Now seems like a pretty good time to focus on a little challenge whose reward is pure beauty.
Like an heirloom piece of lace that you might discover in an old chest in the attic, our Botanical Lace Wrap is mind-bogglingly gorgeous… And it’s even more mind-boggling to think you can actually make it with your own two hands!
We know about this stitch pattern through Barbara Walker and her classic Treasury Of Knitting Patterns. She calls this historic stitch Frost Flowers. She also points out that it’s a lot easier than it looks, just requiring you to keep track of some basic decreases and yarn overs. Testimony to the miracle of knitting!
You’ll need a yarn with enough integrity to honor this extraordinary pattern. We recommend our brand new Sweetgrass Fine. The same organic cotton and superfine alpaca blend as our Sweetgrass but in an exquisite laceweight, the Fine version comes in the same six undyed shades, just how nature grew them.
We love using such an unadulterated fiber with such a complex pattern. The combination feels timeless and place-less, like the Botanical Lace Wrap could have as easily been made on the western frontier as on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
You’ll just need two skeins of Sweetgrass Fine to cast on for your own Botanical Lace Wrap. We’re not saying you’ll whip this one up, but we are guessing that its beauty will bring you joy well worth the effort!
Designed for Purl Soho by Jake Canton.
Materials
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Sweetgrass Fine, 65% organic cotton and 35% superfine alpaca. Each skein is 930 yards; approximately 1,463 yards required. We used the color Pale Sesame.
- US 2 circular or straight needles
Gauge
31 stitches and 42½ rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: 18 inches wide x 72 inches long
Notes
Stitch Multiple
This stitch pattern works over a multiple of 34 + 2 stitches.
Pattern
Using a basic Long Tail Cast On, cast on 138 stitches.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): K1, purl to last stitch, k1.
Now follow either the Pattern Chart or Written Instructions below…
Pattern Chart
NOTE Begin this chart in the bottom right corner. Right-side rows are odd numbered and read right to left. Wrong-side rows are even numbered and read left to right. Work your way up the chart to the top line.
Want to see it bigger? Click here and view the chart as a PDF!
Written Instructions
Row 1 (right side): K1, *k3, knit 2 together (k2tog), k4, yarn over (yo), p2, [k2, yo, slip slip knit (ssk)] 3 times, p2, yo, k4, ssk, k3, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): K1, *p2, purl 2 together through back loop (p2tog tbl), p4, yo, p1, k2, [p2, yo, purl 2 together (p2tog)] 3 times, k2, p1, yo, p4, p2tog, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 3: K1, *k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p2, [k2, yo, ssk] 3 times, p2, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 4: K1, *p2tog tbl, p4, yo, p3, k2, [p2, yo, p2tog] 3 times, k2, p3, yo, p4, p2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Rows 5-12: Repeat Rows 1-4 two more times.
Row 13: K1, *yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, p2, yo, k4, ssk, k6, k2tog, k4, yo, p2, k2, yo, ssk, k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 14: K1, *yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, k2, p1, yo, p4, p2tog, p4, p2tog tbl, p4, yo, p1, k2, p2, yo, p2tog, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 15: K1, *yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, p2, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p2, k2, yo, ssk, k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 16: K1, *yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, k2, p3, yo, p4, p2tog, p2tog tbl, p4, yo, p3, k2, p2, yo, p2tog, p2, repeat from * to last stitch k1.
Rows 17-24: Repeat Rows 13-16 two more times.
Repeat Rows 1-24 until piece measures approximately 72 inches long.
With right side facing you, loosely bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and gently wet block.
PRINT
Hello from Ireland,
What a beautiful pattern! I can’t resist it even though I don’t buy from you nowadays because of the cost of carriage to Ireland on top of costly yarn.
It will stretch my ability, as only today did I learn how to do the necessary stitches, and follow a lace pattern chart.
It is just the thing to make for my daughter who is nursing Covid 19 patents in a hospital in England. My making it for her represents the faith we have in there being a future.
