Published: Lotus Blossom Wrap pattern

My latest magazine commission is now available from all good newsagents!

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I’ve recently had another pattern published, this time in Knit Now magazine. This is another rectangular wrap, like my Poplar Tree Wrap. It looks very different, though, and uses my new favourite stitch: lotus flower.

My Lotus Blossom Wrap pattern in situ. This features in Knit Now 77.

The brief for this was Indian summer, so I wanted something inspired by India’s national flower, the lotus. I Googled it, thinking it might bring up some images I could use as a base to create a lotus using yarn overs or different textured stitches.

Instead it came up with the lotus flower stitch. This is created by knitting five times into a knit five together. This makes a stitch that looks like a five-petalled flower resembling a lotus floating on water. I had the main body of a wrap. Next I worked out a lacy leaf edging to complete the piece.

I wanted a varigated silk yarn for this, and the one suggested by the magazine was lovely. It felt luxurious and the yellow, orange and red colour wss so vibrant. I almost changed the name of the pattern to Fire Lotus, but decided not to as not everyone would use that colour or even that yarn.

The silk wasn’t perfect, though. The dye stained my fingers yellow – I looked like I had an 80-a-day Woodbines habit. So if you do use it, take care. I would also suggest giving the finished wrap a wash to get out any stray dye.

The wrap appears in Knit Now 77, which is on sale right now from newsagents and the magazine’s own website.

A close-up of the leaf edging and lotus flower stitches.