Handwritten Wrap
Knitting is its own language, every stitch a letter, strung together by our needles into words. With its rows and rows of coded stitches, our Handwritten Wrap is like jotting down an entire story!
Simple slip stitches create flecks of color against a solid ground, like words on a page. As complicated as it may look, you actually just use one color at a time across a whole row and let the magic of knitting do its work!
And like every good book, we’re nowhere without a plot. The plot here is the sheer vivacity of our Spectrum Silk. One hundred percent silk and a thousand percent beautiful, Spectrum Silk is a page turner!
Pairing two colors of Spectrum Silk is all about character development, finding the ones whose dialog really zings. We chose Blue Delphinium and Red Radicchio for a complicated relationship that’s sure to keep you knitting!
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 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, #PurlSohoHandwrittenWrap, and #PurlSohoSpectrumSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
4 (8) skeins of Purl Soho’s Spectrum Silk, 100% silk. Each skein is 153 yards/ 50 grams.
- Color A: 3 (6) skeins; approximately 420 (838) yards required. We used the color Blue Delphinium.
- Color B: 1 (2) skein(s); approximately 150 (297) yards required. We used the color Red Radicchio.
You will also need…
- US 9 (5.5 mm) 20-, 24-, or 32-inch circular needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) or smaller circular or straight needles
More color ideas? Here you go!…
Milk White + Orca Black
Orange Red + Turquoise Green
Ginger Brown + Azure Blue
Bright Violet + Apple Red
Pink Dianthus + Lemon Drop
Parakeet Green + Seashell Pink
Gauge
24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Scarf (Wrap)
Finished Dimensions: 8 (16) inches wide x 70 inches long
Sample: The Wrap size is shown here.
Notes
Stitch Multiple
This pattern works over an odd number of stitches.
Slip Stitches
Slip all slipped stitches purlwise.
Turn + Slide
At the end of each row, you either “slide” or “turn” the work.
“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 work the next row is right there waiting for you!
Pattern
With Color A and smaller needles, cast on 47 (95) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1 (see Notes) with yarn in front (wyif), *p1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 wyif. Turn work (see Notes).
Row 2 (right side): Crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B), use Color B to *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Slide work (see Notes).
Row 3 (right side): With Color A, slip 1 wyib, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 wyib. Turn work.
Row 4 (wrong side): Crossing Color A below Color B (B is in front of A), use Color A to *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch p1. Turn work.
Row 5 (right side): With Color A, repeat Row 3. Turn work.
Row 6 (wrong side): Crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B), use Color B to *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, p1. Slide work.
Row 7 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1 wyif, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 wyif. Turn work.
Row 8 (right side): Crossing Color A below Color B (B is in front of A), use Color A to *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Turn work.
Repeat Rows 1-8 until piece measures 70 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
Bind-Off Row (right side): K1, *slip 1 wyif, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to end of row.
Weave in the ends and wet block.
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 adore slip-stitch patterns, and have been yearning to try out Spectrum Silk, so thank you for this new beauty! I’m having a bit of trouble visualizing how the selvage works; could you possibly clarify “Crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B)” etc.?
Many thanks and best wishes!
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in about this! What’s meant by that is that as you switch from one color to another, you’ll be catching the non-working color so it tucks under the color you were using in the previous row, which will help to keep the selvage edges neat and tidy. The non-working color will be caught by the new working color at the edge of the wrap. I’m sure it will make perfect sense once you’ve got the yarn in hand. So glad to hear that you’re excited about the pattern and Spectrum Silk!
Happy Knitting
Cassandra
this is just a comment. i don’t require a response.
and this applies to all sites, not just yours.
i hesitate to order yarn for a project that i will wear close to my face. i can’t be sure how faithful our various devices that are used to get me the image will be to the color of the yarn.
