Arizona Scarf
I wrote this pattern for Natalie, a friend of mine who lives in Arizona, but will she need such a warm scarf?... actually the noun is true and Arid-zone is a real desert! Nonetheless let's knit this scarf choosing a bright and sunny color, to vanish the fog and be surrounded by warmth in winter! I saw this scarf while I was shopping around, I was struck by the hearts shaped pattern, so I took a picture (ah, ah, did I behave badly?) , and once I got home I tried to copy the pattern stitch. I am embarassed to confess it, but to tell the truth new ideas come just through observation and improvement! This open stitch calls for some attention but it's not so hard to knit, with a soft yarn this work willraise up quickly and give you immediate satisfaction!
MATERIALS
MADIL Fusion $[44\%$ Dralon, $36\%$ Wool, $20\%$ Mohair, ${90}\mathrm{m}$ for $50\mathrm{g}$ skein]; Manifattura Sesia “Bunny" $50\%$ Merino wool, $25\%$ Alpaca, $25\%$ Acrylic; $75\mathrm{m}$ per $50\mathrm{g}$ skein]; quantity: 4-6 skeins $50\mathrm{g}$ each according to desired length-width. Needles US # 10 /6-7 mm to suit gauge.
GAUGE
$15~{\mathrm{sts}}=10~{\mathrm{cm}}\,/\,4$ inches in open stitch PATTERN REQUIREMENTS Garter stitch, stockinette stitch, decreases and increases, as explained in the chart key.
"HEARTS" OPEN STITCH
I suggest you to make a test swatch of the “Hearts"’ open stitch before starting to knit the scarf. Doing so you'li be able to check your exact gauge to get a light and soft knitted fabric. I tried it several times and this is my best swatch! OPEN STITCHPATTERN
Chart key shows the meaning of the symbols
PATTERN
I propose a slight change to the scarf shown in the picture. In my opinion you'd better add a small side edging and a few rows in garter stitch at the bottom and top of the scarf, so to get a better finishing and prevent edges from rolling. For a scarf width of nearly $30\,\mathrm{cm}$ $^{\prime\,12}$ inches: loosely CO 51 sts work 5 rows garter stitch follow chart frm row 1 to 10, and knit pattern repeat 7 times on WS rows purl all stitches, but knit the first and last three stitches that make the garter stitch hem Repeat rows from 1 to 10 to reach the desidered length, work 5 rows garter stitch, then loosely BO all sts. To have a wider or narrower scarf, CO a number of sts increased or decreased by a multiple than six, so to add or eliminate one or more pattern repeats in the chart.
FINISHING
Block lightly, and add fringes if you like them!
