Connecticut River Scarf and Shawl

 

This pattern was inspired by the natural beauty of the lower reaches of the Connecticut River in summer. The river banks are lined with greens, in shades ranging from new leaves into the deeper greens of occasional spruce and pine. The river itself has moods which change its color. Turbulent days and changing tides stir silt and clay from the bottom, and the river goes darker brown in color with white peaks. Calm weather in bright summer sun reflects the blue from the sky but darkens it to a cobalt. A bright summer day with just a few perfectly picturesque fluffy white clouds completes the picture, adding light and warmth to top off the image.

The scarf and shawl show the river on a breezy summer day – one with a luminous blue sky accented with a few drifting puffy white clouds. The waves and ripples are a reminder that the summer days pass and come again, always moving. The tides ebb and flow causing the river to flow in one direction, until it flows in the other. Picture yourself embarking on one of the ferry boats to see the natural beauty as you cross the river. The boat rises and falls with the power of the river; as you cross in the open air. You arrive on the far shore and observe the waves that had been moving you, still moving water at the river’s edges.

This pattern is written for an advanced beginner. It contains a few specialized stitches such as K2Tog (knit two together) and YO (yarn over) with CDD (center double decrease) being the most challenging. It is provided here as a written pattern with supplemental charts. Knitted in worsted weight garter stitch lace, the scarf and shawl are a reminder of New England summer, but they are fit for a New England winter.

Yarn: any worsted weight yarn Scarf (430 yds), Shawl (1600 yds)

Mile Wide Crafts hand dyed cotton boucle in the Connecticut River colorway is used in the photos. However, other yarns may be used at other gauges, which will make larger or smaller scarves or shawls.

Completed Size:

Scarf: about 6.5” x 70”

Shawl: about 26” x 60”

Tools:

·         US size 6-7 or other needle needed to obtain gauge

·         Stitch Markers

·         Tapestry or darning needle

·         Ruler or tape measure

Gauge: 17st by 32 rows in 4”x4” square in pattern for the river crossing (so about 2 sections wide by one repeat high). Gauge is not overly important for this pattern as these are not fitted garments.

Abbreviations:

BO: Bind off

CO: Cast On (long tail is recommended)

CDD: center double decrease (slip first stitch, knit next two together, pass slipped stitch over the knitted stitch)

K: knit

KFB: Knit into the front and back of the stitch

K2TBL: Knit two stitches together through the back loop

M1L: Make one stitch slanting to the left

M1R: Make one stitch slanting to the right

PM: Place marker

Sl: slip stitch (always purlwise)

St: stitch(es)

Wyif: with yarn in front

Pattern

The scarf and the shawl both follow the same format; the difference being the number of center repeats you use. There are 3 stitch i-cord edges on either side (river banks) and garter stitch lace in the center (waves in the water). The beginning and end borders are scalloped to mimic waves as well. The finished scarf or shawl is reversible. Where the directions are different for the shawl size, they are listed in parenthesis. For a printer-friendly version of this pattern, only print out the last two pages.

Embarkation: See Chart 1

CO 64 (256) st. PM every 16 st.{sections defined by the stitch markers} K until the last 3 st. Sl the last 3 st wyif.

Row 1: *K7st CDD K6st* repeat* until the last section. In the last section, sl the last 3st wyif instead of kitting them. {14 st per section}

Row 2, and every even numbered row for the embarkation part of the pattern: k across the row to the last 3st. Sl last 3st wyif.

Row 3: *K6st CDD K5st* repeat* until the last section. In the last section, sl the last 3st wyif instead of kitting them.

Row 5: *K5st CDD K4st* repeat* until the last section. In the last section, sl the last 3st wyif instead of kitting them.

Row 7: *K4st CDD K3st* repeat* until the last section. In the last section, sl the last 3st wyif instead of kitting them. Remover stitch markers as you knit this row. (8st per section)

Row 8: (last row of embarkation) K every stitch until the last 3. Sl the last 3st wyif. PM after the 4^th st and then every 8st after across the row. New sections established with edge stitches {4 each} and center section stitches {8 each}.

River Crossing: See Chart 2

This section is the majority of the scarf or shawl. There are outer edge sections, consisting of the i-cord edges plus one knit stitch, and center sections, consisting of 8 stitch repeats. The center sections are charted in chart 2, a 32 row repeat.

Row 1: K4 {edge stitches}, *slip marker, YO K2TBL K6*. Repeat* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3st {end edge stitch section}.

Row 2 (and all even numbered rows) K to the last 3st. Sl wyif last 3 st

Row 3: Repeat row 1

Row 5: K4, *K1 YO K2TBL K5* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 7: K4, *K2 YO K2TBL K4* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 9: K4, *K3 YO K2TBL K3* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 11: K4, *K4 YO K2TBL K2* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 13: K4, *K5 YO K2TBL K1* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 15, 17 & 19: K4, *K6 YO K2TBL* for each center stitch section. K1 sl wyif 3 st.

Row 21: repeat row 13

Row 23: repeat row 11

Row 25: repeat row 9

Row 27: repeat row 7

Row 29: repeat row 5

Row 31: repeat row 1

Row 32: K to the last 3st. Sl wyif last 3 st

Continue in pattern until desired length is reached. Consider that you may want to save some yarn for the disembarkation section. The disembarkation will require about 12yds (48 yds) of yarn to complete. You may wish to reserve that amount before deciding how long to make your scarf or shawl.

Disembarkation: See Chart 3

This is the last section of the scarf or shawl. It forms the second scalloped border to match the embarkation. Like the embarkation, it is worked in sections that ignore the previous River Crossing sections. Increases may be worked either as two KFB or as a M1L followed by a M1R. The garter stitch tends to hide the delicacies of the M1L,M1R approach, but they are good skills for a beginner to learn. M1L, M1R may be substituted for any 2 KFB stitched in this section.

Setup row: remove all prior stitch markers. PM every 8 stitches. {new sections established} K to the last 3st. Wyif sl last 3st.

Row 1: *K3, 2KFB, K3*. Repeat across until the last 3st. Wyif Sl last 3 st instead of knitting them.

Row 2 and all even rows: K until the last 3 st. Wyif Sl last 3st.

Row 3: *K4, 2KFB, K4*. Repeat across until the last 3st. Wyif Sl last 3 st

Row 5: *K5, 2KFB, K5*. Repeat across until the last 3st. Wyif Sl last 3 st

Row 7: *K6, 2KFB, K6*. Repeat across until the last 3st. Wyif Sl last 3 st. Remove stitch markers as you knit.

Row 8: BO

If you would like a PDF version of this pattern, it is available through Ravelry here:PDF Pattern