K528-Bumpy Road Wrap

K528 – Bumpy Road Wrap by Nazanin Fard

Project Overview

The Bumpy Road Wrap is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Nazanin Fard. This elegant wrap features a distinctive cable pattern that creates visual texture and dimension. The finished wrap measures approximately 62 inches (157 cm) by 12 inches (30 cm) without edging, expanding to approximately 68 inches (173 cm) by 18 inches (46 cm) when the edging is included, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering and styling.

What Is Being Made

The Bumpy Road Wrap is a rectangular knitted wrap designed to drape elegantly across the shoulders. The wrap combines garter stitch sections with decorative cable work, creating a garment with both textural interest and practical wearability. The design is straightforward in construction, allowing knitters at the intermediate skill level to successfully complete the project while working with engaging stitch patterns.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate techniques. The primary construction method uses garter stitch as the base fabric, which creates a reversible, textured surface. The signature design element features cable knitting, specifically the Marrowbone Pattern, which involves crossing groups of stitches to create raised, twisted lines across the fabric. Cable work requires the use of a cable needle to temporarily hold stitches while others are worked, creating the characteristic bumpy, dimensional appearance that gives the wrap its name.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Bumpy Road Wrap utilizes the following stitch work:

• Garter Stitch: The foundational stitch used throughout the wrap, created by knitting every row. This stitch provides stability and a classic textured appearance.
• Marrowbone Pattern: A repeating cable pattern worked over a multiple of 12 stitches plus 4 additional stitches. The pattern alternates between knit and purl sections with a 3/3 Left Cross (3/3 LC) cable maneuver. This cross is executed by slipping 3 stitches onto a cable needle and holding them to the front, knitting the next 3 stitches, then knitting the 3 stitches from the cable needle. This creates the distinctive raised, twisted lines characteristic of cable knitting.

The stitch gauge is 18 stitches and 16 rows per 4 inches when worked in garter stitch with size 7 needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Materials and Tools

The Bumpy Road Wrap is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, specifically requiring approximately 1020 yards (933 meters) of material. The sample project was created using Plymouth Baby Alpaca Worsted, a 100% baby alpaca yarn in Off White colorway (#100). This yarn is supplied in hanks of 1¾ ounces (50 grams) with 102 yards (93 meters) per hank; the project requires 10 hanks total.

Essential tools for completing this wrap include size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles for the main fabric, a cable needle for executing the cable crosses, stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and maintain stitch counts, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing the garment.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated at an intermediate level of experience. While the construction is relatively straightforward, the cable work and pattern repetition require familiarity with cable techniques and the ability to read and follow a multi-row stitch pattern consistently. Knitters should be comfortable with cable stitches and maintaining gauge before beginning this project.