Hi again Delia,
I understand your hesitation – but please know that we’re always happy to describe color and softness of yarns if you have any questions! If you’d like to purchase a skein to try out and to see the color in person, we’re always happy to refund for store credit, any unwound yarn in original condition, if it isn’t what you were looking for. I certainly understand that ordering online can be a challenge for both color and feel and we’re always happy to do what we can to help!
Best,
Cassandra
Love your handwritten wrap!!! Stunner.
Do you have a video on the stitches? I’m a bit confused. Reading patterns was never fun!
Thank you,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! Unfortunately we don’t currently have the resources to create a video tutorial for this pattern, but I will certainly pass your request along to the creative team. One tip I can offer is to try this stitch out on a gauge swatch first- that really helped me get used to this pattern!
Best,
Gaby
the pattern is jaw-dropping.
and i like the dress. i remember it from another post. i’m guessing you have the pattern and fabric. if so, what is it? thanks.
Hi Delia,
Thanks so much for your comment, I’m so happy to hear that you love the pattern! The dress was actually purchased. It’s is made of linen and was bought at Muji.
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
I’m curious about the size US #9 needle used for this pattern with a fingering/sport weight yarn. Does the larger size needle create an airiness or see-through quality to the fabric? Commonly, you suggest a US #3 or #4 for Spectrum Silk.
I love the pattern and would like to work up this wrap.
Hi Angela,
Thank you for writing in- this is a really great question! Linen stitch is notoriously tight and dense, so it’s fairly common to see linen stitch patterns knit using needle sizes 2, 4, or in this case 6 sizes larger than one would normally use! Since silk also has minimal give, we opted for a US 9 needle to create a drapey, wrappable fabric for this project. I hope you give this pattern a try and would love to see what you come up with!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
My Brooklynites are asking for a light weight shawl/scarf to wear in warmer temps( once out of quarantine). Would this silk work? Other suggestions? Thank you for your response.
Hi Judith,
Thanks for reaching out! This would be a great shawl for warmer temps, and a few others that are favorites of mine are the: Botanical Lace Wrap
Daffodil Lace Wrap and the Little Moons Lace Wrap
We have quite a few patterns using Spectrum Silk
I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Hi — What is it like for your hands to knit this silk, especially on big needles? I’m having a bit of strain (from knitting too much!) in my right hand and wondering if the lack of give in the silk may make it not the best choice for me right now. And — is cattail silk comparable in hand to spectrum or does it perhaps have more give? Thanks so much.
Hi Mary Ellen,
Thanks for reaching out! Our Spectrum Silk is a very inelastic yarn, and it’s not uncommon to experience some hand strain when working with yarns that don’t have any inherent stretch, like linen or silk. If you’re new to these types of yarns, it’s probably tempting to try to fight the yarn a bit and pull tighter to get the correct gauge and even out your stitches, but unfortunately that will only make it more painful to knit! I would suggest trying a swatch using a smaller needle and really relaxing while you knit so that you can knit at the correct gauge without straining your hands, and make sure to take plenty of breaks while you are still getting used to the yarn! Our Cattail Silk does have more stretch than Spectrum Silk, so if you are still having some trouble, you might want to give it a try. It’s still not as elastic as a wool or alpaca yarn, but I find it quite comfortable to knit with!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, just want to say, everything I have purchased from u thus far is top quality. I love your ideas for knitted and felt projects. I am looking forward to my next trip to New York City and my first visit to your store. Stay well and thank you.
Hi , do you have a crochet version of this pattern or similar?
Hi Marlyn,
Thank you so much for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not have a crochet pattern for this wrap, but I will certainly pass your request along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Hi,
Is it possible to knit this patterns with straight needles?
Regards,
Paz
Hi Paz,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, no, you do need circular needles to knit this wrap. Even though it isn’t worked in the round, because you are working single row stripes of two colors, you do have to be able to work from both edges of the wrap which requires a circular needle.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Would it not be possible to use double pointed straight needles?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately no, you would not be able to use double-pointed needles because they are not long enough to support the number of stitches required for this wrap and you would risk dropping stitches. This is why we recommend using a 20-, 24-, or 32-inch circular needles!
