This is a version of our Alpaca Scarf, a free pattern for a long crescent shape scarf. We knitted the original version using 3 colours of Rowan Alpaca Classic.
This new version uses Rico's brand new Painted Power Cotton. It's a soft and lightweight blend of cotton, wool and synthetic fibres.
I'm calling it the Painted Scarf because of the pretty variegated shades in the yarn which look like an impressionist sky when knitted.
The yarn is classed as a DK weight but it works well on thicker needles. As a brushed yarn it has enough fluff not to look stringy when worked at a looser gauge.
Because it 'feels' more substantial than Alpaca Classic I knitted the Alpaca Scarf pattern using a 5mm needle. This will also help the yarn go further as I only want to use one ball of yarn. This means I used 300m compared to the 360m used in the Alpaca Scarf.
Less yarn also means I stopped earlier than the original pattern specifies.
But, it has come out almost the same size.
The Alpaca Scarf is 180cm long and 45cm deep.
The Painted Scarf is 170cm long and 35cm deep.
The long scarf like shape means the scarf can be easily worn in different ways.
You create the long flowing shape of the scarf by rapidly increasing at each edge. This rapid increase is achieved with a KYOK stitch - where you work into a stitch three times to make a two stitch increase.
The pattern includes instructions and you can see a video of the technique here.
One tip I will offer is not to work this stitch tightly. Keep your knitting action loose. If it's too tight you may find this side of your scarf will pull in and the scarf may come out smaller.
The large hole along this top edge is mimicked in the bottom edge.
The edge is created by doing a simple double yarn over which makes bigger holes than a single yarn over. Instructions are in the pattern.
I also cast off using the Icelandic Cast Off which gives a lovely edge and its not too tight. You can see a tutorial on that here.
I washed my finished scarf in Eucalan. I squished out excess water and then laid it out flat, straightening the top edges as best as could without pins and making sure each side was even. This was enough to open up the YO holes.
You can pin it out to make it larger but be careful you don’t stretch too much. Painted Power Cotton has a high cotton and synthetic fibre content and you may not be able to correct any over stretching once it’s dry.
There are several big differences between the Alpaca Scarf and the Painted Scarf.
Using Rico Painted Power Cotton makes the Painted Scarf a cheaper make. There's no pricey alpaca (but it's still got an alpaca-like halo) and you only need one ball.
The shades have a dappled print effect which will give you a subtle and softer colour transition compared to the big bold blocks created with the solid colour Rowan Alpaca Classic.
And even though you are using less yarn, the Painted Scarf is denser and heavier than the Alpaca Classic Scarf. It definitely feels like a more substantial wrap.
To recap...
You can download a copy of the Painted Scarf pattern here. It's very similar to the original Alpaca Scarf pattern. I've just changed a few numbers because I used less yarn.
Measures - approx. 170cm long, 35cm at deepest
Yarn - Rico Painted Power Cotton DK, I used shade 005.
Needles - circular 5mm x 80cm (at least). Click for our circular needle range.
you will also need a wool needle to weave in ends.
Techniques - cast on; work flat - back and forth; knit; purl; increase by knitting into front and back (KFB); decrease by knitting 2 together (K2tog); increase - knit, yarn over, knit into same stitch (KYOK); yarn overs (YO); double yarn over(2YO); cast off loosely.
