Retro Flower Scarf

Retro Flower Scarf by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Retro Flower Scarf is a stylized leaf and flower pattern scarf designed by Martin Storey, featuring a charming retro aesthetic. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished scarf measuring 19cm (7½in) wide when laid flat and approximately 195cm (76¾in) long, making it a generous accessory suitable for everyday wear.

Design and Pattern Details

The scarf showcases a repeating Fairisle design with a 32-stitch repeat and 30-row repeat. The flower motif is worked in five distinct colourways, with each colour repeating three times across the entire length of the scarf. This creates a balanced, multi-coloured design that maintains visual interest throughout the accessory.

Knitting Techniques Used

Fairisle Knitting: This pattern employs traditional Fairisle knitting techniques, where multiple yarn colours are worked into the fabric simultaneously to create the intricate leaf and flower design. Fairisle knitting requires careful attention to tension and colour changes to achieve clean, even stitches and prevent loose floats on the reverse side of the work.

The pattern uses a repeating motif structure, allowing knitters to follow a charted design systematically across the width and length of the scarf. This method is ideal for creating geometric and botanical patterns with precision.

Stitches Used

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, Fairisle knitting typically relies on stockinette stitch as the foundation, with colour changes worked across rows to build the pattern. The tension specification of 25 stitches and 26.5 rows to 10cm over the Fairisle pattern indicates the density and structure of the finished fabric.

Yarn and Materials

Yarn Weight: DK (Double Knit) weight yarn, which is a medium-weight yarn ideal for creating garments with good drape and definition for stitch patterns.

Yarn Specifications: The pattern calls for Rowan Felted Tweed DK, a high-quality wool blend yarn. The colour palette includes:

• 4 x 50g balls of Clay 177 [A] – the primary colour
• 2 x 50g balls of Seafarer 170 [B]
• 1 x 50g ball each of Iolite 208 [C], Cumin 193 [D], Tawny 186 [E], Maritime 167 [F], Avocado 161 [G], and Ginger 154 [H]

This selection of eight colours creates the retro flower and leaf design with warm and cool tones working together harmoniously.

Needles Required

The pattern requires two sets of needles in different sizes to achieve proper tension:

• 3.25mm (US 3) needles: Available as a set of 4 double-pointed needles or a 3.25mm circular needle no more than 40cm (16in) long, used for ribbed sections or initial cast-on
• 3.75mm (US 5) needles: Available as a set of 4 double-pointed needles or a 3.75mm circular needle no more than 40cm (16in) long, used for the main Fairisle pattern work

The use of shorter circular needles or double-pointed needles is appropriate for the scarf's 19cm width, allowing for even tension distribution and comfortable knitting.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The Fairisle technique requires familiarity with managing multiple yarn colours, reading charts, and maintaining consistent tension across colour changes. Knitters should be comfortable with basic knitting techniques before attempting this project.

Pattern Source

The Retro Flower Scarf is from Martin Storey's collection titled New Fairisle Knits and is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, allowing immediate access to the full instructions and charts.