by Veera Välimäki

This wrap is a simple study of pleats. It’s all about the beautiful yarn and texture working together. It’s both easy and fun!

Pop Block is a rectangular wrap, worked completely in garter stitch. It has four pleated sections that shape the wrap and give it more textural depth.

Pop Block will surely keep you warm through the coldest days of the year.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 75 inches
Width: 20 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
The Sanguine Gryphon Traveller [100% Merino; 280 yd/256 m per 114g skein]; color: Mumbai; 4 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #6/4mm circular needle; 20 inches or longer

Notions
yarn needle

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

DIRECTIONS
CO 90 stitches. Do not join in round.

Work in garter stitch (knitting every row) until the piece measures 10 inches. 

Begin pleating as follows:

First pleats
Pleat row 1 [RS]: K10, *pick up the next stitch from 12 rows (6th ridge) below, place it on left needle and knit together the picked up loop with the next live stitch; repeat from * 9 more times, k to end.

Knit 17 rows.

Repeat the last 18 rows twice more, then work Pleat row 1 once more. 4 pleats.

Continue in garter stitch for an additional 6 inches.

Second pleats
Pleat row 2 [RS]: K30, *pick up the next stitch from 12 rows (6th ridge) below, place it on left needle and knit together the picked up loop with the next live stitch; repeat from * 9 more times, k to end.

Repeat the last 18 rows twice more, then work Pleat row 2 once more. 8 pleats.

Third pleats
Pleat row 3 [RS]: K50, *pick up the next stitch from 12 rows (6th ridge) below, place it on left needle and knit together the picked up loop with the next live stitch; repeat from * 9 more times, k to end.

Repeat the last 18 rows twice more, then work Pleat row 3 once more. 12 pleats.

Continue in garter stitch for an additional 6 inches.

Fourth pleats
Pleat row 4 [RS]: K70, *pick up the next stitch from 12 rows (6th ridge) below, place it on left needle and knit together the picked up loop with the next live stitch; repeat from * 9 more times, k to end.

Repeat the last 18 rows twice more, and work Pleat row 4 once more. 16 pleats.

Continue in garter stitch until wrap measures 75 inches in length. BO loosely.

FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Block.

Veera Välimäki lives and designs in Southern Finland. Veera is a master of casting on for new sweaters; she loves garter stitch and all kinds of short rows. She can’t wait to teach her little boys to knit. 

You can follow her process in knitting on her blog 100% rain.