Coastal Highway

Coastal Highway Knit Wrap by Lisa Ross

Project Overview

Coastal Highway is an intermediate-level knit wrap designed by Lisa Ross, inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a rectangular wrap that begins as a triangular shawl and expands outward, featuring colorful patterning that evokes the landscape transitions from coastal waters to redwoods to wildflowers. The wrap is worked on the bias to achieve excellent drape and visual impact.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large wrap or shawl with a rectangular final shape. The garment starts as a triangular construction that gradually increases in stitch count before transitioning into the main body with patterned sections. The bias construction creates inherent drape, making this wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement accessory.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Bias knitting – The entire wrap is worked on the bias, which creates natural drape and allows for interesting color and pattern transitions
• Triangular shaping – The wrap begins with triangular construction that expands outward to reach the required stitch count for the main body
• Slip-stitch mosaic patterning – Simple mosaic techniques gradually introduce colorwork elements without the complexity of traditional stranded knitting
• Diamond lace – Predictable lace motifs highlight and showcase each new color section
• Garter stitch – Carefree garter stitch sections are worked between patterned areas to transition between color changes
• Bilateral decreasing – After the final contrast color, stitches are decreased on both sides to create the finishing triangular sections that complete the rectangular shape

Stitches Featured

• Garter stitch – Provides textural contrast and serves as a transitional element between patterned sections
• Slip-stitch mosaic stitches – Creates colorwork patterns without requiring simultaneous manipulation of multiple yarn colors
• Lace stitches – Diamond lace patterns add openwork detail and highlight the colorwork sections
• Decreases – Used symmetrically on both sides during the final shaping phase

Materials and Yarn Weight

Coastal Highway is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, which provides excellent stitch definition for both the mosaic patterning and lace elements. The pattern includes a specific color sequence as shown in the instructions, with multiple contrast colors representing different elements of the Pacific Coast landscape (including a color identified as Giant Sequoias in the provided sequence). Knitters will need appropriate needles for 4-ply yarn and the ability to work with multiple colors throughout the project.

Difficulty Level

This wrap is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the individual techniques—garter stitch, slip-stitch mosaic, and basic lace—are accessible to knitters with foundational skills, the combination of techniques, color changes, and shaping transitions requires intermediate-level pattern reading and execution ability.