Malabrigo Chatham Scarf Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Chatham Scarf

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Chatham is a drapey bias garter wrap scarf designed by Matthew Schrank. This is an experienced-level knitting project that creates a sophisticated accessory featuring diagonal stripes worked in two directions. The scarf measures 66 inches (167.5 cm) along its long edge and 48 inches (122 cm) along its short edge, with a finished width of 10 inches (25.5 cm), making it a generous wrap-style scarf suitable for layering or draping.

Techniques Used

The Chatham scarf employs several advanced knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and construction:

• Bottom-up construction: The scarf is worked from the bottom upward, beginning with a garter tab that forms the base of a garter triangle, which then sets the slanted garter stripes in place on each side
• Seamless, flat construction: The piece is worked flat on straight needles without seaming, maintaining clean edges throughout
• Bias knitting: Stripes are knit on the diagonal, creating a slanted effect across the fabric
• Two-directional stripe work: The first set of stripes forms the short side of the scarf, while the second set completes the long side, with color changes occurring strategically throughout
• Color blocking: The design incorporates either full-on stripes or stop-and-start color blocks, allowing for creative color arrangement

Stitches Used

The Chatham scarf relies on fundamental garter stitch as its primary structure, combined with strategic increase and decrease stitches:

• Garter stitch: The foundation stitch throughout the entire scarf, created by knitting every row to produce a reversible, textured fabric
• Slip stitch (sl 1): Used at the beginning of rows to create neat, finished edges
• Make one increase (M1): Used to increase stitches strategically, shaping the scarf's bias construction
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the scarf
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease that works in conjunction with the M1 increases to create the diagonal bias effect
• Bind off: Completed on the wrong side with the final color to secure the finished edge

Materials and Gauge

The Chatham scarf is designed to be worked with Dos Tierras yarn by Malabrigo, a blend of merino wool and baby alpaca. The yarn comes in 3½ ounce (100 gram) hanks, each containing approximately 210 yards (193 meters) of yardage. The pattern requires one hank each in four colorways: #9 Polar Morn (A), #37 Lettuce (B), #69 Pearl Ten (C), and #412 Teal Feather (D).

The project is worked on a single pair of size 6 (4 mm) needles, which are sized to obtain the specified gauge of 19 stitches and 40 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) over garter stitch. The pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning, as accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and drape of the wrap scarf.

Additional notions required include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends. The merino wool and baby alpaca blend provides the drapey quality essential to this wrap scarf's design, allowing it to flow gracefully when worn while maintaining the definition of the garter stitch texture and color blocks.