a somewhat novice knitter but think I should be able to do this well. I have done the herringbone cowl and many of the chevron baby blankets before.
Thanks!
Kara
Hello Kara,
Thank you for reaching out! If you want to make a blanket that is 30″ by 40″ you will need to cast on 180 stitches and then just knit until you reach 40″. You will need 4 skeins each of Tussock and Posy.
Let us know how it goes and happy knitting!
-Marilla
How many stitches would I need to make this around 20” in width?
Hello Caroline,
Thank you for reaching out! a cast of 120 will get you a width of approximately twenty inches.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
What length of size US 5 circular needles will I need for the wrap?
Thank you!
Hi Lacey,
Thanks for reaching out! You can knit this wrap on either a 24 inch or 32 inch long circular needle.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I’m happily working on this wrap and I keep wondering how to block it when I’m finished. The cast on edge is curling quite a bit. What do you recommend is the best way to block it and will it stay flat after ? Thank you!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in! We recommend wet blocking this wrap and thoroughly pinning the edges flat while they dry – in our experience, this does result in a wrap that stays quite flat! You may find that it starts to roll back up after it has been worn for a while, but you can always wet or steam block again to flatten it back out.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I want to make the elementary wrap, but can’t decide which yarn to use. I am trying to decide between: linen quill, tussock, and posy+tussock. Could you tell me a little about their weight and texture differences. Thank you!
Hi LL,
Thanks for reaching out! All of those are excellent choices! Linen Quill is a more rustic, earthy, hearty yarn with a great texture and weight. The Tussock version is wonderful! Tussock is our mohair and silk blend so that version of the Elementary Wrap is light, airy and beautifully fluffy! The Posy + Tussock happens to be my favorite of the elementary wraps! Posy is a wonderfully soft, squishy and cozy yarn and when you mix that with Tussock you are left with an extra cozy wrap that is as soft as a baby blanket, but also visually complex as the Tussock and Posy contrast and play with each other!
I hope this helps and please let us know which you end up choosing and knitting!
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you, Gianna. I ended up ordering the Posy+Tussock. I am excited to get started. I will probably try the Linen Quill next — just need to decide on a color. Do you know if you will have more of some of the out of stock Linen Quill colors soon? Like the pinks and true turquoise?
Two other technical questions. 1) Do you recommend long tail cast on for both versions of the wrap? 2) Can I use the wet splice technique for all three of these yarns?
Thanks again!
Hi LL,
Thanks for writing in again! I am so glad to hear I could help! Which color combination did you choose for the Posy+Tussock? We should be getting out of stock colors of Linen Quill back in stock by mid November, if you put your email in on the product page under the colors you would like we will send you an email as soon as they are available!
I would recommend long tail cast on for both versions of the wrap and I believe wet splice should work for all three of the yarns!
All the best,
Gianna
Gianna, I am making the suggested combo, SOUR GOOSEBERRY and SQUASH BLOSSOM. For the linen quill, I actually might go with a neutral, maybe Salt and Pepper or Oatmeal Grey, or bright, True Turquoise. It’s hard to decide, they are all so beautiful. Since I am doing a bright color with the Posy+Tussock, I am leaning toward a neutral for linen. Do you have a color recommendation for that yarn material? Thanks again!
Hi LL,
I love that combo! It might be fun to do a more neutral color for the Linen Quill version then! I love both the Salt and Pepper and the Oatmeal Grey! Heirloom White and Stonewall Grey are also beautiful shades!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi,
I am looking to make the scarf in a gray in Posy and a blue in Tussock. I would like the blue to really show. Could you please suggest some combinations?
Thanks!
Hi Anu,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that would be a wonderful option for the Elementary Wrap! Luckily we have 2 gray options in Posy and many blue options in Tussock! Depending on which direction you want to go I would recommend Weathervane Gray Posy with either Partly Cloudy Blue Lapis Lazuli or Cerulean Sea Tussock or Drizzle Gray Posy with Blue Lagoon, Cerulean Sea, Lapis Lazuli or Freshwater Blue Tussock!
I hope this helps and please let us know which you choose and how it works out!
Happy Knitting!
Gianna
Hello,
I got some linen quill in Rose granite what would you recommend to pair it with in terms of color and second type of yarn – burnish pink pearl? mineral silk crystal pink?
Hi Emmanuelle,
Thanks for reaching out! With Rose Granite I would recommend Mineral Silk in Crystal Pink or even Almond Ice! Or if you want to go with the mohair look I would recommend Tussock in Pink Fog, Apple Blossom, or even Silver Needle!
I hope this help, happy knitting!
