Barnacle Scarf Knitting Pattern by Layla Chelache - Featured in The Knitter Magazine Issue 54

BARNACLE SCARF

By Layla Chelache as featured in The Knitter magazine issue 54

image @ future publishing Itd. When I started developing this pattern I happened to by the sea, so it's perhaps no wonder that the strange and wonderful shapes that emerged reminded my friends and me of barnacles! As this scarf's interest is created by shaping and not fancy stitches, it's a project that requires very little concentration once you've got a hang of the basic concept, but is nevertheless fun to make as you watch the sculptural pattern emerge. It's an incredibly portable project in another sense too; as there are never more than 37 stitches on the needles at any one time, it means that you can knit the whole scarf on very short sock needles that fit into the palm of your hands. Perfect for when you're on the bus and don't want to poke your neighbour with long needles! ONE SIZE

NEEDLES&ACCESSORIES

1 pair 4.5mm knitting needles Darning or tapestry needle

YARN

Alice Starmore Hebridean 2 ply (100% Pure New Wool; 25g skeins) A KELPIE 3 x 25g skeins B STORM PETREL 3 x 25g skeins C SHEARWATER 3 x 25g skeins D SUMMERTIDE 5 x 25g skeins

NOTES

It's a kind of patchwork or domino knitting, made up of 108 individual “blocks", each of which starts with 37 stitches (created by casting on, picking up and knitting, or a combination of both) and is then formed by exactly the same method as detailed in the instructions for Rows 1 to 19below. The scarf is knitted in two identical halves, bottom up, and stitched together at the top. Please see chart for order in which to knit the blocks. In order to make it easier to pick up stitches cast on using the two needle method (this is also the reason for slipping the first stitch of each row). To save time darning ends in afterwards, make sure you "weave" the ends in as you go when you are picking up and knitting off the previous block(s).

image @ future publishing Itd.

Block 1:

Using 4.5mm needles and yarn A, cast on 37 sts. Row1 (wS): K to end Row 2 (RS): Sl1 purlwise, K16, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K17 Row 3: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 4: Sl1 purlwise, K15, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K16 Row 5: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 6: Sl1 purlwise, K14, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K15 Row 7: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 8: Sl1 purlwise, K13, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K14 Row 9: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 10: Sl1 purlwise, K12, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K13 Row 11: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 12: Sl1 purlwise, K11, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K12 Row 13: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 14: Sl1 purlwise, K10, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K11 Row 15: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 16: Sl1 purlwise, K9, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K10 Row 17: Sl1 purlwise, K to end Row 18: Sl1 purlwise, K8, Sl1 knitwise, K2tog, PSSO, K9 Row 19: Cast off Block 2: Cast on 9 sts, Pick up and knit 20 sts across the top (slipped stitch edges) of Block 1, Cast on 8 sts (total 37 sts). Repeat rows 1 to 19 as above Blocks 3, 6 & 10: Pick up and knit 9 sts down the left hand cast on edge of Block 2, Cast on 28 sts (total 37 sts). Repeat rows 1 to 19 as above Block 4 (7, 11, 15, etc.): As block 2 Block 5 (and all other blocks not otherwise mentioned): Pick up and knit 9 sts down the left hand cast on edge of Block 4, Pick up and knit 20 sts across the top (slipped stitch edges) of Block 3, Cast on 8 sts (total 37 sts). Repeat rows 1 to 19 as above. Follow block pattern chart for order of knitting blocks and colour distribution. On each half of the scarf there are 12 blocks each of colours A, B & C and 18 of colour D. Once both halves have been knitted, stitch the two together along the top (slipped stitch edges) of blocks 51 to 54 in yarn colour D and darn in any ends that haven't already been woven in.

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