I hope this clears things up, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi!
Gorgeous wrap. Strongly considering this project! I’ve never knit with pure silk yarn before. Is there any stretch to it at all?
Thank you!
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Spectrum Silk is a fairly inelastic yarn, which can be a bit of an adjustment to work with if you are used to a knitting with a springier fiber like wool. However, it’s very soft and supple, so it’s still quite pleasant to knit with! Some knitters do find that non-stretchy yarns can cause some hand strain, so I would recommend trying a gauge swatch first to see how it feels. If it is causing you any trouble, you can try knitting with a smaller needle so that you can relax and knit loosely while still obtaining the correct gauge!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, I currently walk with a cane and although I love the Handwritten Wrap I really would like to make it in a cowl or a much shorter 8 inch wide scarf which would make it easier for me to wear under a coat or jacket. How much yarn would I need to purchase for a cowl about the size of your short Cable cowl or a shorter scarf and would the Spectrum Silk yarn be a good choice for these? Thanks for your help. Such a great pattern!
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! I think this wrap would be gorgeous as a cowl or narrow scarf! Spectrum Silk is very drapey so it won’t stand up like our Wandering Cable Cowl, but it would flow beautifully and add a wonderful pop of color and elegance to your outfits. Our pattern includes instructions for an 8 inch by 70 inch scarf, which takes 3 skeins of Spectrum Silk in your main color and one in the contrast color, and I think a short but wide cowl would take about the same amount!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Could you recommend a you tube tutorial that show how you cross the yarns at beginning of those rows?
I have tried figuring it out on my own (my yarn shop is still closed) but I can’t get it right. When you cross Color B below A (row 2) or put A in front of B, will the A be the second stitch on needle?
Even if you have a picture it would be a huge help.
Thank you
Caroline
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to put together a tutorial, but hopefully I can explain this step a little better – it sounds confusing when reading the pattern, but it’s really quite easy! You will essentially be twisting the two strands of yarn together before beginning the row, paying attention to which color goes on top of the twist, to make sure all the twists go in the same direction, even though you will sometimes be doing this step on the right side of the work and sometimes on the wrong side. If you take a look at our swatches of different color combinations, you can see that the selvages have a very regular candy-cane-like twist, all going in the same direction, which is created by crossing the yarns.
This step does not affect any of the stitches on the needle and doesn’t relate to which color you are working with or what color the stitches on the needle are, so there isn’t a relation to which stitch is coming up next on the needle. Once you have a few inches done, it should be quite easy to look at your work and tell which direction the yarns should twist together to make sure the selvages keep going in the same direction!
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi! What is the difference between 3(6) skeins of A and 1(2) skein(s) of B? What is the size difference?
Thank you!
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for writing in! Both versions of the wrap are 70 inches long, but the smaller size is an 8-inch wide scarf and the larger size is a 16-inch wide wrap.
Best,
Julianna
Hello all! I am just starting the Handwritten Wrap (delphinium blue and radicchio red!) and am flipping out a bit as I can’t see the 27 comments on the wrap blog–is it my computer or is Purl Soho having a computer bug this morning? Crossing my fingers in rural Vermont that the comments magically appear (it is the closest I can get to a knitting group). Kindly, Patti P, Vermont
Hi Patti,
Thank you so much for getting in touch and bringing this to our attention! We have been having a few problems lately with missing comments, but I notified our web team and they will get them back as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
All the best,
Julianna
Hi,
Sure would love to be able to read the comments.
