The Box Car Wrap is a poncho-style shawl using two colors to make four squares seamed together to complete the piece. One of the square designs is the traditional Granny Square, and the other is a complementary square pattern. I chose to use one variegated and one tonal color, but this is a versatile design and could easily be made using one single color for all the squares or four different colors too. I love elevating this traditional design element by combining it with an additional square to create something fun and interesting.

I created the Box Car Wrap for Forbidden Fiber Co.’s 2022 Holiday Express Advent Calendar. The holiday train theme inspired me, and I imagined it was taking us all on adventures to see family and friends during the holidays and needing something to help keep us warm on our travels. The Box Car Wrap is perfect for doing this at any time of the year!

Materials Used
Yarn: 540 yards of DK weight in 2 colors. 270 yards in Color A & 270
yards in color B.

Yarns used in pieces shown:
Western Sky Knits Merino 17 DK (100% superwash merino) 270 yards each
Color A: Motherlode (tonal)
Color B: Look Deep (variegated)

Forbidden Fiber Co. Fortitude DK (100% superwash merino) 275 yards each
Color A: Spruce (tonal)
Color B: Diner (variegated)

Gauge
Window Pane Square 4”
Pre-blocking:17 dc over 9 rows
Post-blocking: 15 dc over 8 rows

Granny Square 4”
Pre-blocking: 15 dc over 10 rows
Post-blocking: 12 dc over 8 ½ rows

Gauge is not vital in this pattern but if yours does not match, you might run out of yarn. Just be sure all 4 squares end up all being the same size after blocking.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS
Completed Wrap is 25” across by 21” from the top of the back to bottom of the diamond in the front

Pre-blocked squares are 11” across in both directions
Blocked squares are 12” across in both directions