Gardiner Yarn Works Scarf for Ptesan-Wi Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Scarf for Ptesan-Wi

What is Being Made

This is a laceweight scarf designed by Chrissy Gardiner and named after Ptesan-Wi, the Lakota holy woman also known as White Buffalo Woman. The finished scarf measures 8.5 inches wide by 60 inches long after blocking. This elegant accessory showcases delicate lace patterning while remaining wearable and refined, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop their lace knitting skills with visually stunning results.

Techniques Used

The scarf employs several key knitting techniques that work together to create its distinctive appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The scarf is knit from the cast-on edge upward, allowing you to work continuously until you reach your desired length or run out of yarn
• Seamless, worked flat: The entire scarf is created as a single flat piece on straight needles with no seaming required
• Lace knitting: The primary design feature uses lace techniques to create openwork patterns that are both delicate and structurally sound

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The scarf features the Brisket and Diamond Lace pattern, which repeats over a 20-row cycle. This pattern is worked across all stitches after the initial setup rows. Key stitches used throughout the pattern include:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) for foundational fabric
• Yarn overs (YO) to create the openwork characteristic of lace
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) and knit 2 together (k2tog) for decreases that balance yarn overs
• Slip 2 stitches together as if to knit, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over (S2KP) for centered double decreases
• Knit through back loop (k-tbl) for twisted stitches where needed
• Slip stitch as if to purl (sl) for edge stitches that create a neat selvage

The pattern uses stitch markers and a cable needle to help track pattern repeats and manage the lace sections accurately.

Materials and Gauge

This scarf is designed to showcase the qualities of premium yarns. The sample was knit using Buffalo Gold #11 2-ply laceweight yarn, requiring approximately 350 yards minimum of laceweight or fingering-weight yarn to complete the full 60-inch length.

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using size 6 (4mm) needles. However, the pattern notes that gauge is not critical for this project, offering flexibility for different yarn weights and needle sizes. The scarf begins with a cast-on of 47 stitches and uses a yarn needle for weaving in ends during finishing.

Difficulty Level and Finishing

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience in lace techniques who are ready to refine their skills. The finishing process is straightforward: after binding off all stitches knitwise, you weave in ends and then dampen the scarf and pin it out to block, which helps even out the lace pattern and achieve the final dimensions.