Rowan Jade Scarf Knitting Pattern

Rowan Jade Scarf by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Jade Scarf is a long, cylindrical knitted accessory designed to be worked in the round. The finished scarf measures approximately 24 cm (9½ inches) wide and 216 cm (85 inches) long, making it a substantial and versatile piece suitable for various styling occasions. This intermediate-level project combines colorwork techniques with classic knitting construction to create a visually striking accessory.

Techniques Used

This scarf employs the Fair Isle technique, a traditional colorwork method that allows knitters to incorporate multiple colors within a single row or round. The Fair Isle pattern creates a richly textured fabric with intricate color changes throughout the main body of the scarf. The pattern begins and ends with garter stitch sections worked in a single color, providing clean edges and a defined frame for the colorwork centerpiece.

The scarf is knitted in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming along the length of the piece. This construction method ensures a seamless, tubular fabric. The pattern requires careful attention to tension and stitch consistency, particularly when transitioning between the garter stitch borders and the Fair Isle chart pattern.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: Worked in rounds at the beginning (6 rounds total) and end (6 rounds total) of the scarf using yarn A. Garter stitch in the round creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges.
• Stockinette Stitch: The foundation stitch for the Fair Isle colorwork section, created by knitting every round to produce a smooth, flat fabric that showcases the color pattern.
• Fair Isle Colorwork: A repeating 20-stitch pattern worked over 22 rounds, repeated 25 times throughout the scarf for a total of 550 chart rounds. This technique involves carrying unused yarn colors across the back of the work, creating a dense, insulating fabric.

Materials and Specifications

The Rowan Jade Scarf is knitted using Rowan Felted Tweed yarn, a premium wool blend available in two colorways for this design:

• Yarn A - Chestnut 024: 5 balls of 50-gram weight
• Yarn B - Succulent 027: 4 balls of 50-gram weight

Two circular needles are required to complete this project:

• 1 size 4mm (US 6) circular needle, 40 cm (16 inches) long for the Fair Isle colorwork section
• 1 size 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle, 40 cm (16 inches) long for the garter stitch borders

The pattern specifies a tension of 25 stitches and 26 rounds to 10 centimeters when measured over the Fair Isle chart pattern using the 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for obtaining the finished dimensions and ensuring the scarf drapes properly.

Construction Overview

The scarf begins with casting on 120 stitches using the smaller 3¼mm needles and yarn A. After working 6 rounds of garter stitch (alternating knit and purl rounds), the knitter switches to the larger 4mm needles and introduces yarn B for the Fair Isle colorwork. The main color pattern is worked for 550 rounds total, following a 22-round repeat chart with a 20-stitch repeat. Once the colorwork section is complete, yarn B is cut and the knitter returns to the smaller needles and yarn A to work a final 6 rounds of garter stitch. The scarf is then cast off, and the cast-on and cast-off edges are sewn together to close the openings, creating a finished tubular form.