Could you please tell me the European equivalent of
US 2 needles ? Thank you so much.
Hi Eileen,
Thank you for being in touch! What a lovely idea- this pattern will make a beautiful light and warm wrap for your daughter in any lace weight yarn. You’ll need a 2.75mm needle to complete this project. We would love if you would share a photo when you’re finished!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Thank you Gaby, I will order the needle with the yarn now.
Thank you also to those who have sent me kind messages.
God Bless your precious daughter and all who are warriors in this pandemic. I know though the time is hard, this heirloom for her will be treasured for years for her and the generations to come later. Prayers be with all affected, living and passed. #stayhomesavelives
Eileen,
You are so sweet to make this for your hero daughter! It will be good for both of you and I’m sure she will treasure it always:)
Lovely pattern! Looking forward to trying it, but have my Linen Quill project up first.
I am confused about your instructions for rows 17-24. The chart looks like repeats of rows 13-16. What am I missing?
Hi Susan,
Great catch! This was a typo in the written instructions, and you are correct that you should be repeating rows 13 through 16 for rows 17-24. This has now been updated in the pattern. Thank you so much for pointing this out!
Best,
Julianna
Would this work in linen quill? I love the linen quill colors and texture!
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for reaching out! You would have to change the gauge of the pattern somewhat, since Linen Quill is a fingering weight yarn and we wrote this wrap for lace weight Sweetgrass Fine, but it shouldn’t be too difficult! I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch in the Frost Flowers pattern using Linen Quill on a US 4 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 18 inches, and round to the nearest multiple of 34 plus 2 stitches to determine how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I know this pattern as Spanish Lace, & I’ve made several baby blankets with it. It makes a beautiful scarf. I will have to try it.
Hi Patti,
Thanks for writing in with this interesting bit of info! I’m so glad to hear you’re already excited about this wrap. Please do share a photo with us when you’re done!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Just gorgeous! Thanks for the pattern.
Hello, This is a lovely pattern. If I wanted to make it a bit narrower, would it work to cast on 104 stitches for 3 repeats of the 34 stitch pattern (=102 stitches) plus 2 stitches? Thanks! I’ve done some lace before but still consider myself a novice.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you have calculated the repeat correctly! Since you are already familiar with lace knitting, I think this wrap will be a great next step, as you can practice a moderately complex lace stitch in a simple rectangle. If you run into any problems, we are always here to help!
Best of luck, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for the beautiful pattern!
What a beautiful pattern! I always wanted to make a lace. Would this work with a weight 4 yarn and larger needles, like size 8?
Hi Alanna,
Thanks for the kind words and for reaching out! As long as you choose a needle size suited to your yarn, yes, I think this stitch would look amazing on a larger scale! Please do let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Julianna
Can you use stitch markers, if so where?
Hi Mindy,
Great question! This pattern has a 34 stitch repeat, so you can place stitch markers every 34 stitches, beginning after the first stitch and ending directly before the last stitch. This also corresponds with the red outline on the chart that indicates the repeat. Hopefully this will help you stay on track!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
What a great idea! I already ordered the yarn and can’t wait to start! I get distracted easy so this will help.
Mindy, bless you for this sanity saving idea. I thought this pattern was going to beat me, but the stitch markers helped me establish the pattern and now I’m, well, not cruising, but getting it.
How long should the cord for size 2 circular needles be for this pattern? At least 20 “? I’m a little new to using circular needles. Thank you!
Hi Jo,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend using either a 24″ or 32″ needle for this pattern. Although the stitches would probably fit on a 20″ needle, most knitters find knitting on a 24″ needle much more comfortable, and you wouldn’t have to be at all concerned about your stitches slipping off the needle tips between rows.
Best,
Julianna
Would I be able to knit this lovely wrap in Cattail silk ?
