Stolzl Bed Runner in Rowan Handknit Cotton - Downloadable PDF

Stölzl Bed Runner in Rowan Handknit Cotton – Pattern Summary

The Stölzl Bed Runner is a beautifully structured knitted home accessory designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Worked in Rowan Handknit Cotton DK, this project creates a striking striped bed runner through the assembly of individually knitted strips arranged in both vertical and horizontal orientations. The finished piece is rated as beginner level, making it an ideal project for those new to knitting who want to create something bold, graphic, and genuinely useful for the home.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a bed runner — a decorative textile panel designed to be laid across the foot or length of a bed. The design is inspired by the geometric, colour-blocked aesthetic associated with the Stölzl name, referencing the Bauhaus weaving tradition of bold, rhythmic stripe work. The runner is constructed from a series of narrow knitted strips that are laid out and joined together, creating the appearance of an intricate woven or striped textile. The result is a graphic, modern piece that works beautifully as a home décor accent.

Construction Method

The bed runner is built from 52 individual knitted strips in total, divided into two orientations:

• Vertical strips: A total of 40 strips are made — 14 in yarn A, 13 in yarn B, and 13 in yarn C. Each vertical strip is cast on with 126 stitches using a standard pair of 4mm (US 6) needles.
• Horizontal strips: A total of 12 strips are made — 4 in yarn A, 4 in yarn B, and 4 in yarn C. Each horizontal strip is cast on with 406 stitches and requires a 4mm (US 6) circular needle at least 100 cm long to accommodate the large stitch count.

All strips — both vertical and horizontal — are worked in the same straightforward manner: 13 rows of garter stitch, ending with the wrong side facing, then cast off knitwise on the wrong side. Once all strips are complete, they are laid out using a diagram as a guide, with a 1 cm spacing between vertical strips, and the horizontal strips are interlaced or joined to create the final grid-like composition.

Techniques Used

• Garter stitch (g st): Every strip in this pattern is worked entirely in garter stitch — the simplest of all knitting textures, created by knitting every row. Garter stitch produces a squishy, reversible fabric with a ridged horizontal texture, making it ideal for a flat, stable home accessory like a bed runner. Because both sides look identical, the finished runner has a clean, professional appearance from any angle.
• Casting on and casting off: A standard cast-on is used for all strips. The cast-off is worked knitwise on the wrong side, which gives a neat, consistent edge on the right side of the fabric.
• Modular strip construction: Rather than knitting the entire runner in one piece, the design uses a modular approach — each strip is knitted separately and then assembled. This technique keeps the knitting manageable and portable, and allows the colour arrangement to be planned and adjusted before final joining.
• Making up and pressing: Once all strips are complete, the runner is assembled by laying out the vertical strips with the specified spacing and integrating the horizontal strips according to the pattern diagram. The finished piece is pressed as directed.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch — worked throughout all strips by knitting every row
• Knitwise cast-off — used to finish every strip neatly on the wrong side

Colourways

The pattern offers two colourway options, each using three shades of Rowan Handknit Cotton:

• Colourway 1: Yarn A – Raspberry 356, Yarn B – Forest 370, Yarn C – Linen 205