We’re not sure if the Cumulus Wrap can slide through a wedding ring, but our Orenburg-inspired shawl aspires to the same breathtaking beauty as those legendary pieces from the Russian banks of the Ural.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

Definitely not an instant gratification kind of knit, this one is more about the process, the slow advance of delicate lace growing row by row. For many of us, completing the Cumulus Wrap may count as one of our highest knitting achievements!

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

If the knitting is a challenge in patience, the construction is simple. You first knit the center panel, following either written or charted instructions, then you pick up around the perimeter and work the border in the round in a contrasting lace pattern.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

The Russian shawls that inspired this one were traditionally hand knit in a very fine down hair grown by indigenous Orenburg goats. More recently a thin thread of silk has been added to help the shawl hold its shape, but the result is the same: a fabric that is feather-light but warm and cozy, diaphanous but durable.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

In homage and with similar effect, we used our gorgeous mohair-silk Tussock yarn in the color Silver Needle, a cool neutral that shines like the moon. Stick with the classic or give your Cumulus Wrap its own spin with three dozen colors to choose from, and cast on for this season’s epic knit!

Cumulus 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, #PurlSohoCumulusWrap, and #PurlSohoTussock. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho
  • 8 skeins of Purl Soho’s Tussock 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk. Each skein is 328 yards/ 25 grams; approximately 2,598 total yards required. We used the color Silver Needle.
  • US 4 (3.5 mm), 60-inch circular needles
  • A second US 4, 60-inch circular needle (optional)

Gauge

25 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in Center Panel and Border stitch patterns

28 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Size

Unblocked Overall Dimensions: Approximately 56 inches wide x 60 inches long

Finished Overall Dimensions: Approximately 60 x 60 inches

Finished Center Panel Dimensions: Approximately 44 x 44 inches

Notes

Stitch Multiple

The Center Panel pattern is worked over a multiple of 10 + 5 stitches.

SLIP 1, K2TOG, PSSO

Slip 1 stitch purlwise, knit 2 stitches together, pass slipped stitch over k2tog and off needle. [2 stitches decreased]

NOTE: Our Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf pattern includes step-by-step photos of this technique.

S2KP

Slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit next stitch, pass two slipped stitches over knit stitch and off needle. [2 stitches decreased]

NOTE: Learn more about this technique with our Slip Slip Knit Pass Tutorial.

Pattern

Center Panel

Cast on 275 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Set-Up Row 1 (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Set-Up Row 2 (right side): Knit to end of row.

Set-Up Row 3 (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Following either the Written Instructions or Chart, below, repeat Rows 1-28 of Center Panel Stitch Pattern 15 times, then repeat Rows 1-16.

Center Panel Stitch Pattern: Written Instructions

Row 1 (right side): K2, *k1, yarn over (yo), k3, slip 1, k2tog, psso (see Notes), k3, yo, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 2 (wrong side) and all following wrong side rows: Purl to end of row.

Row 3: K2, *[k1, yo] twice, knit 2 together (k2tog), slip 1, k2tog, psso, slip slip knit (ssk), yo, k1, yo, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 7: K2, *k2, yo, k2, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 9: K2, *k3, yo, k1, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, repeat from to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 11: K2, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, slip 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 13: K2, ssk, yo, k2, yo, *slip 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2, yo, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2.

Row 15: K2, ssk, k3, yo, *k1, yo, k3, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k2.

Row 17: K2, [ssk] twice, yo, k1, yo, *[k1, yo] twice, k2tog, slip 1, k2tog, psso, ssk, yo, k1, yo, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, [k1, yo] twice, [k2tog] twice, k2.

Row 19: Repeat Row 15.

Row 21: K2, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *k2, yo, k2, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2.

Row 23: K2, ssk, k1, yo, k2, *k3, yo, k1, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k3, yo, k1, k2tog, k2.

Row 25: K2, ssk, yo, k1, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, slip 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 27: Repeat Row 13.

Row 28 (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Go on to the Center Panel: Finishing section, below.

Center Panel Stitch 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.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho
Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

(Want to see it bigger? Click here and view the chart as a PDF!)

Center Panel: Finishing

Next Row (right side): Knit to end of row.

Next Row (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

With right side facing you, bind off knitwise, leaving final bind off stitch on the needle.

Border

With right side facing you and bind-off edge at top, rotate the Center Panel 90 degrees clockwise, so the left-hand selvage is at the top. Pick up and knit one stitch into every other stitch along entire selvage. [217 stitches picked up; 218 stitches on needles]

With right side still facing you, rotate the Center Panel 90 degrees clockwise, so the cast-on edge is at the top. Pick up and knit one stitch into every cast-on stitch 4 times, then skip one cast-on stitch, repeat along entire cast-on edge. [218 stitches picked up 436 stitches on needles]

With right side still facing you, rotate the Center Panel 90 degrees clockwise, so the right-hand selvage is at the top. Using second circular needles, if desired, pick up and knit one stitch into every other stitch along entire selvage. [218 stitches picked up; 654 stitches on needles]

With right side still facing you, rotate the Center Panel 90 degrees clockwise, so the bind-off edge is at the top. Pick up and knit one stitch into every bind-off stitch 4 times, then skip one bind-off stitch, repeat along entire bind-off edge. [218 stitches picked up; 872 stitches on needles]

Place a unique marker and join for working in the round.

Set-Up Round: *K218, place marker (pm), repeat from * to end of round. NOTE: The final stitch marker will be the unique end of round marker, so do not place another marker on the final repeat.

UPDATE, DECEMBER 23, 2020: We’ve corrected the number of picked up stitches along each edge, as well as the total number of border stitches. We’re sorry for initial errors, but they’re accurate now. If you already picked up the initial 880 stitches, you can still work the pattern by skipping ahead to Rounds 5 and 6, repeating those for the entire border.

Following either the Written Instructions or Chart, below, work Border Stitch Pattern.

Border Stitch Pattern: Written Instructions

Round 1: [*Yo, k1, yo, s2kp (see Notes),  repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. [2 stitches increased each corner]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Round 3: *Yo, s2kp, yo, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4: Knit to end of round.

Round 5: [Yo, k1, *yo, k1, yo, s2kp, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, (yo, k1) 3 times] 4 times. [4 stitches increased each corner]

Round 6: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 5 and 6 until border measures 8 inches from pick-up edge, ending with Round 6.

Go on to Finishing section, below.

Border Stitch Pattern: Chart

NOTE: Begin this chart in the bottom right corner. Read all rows right to left, repeating 4-stitch repeat until indicated number of stitches before next marker, then working stitches to marker, then returning to 4-stitch repeat after marker, to end of round. Knit Rounds 1-4 one time, then repeat Rounds 5 and 6 until border measures 8 inches from pick-up edge, ending with Round 6.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho
Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho

(Want to see it bigger? Click here and view the chart as a PDF!)

Finishing

Bind off loosely knitwise.

Weave in the ends and wet block.

Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho
Cumulus Wrap | Purl Soho