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Ways to Modify Your Tonquin Wrap for the Knit-Along

Sandi Rosner September 12, 2022
12 Comments
Sandi's Tonquin Wrap in progress with a plate of cookies
✓Let the Interweave Knits Winter 2024 issue transport you to a winter wonderland of cozy knits! This remarkable edition features 14 extraordinary projects to immerse yourself in the uniqueness of specially crafted yarns.

It’s an occupational hazard. Whenever I look at a knitting pattern, I think “That’s cool, but…” Then I start making a mental list of all the things I would have done differently. I can’t remember the last time I knit a pattern exactly as written, even when it was one of my own designs.

Above: Sandi’s Tonquin Wrap in progress. And cookies.

The Tonquin Wrap for our upcoming Knit-Along is no different. I’m going to be making some modifications to the design as I knit this project. I thought you might want to make some mods of your own, so let’s run down some possibilities for you to consider.

If you haven’t yet signed up for the Tonquin Wrap Knit-Along, it’s not too late to get your free pattern and join in the fun. I’m using Plymouth Yarn’s Homestead, a lovely Aran weight 100% wool yarn, and Takumi bamboo circular needles from Clover in size US 9.

Front view of the Tonquin Wap knitting pattern
The Tonquin Wrap by Karen Bourquin

As designed, the Tonquin Wrap is a rectangle with a finished size of 18″ wide and 55¼” long. The main body of the wrap is a completely reversible pattern of garter stitch punctuated with ribbed reversible cables. The ends of the wrap are worked in K2, P2 ribbing. One long edge is finished with a sweet little ribbed shawl collar, while the other edge sports a 4″ long fringe.

Modifying the Size

Maybe you look at this design and you think “I don’t really wear shawls, but I can imagine this as a scarf”. Or “I need a new throw for my living room, and this cozy, reversible design could be just the thing.” We say go for it!

Swatch for the Tonquin Wrap
My Tonquin Wrap swatch

This stitch pattern works over a multiple of 20 stitches plus 10. If you cast on 50 stitches, instead of the 90 needed for the wrap, your scarf would be about 11″ wide. Knit your scarf 70″ long (one additional repeat of the 58-row chart pattern). You’ll need just 5 skeins of yarn instead of the 6 needed for the wrap.

Related: How to Read a Knitting Chart

For a throw about 42″ wide and 55″ long, cast on 190 stitches and work to the length specified in the pattern. You’ll need 14 skeins of yarn.

For my Tonquin Wrap, I’m going to work the original width, but I want it longer. I have broad shoulders and an ample bust, and I prefer a more generous wrap. I’ll cast on the 90 stitches called for in the pattern, and I’ll work an additional repeat of the 58-row chart pattern. I’ll end up with a wrap about 70″ long. I’ve ordered 8 skeins of yarn to allow for this additional length.

Modifying the Edges

If you’re making a blanket or scarf instead of a wrap, you’ll obviously want to skip the shawl collar. For my wrap, I’m going to include the collar. I think it will be nice to have that extra snuggle around the back of my neck.

I’m going to omit the fringe from the other side. Fringe just isn’t my style. If you are a fringe lover, you could choose to fringe both sides. For extra boho credit, go ahead and put fringe all along the edge of the collar! You might also opt for fringe on the ends instead of (or in addition to) the long side edges.

Since I’m skipping the fringe, I need to think about how that edge of my wrap will look.

Selvedge options for garter stitch
Slip stitch selvedge on the left; garter stitch selvedge on the right

I’ve decided to work a slip stitch chain selvedge to make a tidy edge along the side of the garter stitch. I’m going to use this selvedge along both edges so I won’t have to think about which side I’m working while I knit the piece. To accomplish this, I’ll simply slip the first stitch of each row as if to purl with yarn in front.

Modifying the Stitch Pattern

Our Content Manager, Kerry, has decided to knit her Tonquin Wrap with some changes to the stitch pattern. Kerry prefers to work reversible cables in twisted ribbing instead of standard ribbing. To carry this feeling throughout, she is also planning to substitute twisted K1, P1 rib for the K2, P2 rib at the ends of the wrap. It’s going to be a Twisted Tonquin!

Tonquin Wrap swatch with twisted stitches in the cables
Kerry’s Twisted Tonquin modifications

To make your own Twisted Tonquin, begin your wrap with twisted K1, P1 ribbing, working all stitches through the back loop. After the 8 rows of ribbing, work all stitches in the cable chart (both knit and purl stitches) through the back loop. Don’t forget to knit and purl through the back loop when working the cable rows. The garter stitch panels remain as designed; knit those stitches through the front loop as usual.

