Bobble Edge Wrap
With cheery, little spheres dotting its perimeter, our Bobble Edge Wrap, designed by Julia Adams, balances elegance and exuberance to bring a bit of joyful beauty to your needles this summer!
After you cast on and work the first line of simple bobbles, you alternate rows of knits and purls to make a beautiful swath of stockinette. A neat slip-stitch selvage and regularly-spaced bobbles at each edge keep things interesting and fun!
Once you’ve created a square, you finish with another row of dainty trim right before binding off.
Julia knit this wrap in our beautiful, earthy Cattail Silk, whose 100% mulberry silk is known for its strength and superior quality.
Made of three plies of just the noil, Cattail Silk has a distinct texture, speckled with little nubs of fiber that add depth and panache to your finished piece.
The Bobble Edge Wrap comes in three sizes, and with over 600 yards per skein, you can make the smallest size with only one, and it takes only two skeins for the medium or large! So cast on and celebrate summer with your own tiny garland of bobbles!
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 for Purl Soho by Julia Adams. Julia loves the combination of math, science, and art that’s necessary for designing. She comes from a long line of obsessive knitters and has spent years finding the perfect balance between practicality and beauty in her designs. We call that the art of knitting!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoBobbleEdgeWrap, and #PurlSohoCattailSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 1 (2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% mulberry silk. Each skein is approximately 618 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 618 (790, 975) total yards required.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 24-inch circular needles
GAUGE
24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
SIZES
Small (Medium, Large)
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 24 x 24 (27 x 27, 30 x 30) inches square, with a hypotenuse of approximately 34 (38¼, 42½) inches
SAMPLES: The Cherry Blossom sample is the Small size, the Kingfisher Blue sample is the Medium size, and the Patina Blue sample is the Large size.
NOTES
STITCH MULTIPLE
This pattern works over a multiple of 6 + 11 stitches.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all slip stitches purlwise.
MB (MAKE BOBBLE)
[Knit front and back] 2 times into next stitch, then knit into front one more time. Turn work so wrong side is facing you, purl 2 together (p2tog), p1, p2tog. Turn work so right side is facing you, slip slip knit pass (s2kp). Fluff bobble, if necessary.
For a video tutorial on s2kp, please visit www.purlsoho.com/create/slip-slip-knit-pass-s2kp/.
PATTERN
Cast on 143 (161, 179) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Slip 1 (see Notes) with yarn in back (wyib), k1, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), purl to last 3 stitches, slip 1 wyif, k1, p1.
Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 wyib, slip 1 wyif, make bobble (MB, see Notes), k5, *MB, k5, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, MB, slip 1 wyif, p1.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 wyib, k1, slip 1 wyif, purl to last 3 stitches, slip 1 wyif, k1, p1.
Row 3: Slip 1 wyib, slip 1 wyif, knit to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyif, p1.
Rows 4–8: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 two more times, then repeat Row 2 one more time.
Row 9: Slip 1 wyib, slip 1 wyif, MB, knit to last 3 stitches, MB, slip 1 wyif, p1.
Repeat Rows 2–9 until piece measures nearly 24 (27, 30) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 8.
Repeat Row 1.
With wrong side facing you, bind off purlwise.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired.
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!
Could you tell me which sizes the model is wearing in the photos? Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! The Cherry Blossom sample is the Small size, the Kingfisher Blue sample is the Medium size, and the Patina Blue sample is the Large size. The model wears both the Cherry Blossom (Small) and the Patina Blue (Large) sample!
All the best,
Lili
If you want to make this without the bobbles, how should you modify the instructions?
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely knit this wrap without the bobbles, but I wanted to let you know that it would end up just being a large square of stockinette stitch. To make this, you would just need to repeat Rows 2 and 3 throughout the entire pattern!
All the best,
Lili
Thanks. I know it will be simple, but it should be lovely anyway.
Do remember that without some sort of selvedge, a plain piece of stockinette will ROLL at the edges.
Hello,
Thanks for sharing your concern! We’ve found that wet blocking helps Cattail Silk stay very flat, even in stockinette stitch. If you’re finding that it’s still rolling though, you can always add a different type of selvedge to help minimize that!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I see no required yarn quantity for this one. How much silk do I need to buy? Thanks ❤️
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in! You can find the yardage requirements for this pattern in the MATERIALS section on this page. For quick reference though, I’ve copied and pasted this information below:
1 (2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% mulberry silk. Each skein is approximately 618 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 618 (790, 975) total yards required.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I’m reacquainting myself with Knitting language, so help a gal out and explain what is meant by “stitch multiple…. Pattern works over a multiple of 6 + 11 stitches” thank you 😊
Hi Judi,
Sure thing! The means that the number of stitches you cast on must be 11 stitches greater than any multiple of 6. So for example, 36 is a multiple of 6, and then if you add 11 to that, which would be 47, then the stitch pattern would work over that number of stitches. Let me know if that makes sense!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, can this be made rectangular? If so, how would I adjust the pattern and yarn amount. Thanks!
Hi Myrna,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely make this wrap in a rectangular shape! You would just continue repeating Rows 2 – 9 until it’s the length you want. The amount of yarn you need will depend on how long you want the wrap to be. If you let me know your desired dimensions, I’d be able to calculate that for you!
All the best,
Lili
I’m not sure I understand how to do the bobble. Do I knit into the front and back of the same stitch two times or knit into the front and back of one stitch and the into the front and the back of the next stitch. I could use a video of the bobble.
Thanks.
Hi Patsy,
Thanks for reaching out! You will knit into the front and back of the very same stitch 2 times, and then you’ll knit once more into this stitch. This will result in 5 new stitches being creates from the one original stitch! I hope this helps clarify things, but please let me know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I am enjoying knitting this scarf. Two questions:
1) I notice that the bobble seems better if I keep the yarn to the front when I do the slip 2 sts and then bring the yarn to the back for the knit (and then pass 2 stitches over). Or, instead, I could keep the yarn at the back, slip 2 sts and then knit (and then pass 2 sts over). Or maybe it doesn’t matter? 🙂
2) the edge on the bottom row is very sturdy but on the sides, I seem to have loose loops (which might catch when being worn), despite pulling the stitches tight at the end of each row. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Hi Jo-Ann,
Thanks for writing in, and I’m happy to answer your questions!
1) We held the yarn in back when working the s2kp that’s part of MB, but if you like how it looks better if you slip the 2 stitches with the yarn in front, then you’re welcome to do it that way! Just keep in mind, when you’re working an s2kp outside of the context of a bobble, you will want to make sure to hold the working yarn in back so that it doesn’t disrupt the look of the decrease stitch.
2) It is very normal for slipped stitches at the edges to end up being a bit loose! One solution would be to twist these stitches to tighten them up a little. You can do this either by slipping the first stitch of each row knitwise instead of purlwise, or purling the last stitch of each row through the back loop. I’d recommend experimenting on a small swatch first to determine which way you prefer, or to make any other adjustments.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
thank you! Very helpful.
Hello, can this made into a triangle instead of a square ? If so, how would I adjust the pattern and yarn amount. Thanks!
Hi Majorie,
Thank you for writing in! I’m afraid we don’t have a triangle version of this pattern but I’d recommend checking out our Triangle Garter Wrap. You could use this pattern as reference and add in your bobbles to the edges! I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
Edge stitches are loose. Would an Icord edge work using last two stitches?
Hi Suzanne,
You could definitely try slipping the last two stitches of each row! Let us know how it goes if you give this a try.
All the best,
Lili
hi there, I’ve been attempting to make the bobble stitch for a couple hours and I just can’t get it! Is there a video on how to make on for the wrap?
Thank you,
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I’m sorry to hear that the bobble technique is giving you trouble! We don’t have a video tutorial for this, but instead we’re happy to demonstrate it for you over Zoom. If that works for you, you can sign up for 1-On-1 Help, where a member of our team can meet with you and answer any questions you have!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! Can you tell me the yardage requirement for the Small size? Thanks so much! (I know it takes one skein of the silk but if I want a different yarn…..)
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern we used 618 (790, 975) total yards.
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello, it’s a lot to ask but can you give me a rough pattern to get me started to make this cute scarf as a shawl? I’d like to make it appropriately 20” to 24” wide and continue until I use up three skeins of cattail silk. Thanks!
Hi Pat,
That’s a great question! I’d recommend starting the small size and then from there, you can continue knitting the pattern as long as you’d like. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi, I made the medium size and, while it was simple and fun to knit, the finished piece is not square–it’s 30 inches long by 27 inches wide. Is this intentional, or did I do something wrong?
Also, the yarn has an odor that did not come out in the blocking process. I have more Cattail in a second color, and it also has the odor. Can you suggest how to wash the odor out?
Thank you,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Thanks for writing in, and I’m happy to answer your questions! When projects come out to unexpected dimensions, it’s most often due to an incorrect gauge. Could you please let me know your gauge (both stitch and row) measurements so I can see if that might be the root of the problem?
In answer to your other question, the smell that you are experiencing is likely the natural smell of silk. As Cattail Silk is a very lightly processed silk, this smell can occur and its potency tends to vary from skein to skein. The good news is it usually fades over time naturally and we have found that once it is outside a plastic bag and blocked using a leave-in wool wash, the smell disappears. Even when leaving the yarn in just a cloth bag as opposed to plastic, we’ve noticed the odor disappeared entirely in just a week or so!
All the best,
Lili