Do you ever find a yarn that you instantly want to use for everything under the sun? That is the case for me with Lion Brand's new Touch of Cashmere! I have notebooks overflowing with ideas for patterns, and I can truly see this yarn suiting the majority of them. Expect to see it show up in lots of future designs, but without further ado, I present to you the new Shadowplay Wrap! Scroll down to find the free pattern, grab the printable, ad-free PDF here or shop the full yarn kit from Lion Brand (45% off the first week, such an amazing deal!) here.

First let's talk about this yarn. Not only is it incredibly soft, it's also a cashmere/acrylic blend so you get the durability and ease of care that comes with an acrylic yarn as well. Cashmere, which comes from goats, is one of the most luxurious fibers in the world and is known for its softness and lightweight nature that's also crazy warm - did you know cashmere is 3-8 times warmer than sheep's wool depending on the quality!? The softness of cashmere yarn is partly due to the short length of the fiber, which unfortunately makes it pill much easier as well. Cashmere can only be collected once a year and is in much less supply than wool, making the cost of this fiber quite high.

Acrylic is known for its durability, washability, and low price. Bringing these two fibers together creates a yarn that is soft and lightweight, warm, less expensive, durable and much less likely to pill, and 100% machine washable and dryable! I'm also in love with all of the colors Touch of Cashmere comes in, and there are so many beautiful combinations than can be put together with this palette.

While I do have so many plans for Touch of Cashmere, I decided to start with a simple garter stitch wrap for a few reasons. First, the main goal was to make something simple enough for even a beginner to tackle so that as many people as possible would be encouraged to try this yarn. All you need to know is how to cast on, knit, increase with a m1l and m1r stitch, and bind off. I have tutorials for each of these techniques right here on my site:

How to Cast On

How to Knit

How to Increase with M1l and M1r

How to Bind Off

Secondly, I wanted a pattern where the yarn would be the star so I could really show it off. No crazy stitch combos or color work, just a sea of soothing and squishy garter stitch. Lastly, I wanted design that would really accent and compliment the softness of the yarn. Garter stitch is so tactile and fun to touch, and I absolutely love how the simplicity of it adds to the lightweight nature of this yarn and makes this such a warm, cozy wrap that you can really bundle up in without it weighing you down.

Uneven striping is a favorite of mine. It's a great way to add personality and individuality to an otherwise repetitive technique. I love my Coffee Shop Wrap for that reason and even used that design as inspiration for this one. The Coffee Shop Wrap is worked up in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton and uses yarn overs to create eyelets at all of the increases, as well as a row of eyelets at each of the color changes. This makes for a cooling, light layer that's perfect for chilly summer evenings. I wanted the Shadowplay Wrap to be more appropriate for colder temps, so I swapped out the yarn overs for m1l and m1r increases which do not leave holes. I used subtle back and forth striping at each of the color changes instead of eyelet rows, and I kept the center spine garter so that the wrap could be reversible depending on which side of the fabric you prefer.

Tassels are probably my favorite accent to any knit or crochet piece, so of course I had to add some to this wrap! I used contrasting colors for the tassels and their ties to further play on the name. The addition of these tassels will make you even more drawn to swinging this thing around and wrapping up in it!

This is an easy level pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch and the m1l and m1r increase stitches.

MATERIALS:

1 skein each Lion Brand Yarn Touch of Cashmere in Portobello (678-123) for color A, Iron (678-152) for color B, Basil (678-178) for color C, and Gull Grey (678-149) for color D
Size US 10 (6mm) circular knitting needles, 29”/75cm or longer
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZE:

(A) Length to point: 28”/71cm
(B) Width: 62”/157cm

GAUGE:

14 sts + 32 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch

ABBREVIATIONS:

*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms

CO – cast on
K – knit
M1l – make 1 left
M1r – make 1 right
Pm – place marker
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
Sm – slip marker
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side

Note: Wrap is worked from the top down, increasing 4 sts on every other row. The bound off edge forms the outer v-shaped sides and it is important to bind off loosely to prevent this edge from pulling and to allow it to drape nicely.

With color A, CO 7.

Set up row: K 3, pm, K 1, pm, K 3.

Row 1 (RS): K 1, m1r, K to marker, m1r, sm, K 1, sm, m1l, K to last st, m1l, K 1. (11 sts)

Row 2 (WS): K, slipping markers.

Rep rows 1 and 2, changing colors as follows:

Rows 3-70: Color A. (147 sts)

Rows 71-78: Color B. (163 sts)

Rows 79 and 80: Color A. (167 sts)

Rows 81-106: Color B. (219 sts)

Rows 107-112: Color C. (231 sts)

Rows 113 and 114: Color B. (235 sts)

Rows 115-134: Color C. (275 sts)

Rows 135-138: Color D. (283 sts)

Rows 139 and 140: Color C. (287 sts)

Rows 141-154: Color D. (315 sts)

Bind off loosely.

Secure and weave in all ends.

Tassels:

Cut ninety 10”/25cm lengths and three 18”/46cm lengths of color B and three 18”/46cm lengths of color C. Divide the 10”/25cm lengths into three groups of 30. Tie each bundle at the middle point with one of the 18”/46cm lengths of color B. Fold each bundle in half so that the tie is at the tip of the loop created with the fold.

Tie crosswise around each folded bundle about 1⁄2”/1.25cm below top of fold with remaining 18”/46cm lengths of color C. Wrap the tails of the ties around and around the bundles and then thread them inside and down the middle of the bundles with a tapestry needle. Tie the tops of the tassels onto the 3 corners of the wrap and knot to secure. Thread the tails inside and down the middle of the tassels using a tapestry needle. Trim tassels to desired length.

Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.

Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.

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The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Two of Wands. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please visit my policies for more information.