You Do You

Just like with every knitting project, you get to decide whether you want to modify the pattern or not. The knitting police will not come to your house and confiscate your stash if you decide to freestyle your Tonquin. For me, one of the pleasures of a Knit-Along is seeing all the different interpretations of the pattern!

Will you be modifying your Tonquin Wrap, or knitting the pattern as written? Let me know in the comments. If you run into issues along the way, I’ll be in the Tonquin KAL chat ready to help. I can’t wait to see what you make!

Sandi Rosner
Technical Content Editor, Yarn

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  1. Joanne Moore October 20, 2022

    I am enjoying making this comfy cozy wrap with yarn from my stash by Stylecraft called Charleston. Just about finished with the length. Thinking about putting ribbing on both sides, but, only the one side having the collar. Also, having thoughts about adding pockets. Please, others give me your thoughts on the addition of pockets. I was already too far along to change my mind on the slipped edge stitch which I am doing. Now, I know about the tell tale pickup ridge because of the need to knit the picked up stitches. I would have chosen to just knit all edge stitches. Sorry, I tried to include a picture but this sight didn’t like my methods of transferring a picture.

  2. Claudia Good October 9, 2022

    Thee heather grey is stash yarn. This is my swatch. I’m happy with it, the feel and I think it will drape. However, we have had a sudden visit to family come up which involves a plane ride. Gone back to my stash and have a lovely green, lightweight yarn that will make a soft, warm scarf for a Christmas present. It will travel much better. That’s for the new technique

  3. Joanne Moore October 3, 2022

    My! So many of you have gotten so very far along on your wrap. I haven’t gotten very far but I am enjoying the project. I have read some of the conversations. The one concerning the cables, the first cable I held the stitches on the cable needle to the front. I believe, the other cable is where you hold the cable needle to the back. This is a new computer. When I get better using it I will send a picture of my wrap. I am using yarn from my stash, Stylecraft’s Charleston is soft yellow, very comfy cozy.

    1. Sandi Rosner October 3, 2022

      Hello! Thanks for chiming in!
      In this design, none of the cables require holding the cable needle to the back. All the cables are made by slipping 5 sts to cable needle and holding to front, working the next 5 sts, then working the sts from the cable needle. BUT—two of the cable rows are wrong side rows, and two are right side rows. Rows 9 and 47 are right side rows with cables. Rows 18 and 38 are wrong side rows with cables. In addition, the cables on Rows 9 and 38 are worked as p1, k1. The cables on Rows 18 and 47 are worked as k1, p1. In all cases, you’re simply continuing the existing ribbing pattern. If the next stitch to be worked looks like a knit stitch, then knit it. If it looks like a purl stitch, then purl it.
      Looking forward to seeing a photo of your wrap in progress. I haven’t seen this design in yellow yet.
      Sandi

    1. Sandi Rosner September 28, 2022

      I think one of the nicest features of this design is that it’s completely reversible – both sides of the fabric are exactly the same. If you switch from garter stitch to stockinette stitch for the panels between the cables, you’ll loose the reversibility. But it’s your wrap, and you do you.
      Be sure to join us in the Tonquin KAL forum and share a photo of your swatch. I’m looking forward to seeing what you decide.

  5. Jodycorm September 26, 2022

    Hello I’m trying to follow the chart and I’m confused with the dots why is there one dot in some boxes and two in others the key only shows one dot in the box what do you do for the two

    1. Sandi Rosner September 26, 2022

      Hello – I’m wondering if there was a problem when you printed your pattern. I’m looking at the chart, and there are no boxes with two dots.
      There are only 4 symbols used in this chart: an open box, which means knit on the RS, purl on the WS; a box with a dot, which means purl on the RS, knit on the WS; and the two 5/5 ribbed cable symbols, one of which starts with a purl stitch, and the other of which starts with a knit stitch.
      Please join us on the Tonquin KAL page for lots of help from people who are knitting along: https://www.interweave.com/plus/groups/knitting/forum/discussion/tonquin-wrap

  6. craftymum72 September 15, 2022

    So looking forward to joining another KAL. The shawl earlier this year was really fun! I will definitely be making mine bigger. I like a wrap to cover my whole back, so will be making it a bit wider and probably longer too. I have three options to choose from for yarn. I was very lucky to pick up some bargains last year, and should have enough of any of them. The hardest part last time was choosing yarn, and have to admit (sigh) swatches were the only way to work out what i liked in the end.

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