Carolina Scarf

Last year at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Alexandra Palace, London, we came across a remnant box filled with Lang "Gobi" yarn.  This super-soft mixture of extra-fine merino and baby camel hair was stunning.  The colours were wonderful and set me in mind of a recent visit to a favourite town we love going to, Asheville in North Carolina.  

The beautiful russet colour of one of the yarns was just like the leaves with their warm, glowing tints of Autumn.

Autumn Leaves, © Tim Ravenscroft, 2012

Unfortunately, the yarn was being discontinued but there was enough for a wide, warm scarf.  By great good fortune, I had recently also discovered a stitch pattern which might just become one of my favourites - Roman Striped Lace.  

This is not only a stunning lace pattern, but it also truly reversible.  I always feel that a scarf should look good whichever side you are viewing it from and this is one of only a small number of lace patterns that can claim this.

What is really remarkable though is the stripes that you can achieve with this pattern. Usually a stripe will look good when seen from the right side, but turn it over and there is a little line of two-colour "purl bumps" which mar the wrong side. 

You can try to ignore them, or even embrace them and make this line part of your design, but they are almost always there.  But here.....

Ta-Da!  No bi-colour purls. No line of off-colour at the transition points. In fact it is really hard to see which is the right side and which is the wrong side. A perfect stitch choice for a soft and luscious yarn.  As I worked, the scarf was so soft and warm in my hands and I knew this was a winner.  

Winter chills around the neck are a thing of the past.

It has a really good weight and stays put really well.  I find that on really cold days, I like to draw the scarf out widthwise and drape it around my shoulders.  

However, on days when it is less "brisk", then I can have it folded down the middle to make a long, skinny scarf.

The pattern for the "Carolina Scarf" is available on here, and there are links to all of my pattern outlets on my newly-redesigned website, www.moiraravenscroft.com

The pattern is written both for the Lang "Gobi" yarn, if you are lucky enough to have some in your yarn collection, and also for an almost-equally lovely yarn, Debbie Bliss "Fez", which also comes in some stunning colours.

Happy Knitting!

Moira