Kind Regards,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out! There are only 2 comments so far on this pattern, so don’t be alarmed that there aren’t more to scroll through like some of our other patterns!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi Gianna,
When I started the wrap there were 27 comments and they disappeared. I will admit I have been knitting this wonderful wrap for a long time. lol
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in again! Sorry about that! I have passed this along to the rest of the team so hopefully we can get the comments back as soon as possible! Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
All the best,
Gianna
Hello! Would it be possible to knit this up in Burnish? The price is a bit more economical, and it looks like a similar gauge. I’d like to attempt the wrap size, so the yarn’s ability to drape would be important. What do you think?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Burnish would be a great option for this! Burnish is a beautiful yarn to work with an has an amazing drape to it, so it should be perfect for the wrap! I do always recommend working a gauge swatch when using a different yarn than the pattern prior to beginning to insure that you are consistent with the pattern.
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I’d like to try a more subtle color combination like Fresh Cream as main color and Seashell Pink as contrasting color. But is it enough of a contrast for the pink to show?
Love your patterns and yarn!
Hi Phillis,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that Fresh Cream and Seashell Pink would look lovely together! It will certainly be more subtle than the colors contrasted in the sample knit, but I think it will give you a wonderfully soft, warm color pairing for your wrap.
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
This pattern is beautiful. I’m so sad you won’t be restocking the spectrum silk; would it be possible to substitute it with Tussock?
Hi Charis,
Thanks for reaching out. I think you could absolutely substitute Spectrum Silk with Tussock for this pattern! Since Tussock has a very different fiber content (the mohair adds a lot of fluffiness as well as a “halo” of fuzz), your finished wrap will turn out quite different from our version, but I think it will still be lovely!
As always, we recommend making a gauge swatch before starting a project to be sure you’re working with the right needles, especially when substituting yarns. If this is daunting, I’d recommend checking out a tutorial called All About Gauge, which covers some incredibly helpful information.
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I’m confused by the first couple of steps in the pattern. Do you cast on only with Color A? If so, how is Color B worked in for Row 1?
Hi VS,
I’d be happy to clarify the first few steps of the pattern for you! You are correct; you will start by using only Color A for the initial cast on and Row 1 of the pattern. You won’t use Color B until you begin Row 2. Once you reach Row 2 you will pick up Color B and work across Row 2; then, instead of turning your work as you did at the end of the cast on and Row 1, you will slide your work from one side of the needle to the other so that you can start Row 3 with Color A (which should be waiting for you to knit with now that you’ve slid the work!). I hope this helps clear things up!
Warmly,
Kelsey
It does, thank you!!
Is it possible to cast on any odd number of stitches and shoot for a width in between 8 and 16? I think I would like to achieve a width of 10-12. Thank you!
Hi Angela,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely alter the cast-on number to achieve your desired width for this project! To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest odd number. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Such a beautiful pattern; I’ve never switched needles in any of my beginning projects and I am curious if this step is absolutely necessary and what is achieved by switching after casting on. Thank you for all of the wonderful patterns and help!
Hi Charis,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this stitch pattern is a bit dense, we used a larger needle for the pattern itself, but we recommend using a slightly smaller needle for the cast on to keep the edge neat and tight. If you would like to only use one needle you will want to use the larger US 9 (5.5 mm) needle.
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
Hello. I really want to try this pattern, but I’d like to knit it with a yarn that has a little more give than the ones suggested. (I haven’t had the best experiences with silk yarns.) Can you suggest something more forgiving?
Hi Su,
Thanks for writing in! In place of Spectrum Silk, I would suggest using our lovely Season Alpaca, Good Wool or even Santolina! As always, I also recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure you are consistent with the pattern.
I hope this helps, and please let us know what you go with and how it turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am intrigued by this scarf pattern. I have Handwritten yarn, the pattern comes up on page when I search for patterns for the yarn. I don’t like the lacy pattern.
Does Handwritten yarn work with Handwritten Scarf Pattern?
Did you ever have other patterns for the yarn? Would this yarn be better for a marled effect?
Hi Harriet,
Thank you for writing in! I’m afraid Handwritten is too thin on its own for this pattern but you could definitely double up your strands to make it. While handwritten is great for marling, you can definitely use it for any fingering weight pattern with a single strand!
All the best,
Gavriella