My Garden Window

My Garden Window Rectangular Wrap by Michael Harrigan

What is Being Made

My Garden Window is a rectangular wrap shawl designed by independent knitwear designer Michael Harrigan. This knitted shawl measures 56 inches in length and 11 inches in width, making it a versatile rectangular wrap suitable for layering and everyday wear. The design draws inspiration from the designer's garden view and captures the aesthetic of late spring with stitch patterns and colorways that evoke natural foliage and spring flowers.

Design Inspiration and Aesthetic

This shawl is a fantasy interpretation of Michael Harrigan's window view into his garden. The stitch patterns are intentionally designed to resemble foliage and spring flowers, while the color palette reflects the designer's memories of colors that appear during late spring. The combination of stitch work and yarn colors creates a naturalistic, botanical aesthetic that brings garden imagery to life in knitted form.

Knitting Techniques and Stitch Patterns

The My Garden Window wrap employs lace knitting techniques to achieve its garden-inspired visual effects. The primary stitch pattern featured in this design is the Foliage Lace Stitch, which creates openwork sections that resemble natural plant forms and delicate flower petals. The pattern utilizes the technique of knitting or purling through the back loop (tbl), which adds textural variation and dimension to the finished piece.

Lace knitting is an intermediate-level technique that involves creating decorative holes and eyelets through yarn overs and decreases. This method allows knitters to produce intricate, airy stitch patterns that showcase the beauty of the yarn while maintaining structural integrity. The Foliage Lace Stitch pattern in this design repeats to create visual interest across the width and length of the wrap.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern calls for Eden Cottage Yarns HAYTON 4-PLY, a premium yarn blend consisting of 80% Merino wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. The yarn is supplied in 100-gram skeins with a yardage of 350 meters per skein. The pattern requires one skein each of two colorways: Briar Rose (Color A) and Cosmos Flowerbed (Color B), providing approximately 700 meters of total yardage for the completed wrap.

The 4-ply yarn weight is classified as Super Fine, offering a delicate thickness ideal for lace work and creating drape in shawl designs. The fiber composition—combining merino wool's elasticity and warmth with cashmere's softness and nylon's durability—creates a yarn suitable for both comfort and longevity in a frequently worn accessory piece.

Tools and Equipment

Knitters will need a Size 2 (2.75mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) in length, or the size required to achieve the specified gauge. Circular needles are preferred for this rectangular wrap project as they accommodate the width of the piece and allow for comfortable, even knitting across multiple stitches. A tapestry needle is also required for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Gauge and Skill Level

The pattern specifies a gauge of 25 stitches and 35 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in the Lace Wedges pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as intended. The pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, indicating that knitters should have foundational skills in basic stitches and be comfortable working with lace patterns, yarn overs, and decreases.

Pattern Format and Finished Dimensions

My Garden Window is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, making it accessible for immediate use upon purchase. The finished wrap measures 56 inches in length and 11 inches in width, providing a rectangular shape suitable for draping across the shoulders or wrapping around the body for warmth and style.