Kalahari Scarf Knitting Pattern

Kalahari Scarf in Rowan Cotton Cashmere

What is Being Made

The Kalahari Scarf is a rectangular knitted scarf crafted from Rowan Cotton Cashmere yarn. The finished scarf measures 30.5 cm (12 inches) wide and 210 cm (82¾ inches) long, excluding fringes. This intermediate-level project combines stockinette stitch sections with decorative fairisle patterning and seed stitch bands, finished with a knotted fringe along both short edges.

Techniques Used

This scarf employs several key knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The primary construction method, worked in flat knitting with knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. Multiple sections of stockinette stitch form the base of the design.
• Fairisle Patterning: A seven-row fairisle band is worked repeatedly throughout the scarf, incorporating two colors (Ecru and Mocca) in a geometric repeat pattern. The fairisle technique involves carrying yarn colors across the back of the work to create the pattern on the front.
• Seed Stitch: A textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1 repeat) on every row, used to create decorative bands between fairisle sections.
• Decreasing: Purl two together (P2tog) decreases are worked strategically after the fairisle band to reduce stitch count from 70 stitches to 61 stitches.
• Fringe Application: Lengths of yarn are knotted through the cast-on and cast-off edges to create a finished fringe detail, with 31 knots placed along each end of the scarf.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): Knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows, creating a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern on the front.
• Seed Stitch: Alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1) on every row to produce a bumpy, textured surface.
• Fairisle Stitch: A color-work technique using two yarn colors in a repeating seven-row pattern, with specific stitch sequences that create a geometric design.
• Purl Two Together (P2tog): A left-leaning decrease used to reduce stitches after fairisle sections.

Materials

The Kalahari Scarf is constructed using Rowan Cotton Cashmere yarn, a blend that combines the breathability of cotton with the softness of cashmere. Three colorways are specified:

• Yarn A (Ecru 226): 5 balls of 50-gram skeins, serving as the primary color for stockinette sections and fringe
• Yarn B (Seed 212): 1 ball of 50 grams, used for the seed stitch bands
• Yarn C (Mocca 228): 1 ball of 50 grams, used as the secondary color in the fairisle patterning

The project requires one pair of 4mm (US size 6) needles for all knitting. Tension is measured at 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters over plain stockinette stitch, and 23 stitches and 25 rows to 10 centimeters over patterned fairisle stitch, both using the 4mm needles.

Pattern Structure

The scarf follows a repeating structural pattern that alternates between plain stockinette sections and decorative fairisle bands. After casting on 61 stitches, the knitter works 12 rows of stockinette stitch, followed by two rows of seed stitch for texture. This 14-row sequence is repeated four times to establish the base pattern. The main body then features alternating sections: five rows of stockinette stitch followed by a seven-row fairisle band, with decreases worked after each fairisle section to maintain stitch count. This pattern is repeated eight times to build the length of the scarf. The pattern concludes with additional stockinette stitch sections and a final cast-off edge, to which fringe is attached during finishing.