Maple Scarf

Maple Scarf by Marie Wallin

What is Being Made

The Maple Scarf is a circular knitted accessory designed by Marie Wallin from the Wildwood collection. This finished scarf measures 19.5cm (7½ inches) wide and 130cm (51 inches) long, making it a versatile neck accessory suitable for various styling options. The scarf is worked in one size only and features an intricate colorwork design inspired by natural woodland tones.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft, specifically circular knitting. The scarf is worked in the round using a circular needle, which allows for seamless construction and continuous pattern repeats. The design employs the fairisle technique, a traditional colorwork method that involves carrying multiple yarn colors across the rounds while creating intricate patterned designs. This technique requires careful color management and consistent tension to achieve the detailed motifs shown in the accompanying chart.

Stitches and Construction

The Maple Scarf is worked entirely in stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), knitting every round to create a smooth, flat fabric. The pattern is based on a 22-stitch repeat that is repeated 5 times around each round, with a 47-round pattern repeat that cycles throughout the entire project. The scarf requires 376 total rounds to complete 8 full pattern repeats, ensuring a cohesive and balanced design from cast-on to cast-off.

Yarn and Materials

The Maple Scarf uses 4-ply yarn weight, which provides a lightweight yet structured fabric ideal for a scarf. The project calls for yarn from the British Breeds collection by Quince & Co., utilizing 10 distinct colors to create the fairisle pattern:

• Yarn A (Maple): 3 × 25gm
• Yarn B (Dark Apple): 2 × 25gm
• Yarn C (Wood): 2 × 25gm
• Yarn D (Russet): 1 × 25gm
• Yarn E (Raw): 1 × 25gm
• Yarn F (Lime Flower): 2 × 25gm
• Yarn G (Woad): 2 × 25gm
• Yarn H (Chestnut): 1 × 25gm
• Yarn I (Eau de Nil): 2 × 25gm
• Yarn J (Rose): 1 × 25gm

Total yardage spans approximately 18 × 25gm balls, with the primary color (Maple) comprising the largest portion of the project.

Needles and Tools

The Maple Scarf is worked on a 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle, specifically a size 10 needle no more than 40cm in length. The shorter circular needle length accommodates the 110 cast-on stitches and allows for comfortable working in the round without excessive needle length.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, reflecting the complexity of managing multiple yarn colors through fairisle colorwork while maintaining consistent tension and following chart-based pattern instructions. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, color changes, and reading knitting charts before attempting this design.

Finishing

After completing all 376 rounds, the scarf is finished by casting off all stitches. The final steps involve sewing in any loose yarn ends to the wrong side of the knitting and carefully pressing the finished piece according to the pattern's pressing guidelines to even out the fabric and set the stitches.