Pleated Wrap
What about when knitted fabric acts more like paper, crisply creased into an accordion fold? Then knitting has accomplished something new, and you’ve got a beautiful Pleated Wrap!
There is literally nothing more here than knits and purls, and somehow they arrange themselves in a completely unexpected texture, like a folded paper fan.
For beautiful stitch definition and a truly lovely feel, we used our Season Alpaca. This yarn is all about close-to-your-neck coziness and the silky, soft beauty of 100% super baby alpaca.
Season Alpaca is now available in seven new colors, including this juicy Fresh Fig. We love its depth and richness! We also welcome Blue Pansy, a vibrant blue right on the verge of purple; Gray Shade, a dark shadow of a neutral, and a handful of other very tempting beauties!
You’ll need six skeins of whatever color you choose, new or old, for the wrap shown here, or pick up just three for a narrower scarf. Then cast on to find out just what knits and purls can do!
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, #PurlSohoPleatedWrap, and #PurlSohoSeasonAlpaca. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 3 (6) skeins of Purl Soho’s Season Alpaca, 100% super baby alpaca. Each skein is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 654 (1308) yards required. We used Fresh Fig.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 24-inch circular or straight needles
Gauge
28 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern (unstretched)
26 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
NOTE: For both sizes you will use just about all of yarn. To avoid running out of yarn make sure you achieve this gauge.
Sizes
Scarf (Wrap)
Finished Dimensions: 7¾ (14¾) inches wide x 68 inches long, unstretched
Sample: We knit up the Wrap size.
Notes
Stitch Multiple
This stitch works over a multiple of 8 + 7 stitches.
Pattern
Cast on 55 (103) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
Row 2 (right side): *K7, p1, repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k7.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 68 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
With right side facing you, bind off in stitch pattern.
Weave in ends and wet block.
Scarf looks beautiful. Any suggestions for non-wool (non-animal) yarn. Thx
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d recommend either our Cotton Pure or our Burnish as a non-wool option. They’re both lovely choices and will give you some wonderful stitch definition!
Take care,
Kelsey
On row 1 you have two asterisks for the beginning of the repeat . Which one do I follow? See below…
Row 1 (wrong side): *K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
Hi Jody,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! We just fixed the pattern, but Row 1 should read: K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
Thank you again, and happy knitting!
Kelsey
Great! I thought that might be the case but didn’t want to assume. Thanks!
In Row 1 instructions, it says *K3, *P1, K7, repeat from * Is the * before the K3 a typo?
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! We just fixed the pattern, but Row 1 should read: K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
Thank you again, and happy knitting!
Kelsey
Hi, beautiful pattern. There are two asterisks in Row 1. Which stitches should be repeated? Thanks!
Hi Kara!
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! We just fixed the pattern, but Row 1 should read: K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
Thank you again, and happy knitting!
Kelsey
On row one, should there be an asterisk before K3 and after K3 at the beginning?
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for reaching out! We did have a little typo in the pattern, but it’s been corrected! Row 1 should now read:
Row 1 (wrong side): K3, *p1, k7, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k3.
I hope this helps, and let me know if I can help you with anything else!
Take Care,
Kelsey
Do you think this pattern would work in a DK weight?
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your message! Yes, you can definitely work this pattern in a DK weight! You might need to make some small adjustments to the number of stitches you cast on since you’ll be working with a thicker yarn, but it shouldn’t be too difficult! I’d recommend knitting a gauge swatch in pattern to determine the right needle size and how many stitches you’ll need to cast on to get the appropriate dimensions of the scarf, and go from there!
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting,
Kelsey
Can I use the 8 ply cashmere for this wrap?
Hi Arlene,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely use the 8-ply cashmere for this wrap, but you’d need to adjust the pattern a bit since you’d be working with a thicker yarn and larger needles. I’d suggest knitting up a gauge swatch to see how many stitches you’d need to cast on in order to reach the dimensions of the scarf or wrap, and then going from there. The pattern stitch is worked over a multiple of 8 + 7 stitches, so once you’ve determined your gauge on the larger needles, you can adjust your cast on number.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Take care,
Kelsey
When casting on what does the number in parenthesis mean? Is that the actual number of stitches to cast on?
Hi Nancie,
Thanks for reaching out! The parenthesis designates the instructions for the larger of the two sizes offered in the pattern. You can knit this piece as a scarf or as a wrap, with the numbers for the larger wrap listed in the parenthesis.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting!
