Churchmouse Studio Demi Lune Scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze/Tosh Silk Cloud

Churchmouse Studio Demi Lune Scarf

What Is Being Made

The Demi Lune Scarf is an elegant, lightweight knit accessory featuring a distinctive tapered silhouette that falls somewhere between a half-moon and triangle shape. With a finished wingspan of approximately 84 inches (213 centimeters) and a depth of 20 inches (51 centimeters) after blocking, this scarf is designed to drape beautifully around the shoulders. The scarf is started at the long top edge, and the knitting accelerates as you progress toward the tapered ends, making the project increasingly satisfying as you work.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its refined aesthetic. The foundation of the scarf relies on stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, supple fabric that serves as a perfect canvas for exploring degrees of sheerness and transparency. An eyelet lace edge is incorporated at the top to add visual interest and feminine detail while maintaining the scarf's elegant simplicity. The pattern demonstrates strategic decreasing to create the tapered ends that give the scarf its distinctive half-moon shape. Careful attention to edge finishing is emphasized, with instructions to work the first stitch of every row loosely to prevent side edges from curling. The scarf is finished with weaving in of ends along the edges as invisibly as possible on the wrong side, and requires blocking to achieve the finished dimensions and proper drape.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch creating the smooth, supple fabric base
• Knit (K) – fundamental knit stitch
• Yarn over (YO) – creates the eyelet holes in the lace edge
• Knit 2 together (K2Tog) – a right-leaning decrease used in both the eyelet pattern and shaping
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease (slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, insert left needle into front of 2 slipped stitches and knit together) used in the eyelet edge and shaping

Materials

The Demi Lune Scarf requires approximately 660 yards (600 meters) of lace-weight yarn. The pattern offers flexibility in fiber choice to control the final fabric's sheerness. The scarf shown in the primary colorway uses 3 skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze (229 yards/210 meters per skein), Color 681, which is a lace-weight mohair yarn. For a less sheer fabric with more body, the pattern suggests holding equivalent amounts of lace-weight mohair yarn and fingering-weight yarn together throughout the project. An alternative colorway shown uses 2 skeins of Shibui Silk Cloud (330 yards/300 meters each) and 3 skeins of Shibui Reed (246 yards/225 meters each), Color 2041 Pollen, held together.

Knitting needles required are US 7 (4.5 millimeters) in a 32-inch (80 centimeters) circular needle, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include a darning needle for finishing, and blocking supplies such as blocking wires and T-pins or fork blocking pins to set the finished dimensions and shape.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of approximately 17 stitches and 26 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch after blocking. Proper blocking is essential to achieve the finished measurements and optimal drape. The finishing process involves soaking the completed scarf for 20 minutes in tepid water with no-rinse wool soap, gently squeezing out water, rolling in a towel to remove excess moisture, and then blocking to shape using wires and pins. Alternatively, the scarf can be placed in a zippered pillowcase or lingerie bag and run through a spin-only cycle in a washing machine for moisture removal before blocking.