Fairisle Wrap in Rowan Kid Classic - Downloadable PDF

Fairisle Wrap in Rowan Kid Classic

What is Being Made

This is a triangular wrap designed by Quail Studio, crafted using the fairisle knitting technique. The finished wrap measures 180 cm (70¾ inches) at its widest point with a depth of 65.5 cm (25¾ inches) from the cast-on edge to the point. The wrap is worked as a large triangle, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a shawlette.

Knitting Techniques

Fairisle Knitting: This wrap employs the fairisle technique, a traditional method of color work that involves carrying multiple yarn colors across rows to create intricate patterned designs. The fairisle pattern is worked in stockinette stitch, with the design repeated across the width of the piece. The chart is worked over 12-stitch repeats, repeated 27 times across the cast-on stitches, creating a cohesive all-over pattern.

Directional Chart Reading: The pattern requires knitters to read the fairisle chart bidirectionally—odd-numbered rows are worked from right to left, while even-numbered rows are worked from left to right. This is standard practice when working flat pieces with color patterns. The chart contains 92 rows of fairisle patterning.

Shaping: After completing the 92 rows of the fairisle chart, the wrap transitions to working in a single color (Navy) while simultaneously decreasing one stitch at each end of the rows. This shaping creates the triangular silhouette characteristic of wrap and shawlette designs, allowing the piece to taper gracefully to a point.

Stitches Used

Stockinette Stitch (st st): The foundation stitch for this entire wrap. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side, providing an ideal canvas for the fairisle color work to stand out clearly.

Fairisle Patterning: Multiple colors are worked into stockinette stitch following a chart, creating a detailed geometric or decorative pattern across the fabric. The tension for the fairisle pattern is specified as 19 stitches and 25 rows to 10 centimeters.

Materials

Yarn: This wrap is designed to be worked in Rowan Kid Classic, an aran-weight yarn. The pattern calls for six different colors from the Rowan Kid Classic range:

• Feather 828 – 1 ball (50 grams)
• Tattoo 856 – 1 ball (50 grams)
• Bittersweet 866 – 1 ball (50 grams)
• Champagne 898 – 1 ball (50 grams)
• Drought 876 – 1 ball (50 grams)
• Navy 917 – 2 balls (100 grams)

The aran weight provides a medium-weight yarn suitable for creating a wrap with good drape and structure, while the Kid Classic fiber content ensures softness and comfort against the skin.

Needles: The pattern requires one pair of 5mm (US 8) circular needles measuring at least 100 centimeters in length. Circular needles are essential for this project because the cast-on width of 331 stitches exceeds the capacity of standard straight needles. The long circular needle accommodates the large number of stitches required for the wrap's generous width.

Difficulty Level

This wrap is rated as an intermediate-level project. Knitters should be comfortable with fairisle color-work techniques, reading charts, managing multiple yarn colors, and working with circular needles before attempting this design. The combination of color patterning, directional chart reading, and simultaneous shaping requires attention to detail and established knitting skills.