Wrap in Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted - ER9-01 - Downloadable PDF

Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted Wrap – Pattern ER9-01

This knitting pattern from Ella Rae produces a beautifully elegant wrap worked in a repeating lace stitch known as the Lily of the Valley Pattern. Finished dimensions are approximately 35 cm (13¾ in) wide and 150 cm (59 in) long, making it a generously sized accessory that drapes gracefully over the shoulders or wraps comfortably around the neck. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters eager to cast on right away.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted wrap — a long, rectangular textile accessory that sits somewhere between a scarf and a shawl in terms of proportions. Its slim width and generous length make it versatile enough to wear loosely draped, wrapped once around the neck, or folded and pinned as a light shoulder covering. The lace patterning gives the wrap an airy, refined appearance without sacrificing warmth, making it suitable for transitional seasons or as an elegant evening accessory.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted, a worsted-weight yarn sold in 100g hanks
• Quantity: 4 hanks in a single colour (colour number 127)
• Needles: One pair of 4.50mm (US 7) straight knitting needles

Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted is a worsted-weight yarn with a merino wool base, which means the finished wrap will have a soft, smooth hand feel with excellent drape — qualities that are particularly well-suited to lace knitting at this weight. Merino fibres are known for their fine, non-scratchy texture, making this wrap comfortable to wear directly against the skin. The worsted weight also means the lace pattern remains clearly defined without becoming too delicate or fragile.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 21 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm (approximately 4 in) of the Lily of the Valley Pattern using 4.50mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is important for this project, as it directly affects the finished width and length of the wrap. Knitters are encouraged to work a swatch in pattern before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The wrap is constructed entirely in the Lily of the Valley Pattern, a 12-row lace repeat worked across 74 cast-on stitches. The pattern repeat is worked four times across each right-side row, framed by edge stitches. The key stitches and techniques involved include:

• Knit stitch (k) — the foundation of the fabric, used extensively across all right-side rows
• Purl stitch (p) — all even-numbered (wrong-side) rows are purled entirely, creating a smooth reverse stocking stitch base that allows the lace to read clearly on the right side
• Yarn forward (yf) — a special abbreviation defined in the pattern, used to create a new stitch between two knit stitches, forming the characteristic open eyelets of the lace design
• Purl two together (p2tog) — a decrease worked on right-side rows to compensate for the yarn-forward increases, maintaining the stitch count while shaping the lace motif

The combination of yarn forward increases and p2tog decreases is a classic lace construction technique. The increases create decorative holes or eyelets, while the decreases keep the overall stitch count stable. Because the decreases in this pattern are worked as purl two together on right-side rows (rather than the more common knit-based decreases), they produce a subtly textured, directional effect that contributes to the flowing, organic appearance of the Lily of the Valley motif.

Pattern Structure

The 12-row Lily of the Valley Pattern repeat is structured as follows: right-side rows (odd rows 1 through 11) carry all the lace shaping, while wrong-side rows (rows 2