Wolfe Scarf in Rowan Softyak DK - ZB296-00014-UK - Downloadable PDF

Wolfe Scarf in Rowan Softyak DK by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Wolfe Scarf is a sophisticated knitted accessory designed by Martin Storey and published as part of the Rowan pattern collection, reference ZB296-00014-UK. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a beautifully textured, multi-coloured scarf worked in a repeating geometric stitch pattern that creates a striking interplay of knit and purl columns across the fabric. The design is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore simple colourwork and structured stitch patterns.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Softyak DK, a luxurious double knitting weight yarn that blends the softness of natural fibres with a subtle earthy quality. Three colourways are used across the scarf:

• Yarn A – Cream (shade 230): 6 × 50g balls
• Yarn B – Submarine (shade 251): 3 × 50g balls
• Yarn C – Tuscan Red (shade 253): 3 × 50g balls

The combination of Cream, Submarine, and Tuscan Red gives the finished scarf a rich, considered colour palette that works beautifully across seasons. Rowan Softyak DK is known for its gentle drape and softness against the skin, making it particularly well suited to a scarf worn close to the neck.

Needles and Tension

The scarf is worked using one pair of 4mm (no. 8) (US 6) needles. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm measured over the pattern using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is important for ensuring the finished scarf reaches the intended dimensions, so knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before casting on.

Construction and Techniques

The Wolfe Scarf is worked flat in a single piece from cast-on to cast-off, making it a straightforward construction with no seaming required. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 104 stitches using yarn A, and the colourwork is introduced by joining additional yarns as required throughout.

A key technique used in this pattern is carrying yarns up the side of the work. Rather than cutting and rejoining yarns at every colour change, the unused yarns are carried up the edge of the fabric and twisted together to keep the selvedge neat and tidy. This is an efficient and practical approach to simple stripe-based colourwork, and it keeps yarn ends to a minimum while maintaining a clean finish on both sides of the scarf.

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern is an 8-row repeat that combines knit and purl stitches to create a textured, ribbed-style fabric with a shifting column effect as the colours rotate. The specific stitch structure is as follows:

• Row 1 (RS) – Yarn A: P6, *K8, P6; repeat from * to end
• Row 2 – Yarn A: K6, *P8, K6; repeat from * to end
• Row 3 – Yarn B: K7, *P6, K8; repeat from * to last 13 sts, P6, K7
• Row 4 – Yarn B: P7, *K6, P8; repeat from * to last 13 sts, K6, P7
• Rows 5 and 6 – Yarn A: As rows 1 and 2
• Row 7 – Yarn C: K7, *P6, K8; repeat from * to last 13 sts, P6, K7
• Row 8 – Yarn C: P7, *K6, P8; repeat from * to last 13 sts, K6, P7