Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sahara Scarf
The Sahara Scarf is the August pattern for the International Year of the Scarf Club.
The undulating stitch pattern of the Sahara Scarf evokes the shifting sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. I was fascinated by the design possibilities of a landscape constantly in movement. And wanted to come up with a stitch pattern which could represent this phenomenon.
By separating the yarn overs from their accompanying knit-2-together's and interspersing them with channels of Stockinette Stitch and Garter Stitch, the landscape effect was achieved. Once I paired the stitch pattern with yarn in sand colours, I got the result I wanted.
The stitch pattern is reversible, although each side shows differently. Even all the edges ripple and move. When turning the top edge over, you can form a reversible collar.
Pattern instructions include three size options: a scarf (see below), a medium-sized shawl, and a large-sized shawl (in "Soft Yellow" shown above).
The large shawl is knit with St-Denis' Nordique, a classic 100% wool yarn that shows up the details of the stitch pattern perfectly.
The scarf version of the Sahara pattern is knit with ISPE La Lana del Deserto, a luscious, gentle yarn with 30% baby camel. An aply named yarn for this project. And the exact colour for sand.
Both samples of the Sahara Scarf were knit by two wonderful knitters. Julie Leclerc knit the shawl version and Julie Rosvall knit the scarf version. You have to see and feel both of these samples to see what an exquisite job they have done. Thanks, both Julie's!
