Bowes Scarf Knitting Pattern

Bowes Scarf in Rowan Tweed Haze

What Is Being Made

The Bowes is a knitted scarf designed by Chloe Thurlow, measuring 30.5 cm (12 inches) wide and 205 cm (80¾ inches) long. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that creates a sophisticated accessory featuring color-work patterning across its entire length.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs two primary color-work techniques to achieve its visual design:

• Intarsia technique: The pattern uses intarsia color-work, which requires winding off small balls of yarn for each distinct section of color used in the design. This method allows for larger blocks of color to be worked without carrying yarn across the back of the fabric, resulting in a cleaner interior finish.
• Stranded knitting considerations: The pattern notes that stranded yarns should not be carried over more than three stitches at a time. When carrying yarn, floats should be caught under and over the working color to keep them elastic and ensure they sit neatly at the back of the work.

Stitches Used

The Bowes scarf is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (stocking stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The pattern repeats over 20 rows, with color changes occurring at regular intervals throughout the design. Rows alternate between knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, maintaining the fundamental stockinette structure while incorporating the color-work pattern.

Pattern Structure

The scarf follows a 20-row pattern repeat that is worked continuously until the scarf reaches its full length of 205 cm. The complete pattern sequence should be worked 20 times in total, followed by rows 1 through 10 of the pattern repeated once more. The pattern concludes with a cast-off worked in pattern.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Rowan Tweed Haze is used in three colorways:

• Yarn A: Rainy (shade 552) – 3 balls of 50 grams each
• Yarn B: Sunset (shade 557) – 1 ball of 50 grams
• Yarn C: Midnight (shade 553) – 2 balls of 50 grams

Needles: One pair of 6mm (US size 10) needles are required for this project.

Tension: The pattern is designed to achieve 14½ stitches and 20 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) when measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 6mm needles. Obtaining correct tension is essential, as even slight variations can affect the finished dimensions of the scarf.

Construction Notes

The scarf is cast on using a two-color cast-on method, beginning with 16 stitches in yarn B and 28 stitches in yarn A, for a total of 44 stitches. Colors are joined in and broken off as required throughout the pattern. The completed scarf should be pressed according to the general information provided in the pattern documentation to finish the fabric properly.