Kelsey
I’ve just bought 9 skeins of Brume to knit a blanket. I was planning on using a different pattern but I really like this one. Could you guide me on whether using this pattern with Brume and size 6 needles, 9 skeins will be enough for ~ 50 x 60″ blanket?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that could work beautifully and that should be enough yarn, however I would recommend working a swatch first to see what your gauge looks like to further asses if you have enough yarn and to calculate your cast on!
Warmly,
Gianna
What size is the model wearing?
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out! The model is wearing the Wrap Size!
Warmly,
Gianna
This looks lovely. I have some linen quill and cattail silk left. Will either of these yarns be suitable for this pattern? Thanks.
Hi Chloe,
You could definitely use a different yarn for this pattern! Since the Linen Quill and Cattail Silk are both significantly thinner than the Season Alpaca, you’d need to adjust the pattern a bit to account for the smaller needles and cast on more stitches to get the same dimensions of the pattern (or you could try doubling the yarn and see if that helps you get the correct gauge!), but the pattern should be pretty easy to tailor to various sizes and weights of yarn.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Perfect timing, and how very cool! I was ready to tackle a new scarf/wrap, and as always, your Jake Canton came through with the perfect thing. I have a pullover to finish, then on to agonizing over which color to use. Fabulous pattern. Thank you.
Hi,
I just bought 8 skeins of cygnet. Would that wool work for this gorgeous wrap?
Thanks!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely use the Cygnet to make the Pleated Wrap! However, you might need to do a little adjusting to account for the difference in weight between the Cygnet and the Season Alpaca. Cygnet is a bit thinner than the Season Alpaca, so though you have almost the same amount of yardage in 8 skeins of Cygnet as you would in 6 skeins of the Season Alpaca, you might need additional skeins to reach the full dimensions of the wrap if your gauge in knitting with the Cygnet is smaller than what the pattern calls for.
I’d suggest knitting up a little swatch out of the Cygnet that you have and check to see how close your gauge is to the one in the pattern. If you’re close, or if you’re okay with your wrap being a little smaller than the pattern’s dimensions, then I’d say you’d be just fine with the 8 skeins you have. Otherwise, you can use your swatch to determine how many stitches you’d need to cast on to reach the proper dimensions.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting!
Kelsey
When you wet-block this, do you pin it flat or somehow allow for the pleats?
Thank you —
Hi Kitty,
Thanks for reaching out! I would not recommend pinning this wrap when you block it as that could diminish the pleat effect! I would simply lay the wrap out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
I just bought 8 skeins of cygnet. Would that wool work for this gorgeous wrap? I realize since Cygnet is fingering I may need more than the 1600 approx yards but I don’t have more skeins and really want to make the wrap. I’m sure you will suggest a gauge swatch — I know I know and will make one:) Any other recommendations about what to make with cygnet other than the new cowl you have (which is very nice but I already made one)? Maybe one of your sweaters?
Thanks!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly adjust the gauge and knit this wrap with Cygnet but you are correct that you may need a bit more depending on what your gauge comes out to be! I would recommend checking out our Library of fingering weight projects! You can find that here! Something like the Contour Tee could be lovely in Cygnet!
Please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi. Beautiful pattern!
If I want to make this wider, what multiple of stitches should I increase by?
Thank you
Hi Venetta,
Thanks for reaching out! This stitch works over a multiple of 8 + 7 stitches, so if you wanted to make it bigger you would need to increase it by a multiple of 8, and then add 7. For example, if you wanted to increase the scarf to 8 pattern repeats (up from the 6 repeats it’s currently written as), the math would look like this: 8×8 = 64 stitches, plus 7 brings you to 71 stitches to cast on.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting!
Kelsey
I too would like to make this wider so that it is more of a shawl. How many skeins would I need to add for each additional repeat?
Thank you!
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for reaching out! How much bigger would you like to make the shawl?
Warmly,
Gianna
I am thinking in terms of 16 to 18 inches wide in order to keep my back warm; however, that could result in too much bulk draped across arms to front.
Thoughts?
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for your response! I think 16-18 inches would work great! For the most part, our other wrap patterns are typically 18″ wide which is pretty standard for a wrap width, so I don’t think it would be too bulky! An extra skein or two should be plenty so I would suggest getting 8 skeins total to insure you have enough!
Please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi
Please could you explain what do you mean by ” K1,p1, K7.
I knitt a lot here in Chile but I cannot understand the meaning of these letters , if you publish these knittings to the rest of the world , these should be explained with full words , otherwise , it is impossible to make any of these models, here in my country every comes very well explained,
Regards
Hi Cecilia,
Thanks for reaching out! The “K” means “knit” and the “P” means “Purl”, so when the pattern says K1, P1, K7 it is asking the knitter to knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, and knit 7 stitches. I hope this clears things up, and please let me know if I can help you with any other sections of the pattern!
All the best,
Kelsey
Hi!
Wondering if this is possible to knit in the round?
I love the flow of infinity scarves and sometimes have a hard time transposing on my own.
Thank you!
Hi Brooke,
Thanks for reaching out! You could knit this piece in the round but in order to do so, you would essentially be turning the piece on its side and changing the direction of the pleats (so instead of 6 pleat repeats that are 68″ long, you’d have more like 68 pleat repeats that are 7″ long).
If you like the look of the scarf as it is but want the ends connected as an infinity scarf, I’d suggest knitting the piece according to the pattern and then seaming the cast-on and cast-off ends together. That way, you’ll still get those lovely long lines of the pleats, rather than the shorter pleats you would get if you knit it in the round.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
I would love to make this as a throw. Can you help me figure out how many stitches I need to cast on and what needles to use? Thanks!
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for reaching out! If you plan on using Season Alpaca like we did for this wrap then I would suggest using the same needle size, the US 4. This stitch works over a multiple of 8 + 7 stitches so for approximately a 40″ wide throw I would suggest casting on 319 stitches!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thanks! What needles should I use?? (As in, how long should they be?)
Hi Caroline,
I would recommend a US 4, 40″ needles!
Warmly,
Gianna
Sorry — another question! How many skeins do you think I need?
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for writing in again! Typically for a throw size blanket in sport weight yarn, you will want about 2,700 yards so I would suggest 12-13 skeins!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
I have 2 skeins of alpaca mixed with mohair and merino yarn. It says it is sport weight, 325yds,4oz. Will that work for this pattern? Could you suggest other patterns ?
Thank you
Mopsy
Hi Mopsy,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds like a great fit for the Pleated Wrap! You could also take a look at our Floats Cowl and our Soft And Cushy Cowl if you wanted some other options!
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
This is a beautiful scarf. Would Flax Down work for this pattern? Thank you.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! Flax Down (light worsted/dk weight) is a bit heavier than Season Alpaca (sport weight) so you certainly can use Flax Down for this pattern but you will need to adjust your gauge a bit! I recommend starting out with a gauge swatch and you can calculate your gauge/cast on from there! Just be sure to keep in mind that this stitch works over a multiple of 8 + 7 stitches, so you will want to maintain that for your cast on.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi!
I want to start a project that has multiple colors made from Season Alpaca but you’re out of many of the colors. Is this yarn being discontinued or will you restock the colors soon? If discontinuing do you have a similar yarn? Thanks!
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out! Season Alpaca is not being discontinued, we are just low on stock on a few of our colors at the moment! Although I don’t have a firm ETA we should have the out of stock colors back later this spring/early summer!
Warmly,
Gianna
Love this pattern. Could I use Corrie instead if season alpaca? If so, how many skeins would I need?
Thanks so much,
Cait
Hi Cait,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely use Coorie in place of the Season Alpaca for this pattern! The pattern calls for approximately 654 (1308) yards, which would be 5 skeins of Coorie for the scarf version and 10 skeins for the wrap.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Hi,
If I increase the pleated wrap width by 2” in season alpaca, from 16.5” to 18.5” how many skeins do I need?
Thanks!
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
If you wanted to make a version of the Pleated Wrap that measured 18″ x 68″, then you would need approximately 1570 yards of yarn, or just over 7 skeins of Season Alpaca. I’d suggest buying 8 skeins and leaving the last one in its original condition; that way, if you decide you don’t need it you can return it for store credit!
Warmly,
Kelsey
In regards to the above comment, the finished pleated wrap is 14.75” wide and I would like to increase to 18” wide. How many skeins of season alpaca would I need?
Thanks!
Hi! This is lovely, really keen to gluse up some of my yarn with it!
I have a wool yarn that comes in two sizes, a fine and regular. I wanted to knit both together as there are some slight differences in tone that look nice when they are together. Can I knit this as normal? I understand that this will likely change the end size, but other than that would it still have the same overall look?
Hi ZC,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest working a swatch following the stitch pattern to see how it comes out with the two yarns held together! Then from there, you can determine your gauge to make any necessary adjustments!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
For those of you who can’t tolerate wool, can you substitute the alpaca instead?
Hi Glenda,
Thanks for reaching out. The Pleated Wrap is actually knit up in our Season Alpaca, which is 100% alpaca fiber, not wool! But you can use any type of yarn you’d like for this pattern. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I’m not understanding, pleas explain..cast on 55 then in brackets 103. Does this mean pattern will work for 103 stitches if I want in that wide? With thanks
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for reaching out. This pattern was designed for two different widths–a scarf width (7.75 inches) and a wrap width (14.75 inches). To make it as a scarf, you’ll cast on 55 stitches, but to make a wrap, you’ll need to cast on 103 stitches. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Many thanks!
Hi, would understory make this scarf too bulky/ thick and not drapey enough.
If you think it would work I assume three skeins would be more than enough. Thanks, Carla
Hi Carla,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely make this design in Understory! Understory actually has a wonderful drape because of its silk content. The only thing you’d need to modify would be the number of stitches you cast on. 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 multiple of 8 + 7. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I love the look of this pattern. If I want to make a blanket with a larger needle and bulkier yarn, do you think it would still have that lovely pleated look?
Hi Rita,
Thanks for writing in. I’ve actually made this pattern in a bulkier yarn, and the pleats were still there! However, I’m not quite sure how the fabric would behave when it’s in blanket form. I’m thinking that it will probably look pleated if the blanket is bunched up, but the pleats will flatten a bit when the blanket is spread out to its fullest extent.
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I have four skeins of Burnish in Scarlett Orange, I have been looking for just the right pattern for this yarn and color because I think the Scarlett in the yarn will show best in something with a lot of texture so it creates mini shadows, has different plains for the Scarlett to come through. I think this is going to be the perfect piece for this yarn/color and can’t wait to cast on. If my math is correct I could make a size between the two you provide by casting on 87 sts, do you think this is correct and what needle size would you recommend?
Hi Alice,
Thanks for writing in. I think this would be a great project for the yarn you have! You’re right, 87 stitches will definitely work for an intermediate size. We recommend using size US 2 – 4 needles with Burnish, but you can really use any needles that give you a knitted fabric that you like! So I’d recommend swatching with a couple different sizes to compare them, and then pick your favorite. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, again
I don’t have a lot of experience blocking, why won’t wet blocking cause the pleats to flatten out?
Thank you.
Hi Alice,
Thanks for asking! Wet blocking will not cause the pleats to flatten out because the pleats are caused by the structure of the individual stitches, which doesn’t change. Just be sure not to stretch the knitted fabric or pin it when blocking, because these things will loosen up the fabric too much!
All the best,
Lili
Thanks, Lili
I ended up using size 5 needles, I have several inches knit and it looks great to me! I can’t wait to show this piece (as far as it is) to my knitting group on Zoom tomorrow. I am not sure how the color will go over but I am sure the pattern will be a hit, it’s so unique and fun.
Thank you also for the info on blocking, so is blocking the finished piece mostly to ‘bloom’ the sts?
Thanks again, stay safe, Alice
Hi Alice,
Oh that’s going to be so fun! I’m sure you’re knitting group will love the wrap. There are a few reasons to block any piece after you finish: “blooming” the yarn, evening out stitches, and even simply cleaning your finished work after handling it for so long! With other types of projects, like lace, it’s also useful for spreading out the stitches to see the intricate design (but that’s not relevant to this wrap).
All the best,
Lili
Can I use merino bloom for this scarf? How many skeins will I need?
Hi Faye,
Thanks for writing in! You can absolutely use Cashmere Merino Bloom for this pattern. However, since it’s a heavier weight yarn than Season Alpaca, you’ll need to change the number of stitches you cast on so that the dimensions come out correct.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern (if this is daunting, we have a wonderful tutorial called All About Gauge). Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width (7¾ or 14¾ inches) and cast on the nearest multiple of 8 + 7. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
In terms of how many skeins you’d need, that’s a bit more difficult to estimate, since you’re changing the weight of the yarn. But as a rough estimate, you should be able to use the same quantities that are already listed in the pattern! So 3 skeins for the Scarf size or 6 skeins for the Wrap.
All the best,
Lili
What about using Brume instead? Will this work? What size needles would I use, and how many skeins? Thank you so much
Hi Faye,
Yes, Brume will work as well! We recommend using sizes US 3 – 6 needles for this yarn, but it’s really up to you and how dense you’d like the knit fabric to be. You would need about 3 skeins of Brume for the Scarf size, or 5 skeins of Brume for the Wrap.
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
Possible to knit this pattern in field linen? How much would I need for a scarf, and how about the gauge? I’m using field linen now and love it. Ideal weight for California
Hi Polly,
You can absolutely make this pattern in Field Linen! You can likely knit it to the same gauge and therefore use the same cast-on and yardage. I’d just recommend knitting up a gauge swatch before beginning to determine the best needle size to use. So glad to hear that you love this yarn!
All the best,
Lili
Is this pattern reversible?
Hi Mary Lou,
Yes, this pattern looks exactly the same on either side!
All the best,
Lili