Jazzed Up

Jazzed Up Wrap by Susan Pandorf

What Is Being Made

The Jazzed Up Wrap is a knitted shawl designed by Susan Pandorf as part of the Sunflower Designs collection. This wrap measures 20 inches wide by 72 inches long when blocked, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping across shoulders or wearing as a lightweight wrap. The design is knit in one continuous piece from end to end, creating a seamless garment with an elegant, flowing silhouette.

Knitting Techniques

This beginner-friendly knitting project incorporates several fundamental and intermediate techniques that build essential skills. The wrap begins with a ribbed edge to create structure and elasticity, followed by set-up rows that establish the foundation for the main pattern. The primary technique featured throughout the wrap is lace knitting, which creates openwork patterns through strategic yarn overs and decreases. The pattern uses a repeating main motif worked across right-side rows, with stitch counts that decrease on most right-side rows but are restored through additional yarn overs on the following wrong-side rows. This interplay between decreases and yarn overs is characteristic of lace construction and allows the wrap to maintain its dimensions while creating decorative openwork.

Stitches Used

The Jazzed Up Wrap employs a focused selection of stitches appropriate for a beginner-level project:

• Knit stitch (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P) – used in ribbing and set-up rows for texture and structure
• Ribbing (K2, P2 pattern) – creates the elastic edge at the beginning of the wrap
• Yarn over (YO) – creates the openwork holes characteristic of lace patterns
• SK2P (slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) – a centered double decrease used in the main motif
• K3tog (knit 3 together) – a triple decrease creating dramatic shaping in the lace pattern

The main motif repeats across the width of the wrap, with specific rows (1, 5, 9, 21, and 25 on right-side rows) featuring the decrease and yarn over combinations that create the lace design.

Materials and Specifications

The Jazzed Up Wrap is designed to be knitted with dk weight yarn, requiring 4.5 skeins totaling 675 yards. The pattern specifies Malabrigo Silky Merino or other dk weight yarn of similar characteristics, offering flexibility for yarn substitution while maintaining appropriate drape and finished dimensions. The project uses US size 6 needles, which provide the correct gauge for the dk weight yarn. The recommended gauge is 5 stitches per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, ensuring the finished wrap achieves its intended 20-inch width and 72-inch length when properly blocked. The cast-on begins with 87 stitches, providing adequate width for the repeating motif pattern across the wrap.

Project Summary

The Jazzed Up Wrap represents an accessible entry point into lace knitting for beginners, combining straightforward ribbed edges with elegant openwork in the main body. The one-piece construction eliminates seaming, and the repeating motif makes the pattern manageable despite the use of decreases and yarn overs. With approximately 675 yards of dk weight yarn and a moderate length of 72 inches, this wrap offers a quick-knit project that produces a refined, wearable accessory. The design philosophy, inspired by the quote "Life is a lot like jazz... It's best when you improvise," encourages knitters to engage with the pattern while developing essential lace-knitting skills.