Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Austria Scarf
I loved designing--and knitting--the Austria Scarf. Members of the International Year of the Scarf who received the pattern in early February seemed to love it, too, based on the feedback I received from them.
This is a classic design, worked in a classic wool, St-Denis "Nordique". It starts with a provisional cast-on at the centre and is worked outwards, towards each of the flared ends.
Gradual increases are incorporated into the stitch pattern itself so that the widening seems to occur organically.
I based the pattern on the elaborate stitch patterns found in knitting from the Alpine countries. Long socks worked in densely patterned stitches, combining cables, twisted stitches, lace, and knit-and-purl, were a rich resource of stitch patterns I could draw from. In the end, I settled on a fairly easy cables-and-lace pattern which increases in complexity as it is worked towards the decorative ends.
It was an added stroke of luck when I found a boiled wool coat for the photo shoot. The coat echoes the boiled wool jackets that are part of the Austrian traditional costume. And just the right shade of red so that the white scarf against the coat reflects the Austrian flag:
It often amazes me how things seem to come together as though by magic.
