Gridwork

Gridwork Scarf by Janelle Martin

What is Being Made

The Gridwork Scarf is a lightweight, draping knit scarf designed for spring and summer wear. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a scarf with a strong graphical stitch pattern that maintains its visual appeal even when rolled or after blocking is lost. The design is particularly suited for humid climates, as the stitch pattern remains visually striking regardless of how the fabric behaves in moisture-rich environments.

Design Inspiration and Stitch Pattern

The scarf features a distinctive graphical stitch pattern sourced from Charted Knitting Design: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker. This charted pattern, referred to as Chart A in the pattern, creates bold visual interest through its geometric design. The stitch pattern is worked alongside stockinette stitch sections to create the overall fabric structure.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This project employs charted knitting techniques, requiring knitters to follow a visual chart while working the pattern. The primary stitches used include:

• Stockinette stitch for gauge reference and foundational fabric sections
• Charted stitch pattern (Chart A) for the graphical gridwork design

Knitters working this pattern should be comfortable reading knitting charts and managing stitch counts across multiple rows. The intermediate difficulty level reflects the need to maintain pattern accuracy while working the charted design.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Gridwork Scarf requires 360 yards of DK weight yarn. The sample was created using Schulana 'Sojabama' tape yarn, a blend of 55% bamboo and 45% soy silk, with 3 skeins used in the red colorway (colour 010). Each skein contains 120 yards and weighs 1.76 ounces (50 grams).

Any yarn with excellent drape characteristics can be substituted, with silk and silk blends recommended as ideal alternatives. The tape yarn construction in the sample creates a distinctive flat, ribbon-like appearance that enhances the graphical quality of the stitch pattern.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern calls for US #7 (4.5 mm) needles, or the size required to achieve proper gauge. Gauge is critical for this project:

• Stockinette stitch gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when blocked
• Chart A gauge: 18 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when blocked

Achieving accurate gauge ensures the scarf drapes properly and maintains the intended dimensions and visual impact of the gridwork pattern.