Hearthstone Wrap

Hearthstone Wrap by Amanda Hester Smith

Project Overview

The Hearthstone Wrap is a beginner-friendly knitted shawl designed by Amanda Hester Smith. This unisex wrap celebrates the warmth and comfort of home, drawing inspiration from the hearth as a gathering place. The design grows slowly and deliberately, creating a garment that is both soft and reliable while embodying qualities of belonging and simplicity.

What Is Being Made

This is a triangular wrap shawl with finished measurements of 55 inches (140 cm) wingspan by 15 inches (38 cm) depth. The wrap is designed as an unisex accessory suitable for anyone seeking a cozy, versatile layer that combines functionality with meaningful design.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Hearthstone Wrap employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner-level crafters. The construction uses a two-color approach, incorporating both a main color and contrasting color throughout the design. The piece is worked on circular needles in stages, utilizing different needle sizes to achieve specific fabric characteristics. Blocking is an essential finishing technique used to set the gauge and shape of the completed wrap.

Stitches and Stitch Work

• Garter Stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the wrap, created by knitting every row. This classic stitch produces a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges.
• Knit Stitch (k): The fundamental knitting stitch used to build the fabric structure.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A decrease stitch that reduces the stitch count by one, used to shape the wrap as it develops.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts BFL Sport weight yarn, made from 100% Bluefaced Leicester fiber. The project requires two colors: Winter Solstice (main color) at 265 yards (241 meters) and Hot Rod Red (contrasting color) at 190 yards (173 meters), totaling approximately 455 yards from a single 661-yard (604-meter) skein.

Needles: The pattern uses two different circular needle sizes. US 7 (4.5 mm) long circular needles are used for the main fabric work, while US 9 (5.5 mm) 32-inch circular needles are also required for specific sections of the construction.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 32 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch using the smaller needles (US 7) after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Additional Notions: A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in yarn ends, and blocking supplies are required to finish the wrap properly and set the final dimensions.

Yarn Weight and Fiber Content

Sport weight yarn is a lightweight to medium-weight yarn category, making it ideal for creating garments with drape and fluidity while maintaining structure. The Bluefaced Leicester fiber used in this project is known for its softness, luster, and resilience, providing a durable yet comfortable finished garment. This fiber choice supports the wrap's intended qualities of softness and reliability.

Design Philosophy

The Hearthstone Wrap embodies the concept of hearth as both a physical heat source and a metaphorical symbol of home, family, and belonging. The slow, deliberate growth of the wrap during the knitting process mirrors the gradual building of comfort and connection that characterizes a true home. This design is accessible to beginners while delivering a meaningful, finished accessory.