This generously sized wrap sets a wide lace panel alongside simple stockinette. Increases and decreases sculpt the edge of the stockinette panel, allowing it to echo the natural curves of the lace. Oscilla is a perfect match for lightly variegated yarn: the swirling shapes of the lace pattern soften the variegations, harmoniously merging color and texture, while the stockinette panel reveals them, adding interest to an otherwise plain surface.

Originally I planned to design a crescent-shaped wrap with tapered ends, but then I fell in love with a particular look I noticed in several different photos and store windows: an oversized rectangular scarf, worn with ends hanging free in front and back, and the body of the scarf appearing to have been tossed carelessly about the shoulders, with the upper edge falling in perfect folds around the face and neck.

Of course, this sort of artfully casual style takes a fair amount of fiddling to get it just right, so to make Oscilla easier to wear (and to decrease the bunching and folding along the upper edge), I used short rows to curve the simple rectangular shape so that it wraps around the shoulders. The short rows are grouped into four wedges, which vary in size with garment size, and are meant to lie on the front and back of each shoulder (centered over where raglan seams would be located); this is why the pattern has been written to fit different sizes. However, sizing is quite forgiving (see Notes for more information on choosing the correct size), and the ends of the wrap are worked straight, so their length can be easily changed. One end is purposely longer than the other, so the wearer can choose whether to place the longer end over the back, or over the front.

Difficulty: Intermediate; skills include reading a lace chart, lace knitting on all pattern rows, short row shaping, and increasing and decreasing.

Yarn: Shalimar Yarns Enzo Worsted (70% superwash merino wool/20% cashmere/10% nylon, 235 yd (212 m)/3.5 oz (100 g) skein, Silver Sage, 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins.

Needles: US size 6/4.0 mm: straight or circular, 20”/50 cm or longer. US size 4/3.5 mm: straight or circular, 20”/50 cm or longer, for ribbing. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions: Markers (m); removable m; tapestry needle.

Gauge: 20 sts/28 rows to 4”/10 cm in stockinette st on larger needles. Measure gauge on blocked swatch.

Notes
Neck and bottom edge circumferences do not include the straight ends of the wrap, and are meant to be a rough estimate of the circumference of these edges when the wrap is worn with the short row wedges falling on the front and back of the shoulders, and ends overlapped (see photos). To choose size, hold a measuring tape around bust AND arms, with elbows held slightly away from your sides. This measurement should approximate the bottom edge circumference shown under “Sizes and Garment Measurements.” (Of course these circumferences are highly variable when the wrap is worn, depending on how tightly it is wound around the shoulders.)

Sizes: XS (S-M, M-L, 1X, 2X, 3X), to fit bust sizes APPROX 28-30 (32-36, 38-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54)“/ 71-76 (81-91, 96-107, 112-117, 112-127, 132-137) cm.

Wrap dimensions:
Bottom edge circumference (see Notes): 41.75 (48, 53.75, 62.75, 68.5, 74.25)“/ 106 (122, 136.5 , 159.5, 174, 188.5) cm
Neck edge circumference: 23.5 (25.5, 26.25, 28.5, 28.5, 28.5)”/ 59.5 (64, 67, 72.5, 72.5, 72.5) cm
Bottom (lace) edge total length: 68 (74.75, 81.75, 92, 98.75, 102.25)“/ 172.5 (190, 207.5, 233.5, 251, 260) cm
Width: 11.5 (11.5, 12.5, 12.75, 13.5, 13.5)”/ 29.5 (29.5, 31.5, 32.5, 34.5, 34.5) cm

Shown in size S-M on mannequin with bust measurement of 34”.