Looks complicated, but it’s easy, because you work with only one color at a time to make the cable panels, then sew them together to create the effect of stripes. Even if you’ve never done cables before, the yarn is so thick that you’ll find it easy to work this bold braid.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
Each cable panel took 2½ hours; sewing them together and making the tassels took about 1½ hours: 9 hours total.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Rowan Big Wool is a thick, soft 100% merino wool yarn. There are 87 yds. (80 m) to a 100 g (approx. 3½ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width: 17½ in. (44.5 cm); length: 55 in. (140 cm) (excluding tassels).
YOU WILL NEED
• 5 x 100 g (approx. 17½ oz.) balls of Rowan Big Wool in Ice Blue, shade 21 (A)
• 3 x 100 g (approx. 10½ oz.) balls same in Whoosh, shade 14 (B)
• pair of size US 17 (12 mm) knitting needles
• large cable needle
GAUGE
17 sts measure 6 in. (15 cm); 11 rows 4 in. (10 cm), over cable panel patt on size US 17 (12 mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
c6b = slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k3, k3 from cable needle; c6f = slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, k3, k3 from cable needle; cont = continue; k = knit; patt = pattern; p = purl; RS = right side; st(s) = stitch(es).
CABLE PANEL
Using A, cast on 19 sts.
Row 1 (RS) K3, p2, k9, p2, k3.
Row 2 P3, k2, p9, k2, p3.
Row 3 K3, p2, c6b, k3, p2, k3.
Rows 4, 5, and 6 Work Rows 2, 1, and 2 again.
Row 7 K3, p2, k3, c6f, p2, k3.
Row 8 As Row 2.
These 8 rows form cable panel patt. Patt 145 more rows, ending with a patt Row 1. Bind off knitwise.
Make one more cable panel in A and one in panel B.
TO FINISH
Placing B panel in the center, sew the panels together with mattress stitch (see page 154). Make 14 x 5- in. (12-cm) tassels, using 11 strands of yarn, 16 in. (40 cm) long, for each tassel. Sew 7 tassels on each end of the wrap.
TIPS
• Each panel takes 2 balls of yarn. If you want a wrap without the tassels, you’ll need one ball less in each color.
• If you want a wider wrap, make more panels, allowing two extra balls of yarn for each 6-in.- (15-cm)- wide panel.
• If you want a longer wrap, simply work longer panels. For example, one extra ball of A would allow you to make each of the 2 panels in A approximately 14 in. (35 cm) longer.
Join boldly cabled strips to make this wonderful wrap.