Hi Sally,
Great question! You would have to change the gauge of the pattern somewhat, since Cattail Silk is a fingering weight yarn and we wrote this wrap for lace weight Sweetgrass Fine, but it shouldn’t be too difficult! I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch in the Frost Flowers pattern using Cattail Silk on a US 4 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 18 inches, and round to the nearest multiple of 34 plus 2 stitches to determine how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Beautiful pattern…any chance you have something similar in crochet?
Thank you!
Hi Elaine,
Thank you so much for the kind words! We do not have any crochet patterns similar to this one, but I will be sure to pass your request along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Could this be made with a US 4 needle? Would I just need to cast on less stitches (ie, 104 stitches)? I’d love to give this pattern a try but don’t want to buy any more needles!! Thank you.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch on the larger needles to see how it turns out. Sweetgrass Fine is a very delicate and thin lace weight yarn, so we felt that it looked the best on US 2 needles. You may find that, on a larger needle, you start to lose some of the stitch definition as the fabric will become even lacier and more open, even in the solid areas. However, it’s certainly possible that you will still be happy with it! This will also allow you to measure your gauge and compare it to ours so you can decide if you want to cast on fewer stitches.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Great pattern! One question:
Comparing the chart to the written instructions, wouldn’t rows 17-24 be a repeat of rows 13-16 (two times), and not a repeat of rows 5-8?
David
Hi David,
Great catch! This was a typo in the written instructions, and you are correct that you should be repeating rows 13 through 16 for rows 17-24. This has now been updated in the pattern. Thank you so much for pointing this out!
Best,
Julianna
While this yarn looks lovely, I would like to make this in turquoise. Can you suggest a yarn substitute?
Thank you, Maryellen
Hi Maryellen,
Thanks you so much for the kind words and for writing in! Although you will have to alter the gauge of the pattern, I think this wrap would be lovely in Linen Quill in True Tourquoise! To adjust the pattern for a fingering weight yarn, I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch in the Frost Flowers pattern using Linen Quill on a US 4 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 18 inches, and round to the nearest multiple of 34 plus 2 stitches to determine how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for this beautiful pattern. I’d like to make this using the original version of sweetgrass. Maybe a 5 or 6?? Can you recommend a needle size and how many skeins I will need? I’ll probably just cut down on the bumper of repeats across. This seems like the perfect long-term pattern to have on your needles for when you need a little focus and concentration.
Hi Nancy,
Great question! Our original fingering weight Sweetgrass is heavier weight than Sweetgrass Fine, but not by a lot, so I would recommend using a US 4 needle. To alter the gauge, I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch in the Frost Flowers pattern using Sweetgrass on a US 4 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 18 inches, and round to the nearest multiple of 34 plus 2 stitches to determine how many stitches to cast on.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
I prefer written lace to pattern grid. There is an error for rows 17-24. Should be repeat rows 13-16, rather than repeat 5-8. I missed this…. so am ripping back 7 rows. 🙁
Otherwise, beautiful.
Hi Sheri,
Oh no, I’m so sorry that this error in our pattern tripped you up! This was a typo in the written instructions, and you are correct that you should be repeating rows 13 through 16 for rows 17-24. This has now been updated in the pattern. Thank you so much for pointing this out!
Best,
Julianna
Hello,
I will be making this for my sisterinlaw to wear with her gold dress as the mother of the bride.
She loves the pattern.
Would you please tell me the colorway that the model is wearing? Do you believe the models color would be appropriate for a light shimmery gold?
Hi Susan,
What a lovely occasion for this wrap! Our sample is knit in Pale Sesame, and while it’s hard to say without seeing the exact color of the dress, a creamy neutral like this will go with most golden tones.
Best,
Julianna
Thank you so much for sharing some awesome patterns – as this e.g. – with the community for free!
Gives great ideas and projects in these worrisome times.
I find, knitting or crocheting is a good way to move one’s concentration into different paths 😉 And, as most often, onto beautiful things!
Take care and stay healthy!
