Minnaloushe by Wren Knits
Gather your materials:
Approx. 700 yards worsted weight yarn (I used 5 skeins of Quince Lark in Bird's Egg) US 10 straight or circular knitting needles
Pattern overview:
Minnaloushe is a long, rectangular scarf. It is knitted flat in two pieces which are then grafted together at the center of the scarf. The lace pattern is a traditional Shetland Islands pattern called Cat's Paw and is easy to memorize. The edges are knit in English Chain stitch: On all right side rows slip the first and last stitches as if to knit; on all wrong side rows purl the first and last stitches.
Gauge: 16 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches square in Stockinette stitch AFTER blocking.
Knitting worsted weight yarn at a looser gauge creates a more drapable fabric. Gauge is not critical, but a change in gauge will change the width and length of your finished scarf.
Pattern Abbreviations:
RS: right side WS: wrong side K: knit P: purl K2tog: Knit 2 together SSK: Slip, Slip, Knit YO: yarn over
Let's knit:
First Half:
Cast on 43 stitches. I used Betty Balcomb's "Short tail/long tail cast on". Her Ravelry PDF tutorial is no longer available, but if you are interested I found this blog post about it from Sage Yarn. PATTERN: Row 1 (RS): K4; (K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K5) 3 times; K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K4. Row 2 (WS) and all wS rows: Purl across. Row 3: K3; (K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K3) 4 times. Row 5: K4; (SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, K5) 3 times; SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, K4. Row 7: Knit across. Row 9: K9; (K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K5) 2 times; K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K9. Row 11: K8; (K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K3) 2 times; K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K8. Row 13: K9; (SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, K5) 2 times; SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, K9. Row 15: Knit across. Row 16: Purl across. Repeat Rows 1-16 9 times. On the last repeat end on Row 15 Place stitches on a holder and set aside.
Second Half:
Knit the second half of the scarf the same as the first, but end the last pattern repeat on Row 7.
Cat's Paw Lace Chart:
Read the chart from right to left.
Odd-numbered rows are the right side (RS). The lace pattern is knitted on the RS. Even-numbered rows are the wrong side (Ws). Purl across on all ws rows. / = K2tog 0 = YO \ = SSK = K = P
Make it up:
Graft the two halves together using Kitchener stitch. There are many great tutorials on the web, like this one from Knitty by Theresa Vinson Stenersen. Weave in the ends. Soak and block the scarf. Shape the ends of the scarf into scallops. (Mine blocked to about 10x90 inches.)
Design Variations:
Adjust the width of the scarf by adding or removing cat's paws. If you doubled the rows from 4 and 3 cat's paws to 8 and 6, it would knit up about 20 inches wide or wrap width. Adjust the length of the scarf by adding or removing pattern repeats. One skein of Quince Lark knitted 6 pattern repeats or about 17 inches in length after blocking. Knit the scarf in one piece. When you wear it, the cat's paws will face up at one end and face down at the other. If you use a provisional cast on, you can graft the ends together and make a cowl. Twist the scarf before you graft it to make a mobius-style cowl. Another cowl method would be to knit the pattern horizontally in the round: Add cat's paws to create the width you desire, and then leave out the last 3 stitches of every row.
