Whit's Knits: April Showers Scarf

A beautiful stitch pattern and two amazing yarns combine to make knitting this scarf a real joy. The lace pattern is easy enough for beginners and interesting enough for experts. It comes from Barbara Walkers Second Tresuary of Knitting Patterns, where she calls it the "Lucina Shell Pattern". I think it's as pretty as its name...

This scarf is knit with one strand of Lacey Lamb for body and coziness, and one strand of Silken Straw for gorgeous shine and drape. Together they are amazingly soft and luxurious. I don't ever want to take it off! --Whitney

April Showers Scarf: Materials

• 1 ball of Jade Sapphire's Lacey Lamb, 100% extrafine lambswool (This color is #305 Key Largo.)
• 1 skein of Alchemy's Silken Straw, 100% silk (This is #73w Blue Ice.)

• US #7 needles (I used and recommend a 24" Skacel Addi Lace needle. With sharp points especially designed for lace knitting, these needles make knitting Row 8 of this pattern much easier than any other needle option. They are also a little less slippery than the regular Addi Turbo needles, which is welcome here because the Silken Straw can be a little wily.)

April Showers Scarf: The Pattern

Gauge

6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Size

4 inches wide and 52 inches long
(Don't be alarmed if your scarf appears too short; it really grows after you block it!)

Notes

• Use one strand of each yarn throughout this pattern.
• For a nice neat selvedge, slip the first stitch of every row as if to knit.
• If you want to narrow or widen your scarf, cast on a multiple of 9 stitches plus 3 (ie 9 x 2 = 18 + 3 = 21; 30, 39, 48, etc.)

Pattern

Cast on 30 stitches.

Preparation: Knit 2 rows.

Row 1: K2, *yo, k8, yo, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. (36 stitches)

Row 2: K3, *p8, k3, repeat from * to end.

Row 3: K3, *yo, k8, yo, k3, repeat from * to end. (42 stitches)

Row 4: K4, *p8, k5, repeat from *, ending last repeat with k4.

Row 5: K4, *yo, k8, yo, k5, repeat from *, ending last repeat with k4. (48 stitches)

Row 6: K5, *p8, k7, repeat from *, ending last repeat with k5.

Row 7: K5, *k4 together through the back loop, k4 together, k7, repeat from *, ending last repeat with k5. (30 stitches)

Row 8: Knit

Repeat the last 8 rows until about 2 yards of Silken Straw remain (for me that was 36 more times). After the final Row 8, knit 1 more row and bind off.

Your scarf  probably looks kind of lumpy and feels a little scratchy. Don't fear! Soak it in room temperature water, squeeze the excess water out of it, and lay it flat on a towel to dry. It will become beautifully smooth and wonderfully soft - guaranteed!