Bardot In Rowan Alpaca Sparkle - Downloadable PDF

Bardot Scarf Knitting Pattern in Rowan Alpaca Sparkle

The Bardot pattern by Lisa Richardson is a beautifully elegant scarf knitting pattern designed to showcase the luxurious drape and subtle shimmer of Rowan Alpaca Sparkle yarn. Published as a downloadable PDF by Rowan, this pattern is rated advanced beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore simple lace and texture work. The finished scarf is a generous 23.5 cm (9¼ in) wide and 220 cm (86½ in) long, creating a substantial, wearable accessory with real visual impact.

About the Design

The Bardot scarf is a single, elegant accessory designed as one complete project. Its length and width make it versatile — it can be draped loosely around the neck, wrapped multiple times, or styled as a lightweight shawl. The design features a central repeating lace and rib pattern framed by simple garter stitch borders at both ends, giving the piece a polished, structured finish while keeping the construction approachable for developing knitters.

The pattern is photographed in Ballet Slipper 10022, a soft, romantic colourway that perfectly complements the delicate sparkle of the yarn. The overall aesthetic is refined and feminine, very much in keeping with the Rowan design tradition of combining classic techniques with beautiful yarn choices.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Sparkle, a DK weight yarn sold in 50g balls. As the name suggests, this yarn blends the softness and warmth of alpaca fibre with a subtle metallic sparkle, giving the finished scarf a gentle luminosity that catches the light beautifully. The alpaca content ensures the scarf is lightweight yet warm, with a fluid drape that suits the open lace sections of the pattern particularly well.

• Yarn: Rowan Alpaca Sparkle, DK weight, 50g balls
• Colourway shown: Ballet Slipper 10022
• Needles: 1 pair 6mm (no 4) (US 10) needles

The use of 6mm needles with a DK weight yarn creates a slightly looser, more relaxed fabric than would typically be expected — a deliberate choice that enhances the drape and openness of the lace pattern, allowing the sparkle of the yarn to show through the decorative eyelets.

Tension

The recommended tension is 14½ stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm measured over the pattern using 6mm (US 10) needles. As with all knitting projects, achieving the correct tension is important to ensure the scarf reaches its intended finished dimensions. Knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size if necessary.

Techniques and Construction

The Bardot scarf is worked flat on a single pair of straight needles from cast-on to cast-off, making the construction straightforward and well-suited to knitters building their confidence with textured patterns. The scarf begins and ends with four rows of garter stitch (knitting every row), which creates a neat, non-curling border and frames the decorative central section cleanly.

The body of the scarf is worked in a 16-row repeating pattern that combines elements of rib stitch and lace knitting. This repeat is worked a total of 27 times, followed by a final repetition of rows 1 and 2, before the closing garter stitch border is added. The pattern is written out row by row in full, making it easy to follow even for those not yet experienced with reading lace charts.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch — knit every row; used for the cast-on and cast-off borders
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the foundation stitches forming the rib and panel structure
• Yarn over needle (yon / yfwd / yfrn) — creates