Hello! What at beautiful pattern! I have a question about p2tog tbl. In the link it shows Slip Slip Purl (ssp). I read above the video that they are about the same, except something about how it twists the stitches. Which one is best to use in this pattern?
Thank you for fabulous patterns!
Nina
Hi Nina,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are using our video for guidance, you will not be slipping the two stitches knitwise, but will be purling them together through the back loop without taking any extra steps. A ssp leans the wrong direction for this lace, so I would recommend using a p2tog as written!
Best,
Julianna
Ok thank you! The link shows shows Slip Slip Purl (ssp, thats why I asked. I will try the beautiful pattern for sure.
Sorry one more comment. I meant purl 2 together through back loop. Not purl 2 together. How should I do while purlig trough back loop? Not any slip stich? You have linked Slip Slip Purl (ssp).
Hi Nina,
This pattern includes both a p2tog and a p2tog tbl, which lean in different directions, so you should work whichever one is indicated. For a regular p2tog, you will purl the stitches together just as you would normally purl, but for the p2tog tbl, you will follow the second half of the ssp demonstrated in the video to purl them together.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I love this and would like to make it in the original fingering weight Sweetgrass. I’m thinking of using maybe a 5 or 6 needle and reducing the number of repeats across. Can you help me figure out how many skeins I would need of the original Sweetgrass if I want it maybe a tad narrower but the same length?
Also, I’m wondering if the Beech Bark colorway is grayish.
Thank you for the pattern and your advice.
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! I apologize that I missed your question about the Beech Bark color! It is a lovely medium to dark gray with very neutral undertones.
Best,
Julianna
Thx for the great advice! One last question. I wild like to order the original fingering weight sweetgrass and make it in a slightly larger gauge as you suggested. But Can you please give me guidance about how many skeins of original sweet grass I should order?
Thank you!
Hi Nancy,
It’s a bit tricky to estimate yardage when altering the gauge like this, but you will need 3 or 4 skeins of our original Sweetgrass. I would recommend ordering 4 skeins to be on the safe side, and as long as the last skein hasn’t been wound, you can return it for store credit if you don’t need it!
Best,
Julianna
Thanks again!
Can you use a size 4 on the sweet grass yarn and can someone from your shop wind it for me.
Thx
Hi Roberta,
Thanks for writing in! Our original fingering weight Sweetgrass would be wonderful for this pattern on a US 4 needle. To alter the pattern, I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch in the Frost Flowers pattern using Sweetgrass on a US 4 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 18 inches, and round to the nearest multiple of 34 plus 2 stitches to determine how many stitches to cast on. Unfortunately, due to physical distancing measures and school closures, we are working with very limited staff at our warehouse and are unable to wind yarn at this time – I’m so sorry about hat! We do have a helpful tutorial on winding yarn yourself!
Best,
Julianna
What color is the model wearing?
Hi Sata,
Thanks for reaching out! Our sample is knit in Sweetgrass Fine in Pale Sesame.
Best,
Julianna
I think I’d want to use safety lines as well. How well would this beUtiful pattern show up in the grey/silver color?
Hi Eleanor,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, a lifeline or safety line would be an excellent idea in case you make a mistake! As with all complex lace patterns, the darker the yarn, the less clearly the pattern will show up, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice if it’s your favorite color. Beech Bark is several shades lighter than black, so you may not see the details clearly from a distance, but you will still see the overall lacy ethereal openness of the stitch, and the lace will be mysteriously lovely up close.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Thank you for the pattern
Thank you for the beautiful pattern – it’s so delicate. Could this be done with a 100% cotton yarn if allergic to wool/alpaca? What yarn would you suggest as an alternative to the Sweetgrass Fine?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, I think a lace weight 100% cotton would be fantastic for this pattern! Unfortunately, the only lace weight cotton we carry is Habu Nerimaki Slub, which has a thick and thin texture that would detract from the lace and make it a bit more difficult to knit. You might consider Mineral Silk for a wool and alpaca free option!
Best,
Julianna
This is absolutely gorgeous and I am very tempted. I have never done lace with a cotton yarn before though, and I’m wondering how well it retains the openness of the blocking, if you get my point?
Hi Meegan,
Great question! Having already knit and blocked a lace shawl in Sweetgrass, I can assure you that it holds blocking extremely well! Because cotton and alpaca fibers don’t have any crimp or bounce, they tend to stay in the same shape they were blocked, often even better than a wool yarn would.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi,
I realize that the gauge is different, but if I wasn’t bothered about the finished size do you think this pattern would work in your spun silk? I bought a bunch of it when it was on sale and have been waiting for the perfect pattern. I love this pattern
Hi Elizabeth,
Great question! The chart is 34 + 2 stitches, so can be easily adjusted for different yarns and gauges. I would definitely swatch a pattern repeat to see what works for you, and on which size needles, to get a fabric that looks and feels good to you!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Beautiful pattern! Would love to see a triangular shawl version. Do you think that could be possible at some point?
Thanks!
Hi Nini –
Thanks for reaching out! I’ll definitely pass on your request for a triangular shawl version to our design team to consider for the future.
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
This pattern is beautiful. If I read correctly, this are all natural colors- so if I knit in the lightest color, could I ombré die with indigo.
Hi Sherry,
Thanks so much for the kind words, and what an amazing idea! Yes, the cotton and alpaca fibers in Sweetgrass Fine are completely natural and undyed, so it should take indigo dye beautifully. Please do let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Julianna
I am so so grateful for this beautiful lace work pattern. After sheltering in place for the last 26 days, I feel my brain has become mush. This pattern is a work of art so thanks Jake Canton for your artistic creative ability! And thanks to EVERYONE at Purl Soho for your amazing patterns and your patience and kindness answering our knitting questions. And of course thank you to the warehouse staff who keep all of your Purl Soho loyal patrons stocked with the items we need to keep us happy and busy. I wish all of you safety and good health!
Hello from Germany
sorry for my bad English:( I hope you can understand me.
I love this pattern and I`m trainig it since a few days. It’s really a big challenge for me. My biggest problem is finding a suitable yarn here in germany. it seems to be no alpaca cotton of this strength.
Can I buy your yarns anywhere online in Europe? The shipping cost from USA are really to high for me.
Best regards!
Kathrin
Hi Kathrin,
Thank you so much for the kind words and for writing in! At this time, we don’t have a wholesale program, so our yarns are only available here on our website. Even if you can’t find a yarn that is the exact same content, you could certainly knit this wrap in any lace weight yarn that is available to you!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I’ve just completed row 1 but instead of completing up to the second *, I’m part way through the [k2, yo, ssk] part and I cannot see how that could be right. Please help, this is my first lace project. I have cast on 138 st.
Thanks!
Anita
Hi Anita,
Thank you for writing in! I’m sorry to hear you’re having some trouble with the first row of this pattern! There should be 4 full pattern repeats (from the *) in Row 1, so it does sound like something may have gone wrong, either with the cast-on or set-up row. At this point since you are not too far in, your best option would be to start again (it happens to the best of us).
A helpful tip to keep track of your stitch count for the cast-on is to place a small stitch marker at regular repeats: for this pattern I would place a stitch marker after the first stitch and then after every 34th stitch to the end. You should end up with 1 stitch at the beginning and end of your cast on and 4 sets of 34 stitches in between. You can even leave these markers in for the set-up row and take them out as you come to them in Row 1. I hope this is helpful!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Hi Gaby, thanks for your reply. But on row 1 I counted in the instructions 38 +2 instead of 34 +2. I only see 34 +2 on rows 2 and 4. Im sorry if im being dumb, still new to this!
Hi Anita,
No problem at all! I’m more than happy to help figure this out with you, lace can be pretty tricky at first! Because no increases or decreases were made in the set-up row, we know that Row 1 will definitely have the same number of stitches as your cast-on, 138 stitches. If you’d like to count another way, the pattern chart provided above is an easy way to check. Moving across Row 1 each square counts as one stitch except for squares with slashes (these are 2 stitches) and squares with open circles (don’t count these). You should get a 34 stitch pattern repeat, plus 2 for the stitch at the beginning and end of the row. I hope this makes sense but please let us know if you have any more questions!
Best wishes,
Gaby
Please how do you do ask do you slip one then another then knit the next love this lace pattern I am going to use pure mulberry silk in fingering and adjust the tension regards jill
Sorry typo error meant to say ssk regards jill
Hi Jill,
Thanks for reaching out! You can learn how to work a ssk with our Slip Slip Knit tutorial!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for bringing Barbara Walker’s Frost Flowers lace so beautifully and temptingly on the scene!
But once again, you’ve indicated the NEEDLE SIZE only in U.S.2 – whatever that is. Please consider that you have international customers and admirers – in a world much bigger than the USA! That world long ago progressed to using the metric system, measuring knitting needles in millimeters. My Olde Conversion Toole tells me you could easily have added “2.75mm”. Why stay so disconnected??
Hi Ila,
Thanks for writing in! We totally hear you regarding metric sizes and measurements. This is something that is currently under consideration, so we really appreciate your input!
Best,
Julianna
So, p2tog tbl is the same as ssp, yes?
Love this pattern. I’m learning new stitches. Don’t love the isolation, but love the time to learn new skills. Love the sweet grass yarn as well. Many thanks!
Hi Joan,
Thank you for writing in and for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear you’re enjoying your time with this pattern and our new Sweetgrass Fine! You’re correct that p2tog tbl and ssp are nearly the same, the only difference being that p2tog tbl twists the stitches. We go over this a bit in our tutorial as well!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
I just received my Sweetgrass Fine yarn today, and I am very excited about starting this project. However I have a (probably stupid) question about the yarn itself. Is the thread a double twisted thread? or do I need to separate the 2 threads that are coming out of the skein? (I am asking before starting doing a ball, as checking the full length of 930 yards would be quite consuming. Thank you!
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for writing in! This is a great question. Sweetgrass Fine is comprised of two 2-ply strands twisted together, so as these strands naturally come apart at the ends they may look like they can stand on their own. You should be holding all of these threads together to get the full weight of this yarn. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Alas, I cannot, for the life of me, get this pattern to work. I have no idea what i’m doing wrong after 7 attempts. In the interest of isolation sanity, would you be so kind as to recommend another pattern that I could knit using the two lovely skeins that I purchased…perhaps a simpler lace project…or not lace…just so i don’t have to purchase additional yarn. Thank you.
Hi Joan,
Thank you for writing in! I’m sorry to hear this pattern isn’t working out for you. Luckily I have a few other project recommendations for your Sweetgrass Fine! The Little Ladders Scarf and Open Air Wrap would look lovely in this yarn. For slightly more adventurous projects, the Whisper Wrap is knit horizontally but easy to follow once you get going, and the Checkerboard Lace Scarf is a cool and modern take on lace. I hope one of these catches your eye!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Hello! When you say u your I’ll need two skeins to cast on, does that mean the yarn is doubled in the pattern? Please advise!!
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for reaching out! Sorry for any confusion! This is just a creative way of saying the pattern requires two skeins total to complete; you’ll be holding the yarn single for this wrap.
Happy knitting!
Gaby
The gauge swatch states to cast on 31 stitches. Should it be 32?
Hi and thanks for writing in!
This is a great question! The gauge for this pattern is correct at 31 stitches per 4 inches, but I think you’d be much more comfortable casting on 36 stitches. This way you’ll be able to get one full repeat of the pattern and will be measuring inside your swatch rather than edge-to-edge, which is a generally preferable way to get your gauge. I hope this was helpful!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Kia Ora from New Zealand!
I am going to knit this for my sister’s 81st birthday coming up in July, thanks Purl Soho for this beautiful pattern it is just what I have been looking for to give her. I decided to purchase the Sweetgrass Fine as even with postage added from the UK it is less expensive than purchasing the equivalent yarn in NZ! We go to Level 3 for two weeks from tomorrow (27April) so the yarn will be here in time for when we (hopefully) go to Level 2 and the Postie can deliver to the letter box again. Kia Kaha (Stay Strong). Jan
OMG, this yarn is thinner than kite string. What did I get myself into? I’ve started the wrap twice already and have made mistakes along the way. I don’t end up with the correct stitch count at the end of row 2 for some reason. I’m going to keep at it.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m sorry to hear that the yarn is presenting a challenge, it is quite thin and can take some getting used to knitting with laceweight. If you let me know where you think you’re having difficulty on Row 2, I’d be happy to try to help!
Best,
Cassandra
Hi!
Love the pattern but I think it may be too difficult for me. Is there another pattern perhaps a bit easier that I could use for the 2 skeins I purchased?
Thanks so much. Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! If you’re looking for another lace project that uses a similar weight yarn but is a bit easier, I’d suggest the Checkerboard Lace Scarf. If you’re not in the mood for lace right now, the Little Ladders Scarf might be a good option. I hope this helps! Happy Knitting!
Best,
Cassandra
Hi! If I do the checkerboard lace scarf pattern with Sweetgrass Fine, would I still use size 2 needles or the 4 that is suggested in the checkerboard pattern? I’ve tried the Botanical Lace pattern four times and it’s been so challenging. Thanks!
Hi Lauren!
I would advise swatching, but you might be able to work with a size 2 or size 3 with Sweetgrass Fine for that pattern. The difference is that Tussock has a halo, which creates a bit of a “filler” effect with that yarn. I hope this helps!
Best,
Cassandra
I am really enjoying this pattern! Something not mentioned in the yarn description is that it is very loosely 2-plied so I have to be careful to get both plies in each stitch. The pattern is actually quite repetitive so I have begun to remember it without even trying. Also, using Heirloom White, I can see the pattern emerge and “read” what I have already knit so it is easier to catch mistakes sooner. Thanks again for a delightful project!
Hi! I love this pattern and have tried three times already but keep having to start over. But I’m committed to figuring it out! Question: on the chart, for Row 2 (and other wrong side rows), it looks like the first time you purl 2 together it is just p2tog. But in the written directions it says p2tog tbl. And then towards the end of the 34 stitch pattern, it is reversed in the chart and written directions again. Am I missing something or misunderstanding? I’m new to lace! Thank you.
Hi Lauren!
This is a great question! This pattern includes both a p2tog and a p2tog tbl, which lean in different directions, so you should work whichever one is indicated. For a regular p2tog, you will purl the stitches together just as you would normally purl, but for the p2tog tbl, you will follow the second half of the ssp demonstrated in the video to purl them together. You might find it easier to follow the written directions until you get comfortable with the flow of the pattern and then jump to using the chart. When you read the chart, the wrong side rows are read from left to right. A handy way to remember is that the 2 row is numbered on the left. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Thank you!! This is so helpful- I was reading the chart the wrong way for the wrong side row. Thanks, Jessica!!
Just started this beautiful wrap and am working with the written pattern. I noticed that the chart pattern switches between purl and knit the first and last stitch however the written pattern says to knit only the first and last stitch on both right and wrong side. Thank you!!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing in! Our chart is actually correct! Because this wrap is knit back and forth in rows, some of the chart symbols mean different things depending on whether you are on the right or wrong side. The empty squares are knits on the right side and purls on the wrong side, while the black dots are purls on the right side and knits on the wrong side. Since the selvage stitches alternate between empty squares on the right side rows and dots on the wrong side rows, you will always be knitting them, even though the symbols are different!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna