Blossom Knitwear Designs - Donna's Lacy Scarf

by Dilys Sutherland (c) 2007

Completely inspired by The Yarn Harlot's Snowdrop Shawl, this is a relatively simple stitch, and a good starter for lace knitting. Be sure to use a good wool or wool blend (not superwash - it doesn't block well at all.) in a fine lace weight. 

Materials:
4 mm needles
fine lace-weght yarn

Cast on 71 sttiches using a long-tail cast on, and casting onto TWO needles held together as one (for extra thickness of the first row of stitches, and therefore more stretch when blocking)

Work the chart as shown, until the scarf is about two thirds as long as you want it - it will be stretched longer with blocking.

Please note: The chart shows the right side only of the pattern. All wrong side rows are worked by knitting the first and last stitch, and purling the rest.

When you have knit the scarf to the desired length, end with a row 8, then knit 1 row. Cast off LOOSELY. (Use an 8mm needle to do the cast off... again, this keeps the edge loose for blocking.)

Gently hand wash in lukewarm water, squish the excess water out by squeezing between the folds of an absorbent towel, then lay on a smooth pinnable surface (laying a chean sheet across a bed and pinning it there is the Yarn Harlot's suggestion.) Pull and stretch the scarf gently, but firmly, and pin along all edges.

I pinned every inch or so... have lots of pins on hand.

When dry, unpin and voila! A beautiful, lacy scarf!