Now seems like a pretty good time to focus on a little challenge whose reward is pure beauty.

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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!

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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!

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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.

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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.

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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!

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoBotanicalLaceWrap, and #PurlSohoSweetgrassFine. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho
  • 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Sweetgrass Fine, 65% organic cotton and 35% superfine alpaca. Each skein is 930 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1,463 yards required. We used the color Pale Sesame.
  • US 2 (3 mm) 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.

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho
Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho

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.

Botanical Lace Wrap | Purl Soho