Gianna
Fantastic thank you so much for your suggestions!
I think my first message didn’t go through, hence the post script before this…. I am mad about Tussock’s Deep Sea Blue and would like to make this wrap with it and Posy — I know you did a different version of it with Mineral Silk but, at least in the photographs, the one with Posy appears to have more body. I saw in one of the comments that you recommend Linen Quill with Tussock but I’m not crazy about it. Do you have any other suggestions? As I said in my post script, I am open to other ideas — on the simpler side.
Thank you, I welcome your comments
Hi Meryl,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Deep Sea Blue is a beautiful color! For this version of the Elementary Wrap I would recommend pairing it with Posy in Beetle Blue, or Teal Twilight! I am currently working on this wrap myself and I absolutely love how Tussock and Posy work together! I may be a bit confused by your comment but if you are looking for something other than Posy to use then I would recommend Line Weight in it’s place or even following the Elementary Wrap in Tussock pattern! It is the same pattern but uses 2 strands of Tussock instead. You could use Deep Sea Blue for both the strands or even pair it with another blue shade like Cerulean Sea, Freshwater Blue or even Blue Fjord for a lovely contrast!
I hope this helps and please let us know what you end up making!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi, I don’t particularly like knitting with two yarns at the same time. Could I do this just in the Posy as well?
Hi Viktoria,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly just use Posy for this wrap without Tussock!
Warmly,
Gianna
Could you kindly let me know the names of the yarns that are used for the top pink combo? It does not seem that this is included as a bundle.
Thanks!
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! Since we updated our Posy skein size, we no longer sell these in bundles, but you can buy the yarn individually! The top combination uses Posy in Winter Heath and Tussock in Pink Joy, however, Winter Heath has been discontinued so I would suggest using Lilac Mist, Mountain Lupine, or even Azalea Glow!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Good morning,
I adore the look of the Posy in Twilight Teal and Tussock in Anjou Pear. What a gorgeous combo for fall! I cannot find the Posy in that color way though. Is it still available? If not, can you recommend a Posy color to pair similarly with Tussock in Anjou pear? I already have the Tussock but would love so help with the Posy. Thank you so much!
Hi Megan,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we have discontinued the Teal Twilight color of Posy and won’t be getting any more in stock going forward; however, I’d be happy to recommend some alternatives to pair with your Anjou Pear Tussock! If you want to stay in the blue family, then I’d recommend using either Blue Dusk or Bellflower Blue as your contrast color. I think the Blue Dusk will come closest to the overall look that you liked with the Teal Twilight, as it’s a darker shade that will give you a strong base for the Tussock to highlight!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Thanks so much, Kelsey! I love that Blue Dusk color and agree that it’ll be the right base for Anjou! I really appreciate your help! I’ll be ordering soon! Have a great evening 🙂
I’m going to attempt the wrap in Line Weight and Tussock (as recommended 4/19 above) but I’m a little confused on how much I’ll need since the Posy skeins aren’t the same size. How many skeins each will I need? I’m thinking ballet pink and pink fog.
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in. Since one skein of Line Weight is approximately 494 yards, and the total yardage for yarn A is 1,272 yards, you’ll need 3 skeins of Line Weight to complete this wrap. I think Ballet Pink and Pink Fog will be a lovely combination!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I’m excited to make this as a wrap. I bought some Tussok on Ripe Boysenberry some time ago, what Posy color would go best with it for a more neutral look?
Thank you for the wonderful yarns and patterns you have.
Cristina
Hi Cristina,
Thanks for reaching out! With Tussock in Ripe Boysenberry, I would suggest using Posy in Black Cherry. The two should blend really well together!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you
I would like to make the scarf version of the Elementary Wrap all in Posy. With the newer weight of Posy how many total skeins would I need to make the scarf? Thanks so much for your help. I wanted to purchase while the sale is on.
Hi Pam!
Thanks for commenting. For the scarf version of this wrap, you will need 4 skeins of Posy! Each skein of Posy is 159 yards, and this pattern calls for 636 yards for the smaller scarf size, which is four skeins exactly.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Thanks so much, my calculations were way off lol. Appreciate your help so much, thanks again.
I have about half of a cotton pure cone in moonflower blue left from another project. Could this be used in this pattern with cattail silk? What colors of the silk would you suggest?
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out. Cotton Pure and Cattail Silk sounds like a very interesting and unique combination! If you’re aiming to match the colors of these two yarns as closely as possible, then Blue Bamboo would be the closest to Moonflower Blue. However, I also think that Flower Field Charcoal would be a fun choice if you’re interested in contrast between the colors. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili