Henie Wrap

Henie Wrap by Zsuzsanna Orthodoxou

What is Being Made

The Henie Wrap is a versatile, eye-catching shawl designed by Zsuzsanna Orthodoxou. This wrap features a unique stitch pattern and is worked flat in a single piece, making it an ideal project for knitters who enjoy the meditative process of wrap knitting. The finished wrap measures approximately 38 cm (15.25 inches) in width and 202.5 cm (81 inches) in length when blocked, creating a generous rectangular wrap suitable for various styling options.

Construction Method

The Henie Wrap is constructed using a bottom-to-top border approach, worked flat in one continuous piece. This method allows knitters to adjust the final size by modifying the number of pattern repeats, providing flexibility for customization. The design emphasizes the meditative and relaxing nature of wrap knitting, encouraging knitters to focus on watching the growth of beautiful stitch patterns as they progress through the project.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project incorporates several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch used throughout the wrap
• Purl stitch (p): Used in combination with knit stitches to create the eye-catching pattern
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A single right-leaning decrease used to shape and detail the wrap
• Cast on (CO): Used to establish the initial stitches at the beginning of the project
• Bind off (BO): Used to secure stitches at the completion of the wrap
• Marker placement (pm): Markers are used to track pattern repeats and maintain stitch accuracy

The pattern is organized into repeating sections: a 24-stitch pattern repeat worked across 3 repeats for the width, and a 32-row pattern repeat worked across 19 repeats for the length. The use of charts and written instructions supports knitters in executing the stitch pattern accurately.

Yarn and Materials

The Henie Wrap is designed to be knitted with worsted weight yarn. The recommended yarn is Malabrigo Rios in the colorway Frank (color 035), a 100% merino wool yarn. The project requires approximately 575 grams or 1104 meters (1208 yards) of yarn, equivalent to 6 skeins. Knitters will need appropriate needles sized for worsted weight yarn to achieve proper gauge and fabric drape.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Henie Wrap is suitable for knitters with foundational skills in basic stitches and pattern reading. The combination of knit and purl stitches, along with simple decreases, makes this an accessible yet engaging project that allows intermediate knitters to develop confidence in following stitch patterns and working with charts.