Bradfield Scarf in Rowan Valley Tweed - Downloadable PDF

Bradfield Scarf in Rowan Valley Tweed by Lisa Richardson – Pattern Summary

The Bradfield Scarf is a beautifully shaped knitted wrap designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan Yarns in 2020. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is worked in Rowan Valley Tweed, a sport-weight yarn that lends a wonderfully rustic, textured quality to the finished piece. What makes this scarf particularly striking is its dramatic asymmetric silhouette — it tapers from a narrow end of 25 cm (9¾ in) to a sweeping wider end of 75 cm (29½ in), with a total length of 125 cm (49¼ in). This elegant shaping makes it far more than a standard rectangular scarf; it drapes beautifully around the shoulders as a wrap or cowl-style accessory.

What Is Being Made

The finished item is a tapered, asymmetric knitted scarf and wrap. Its wedge-like shape is achieved entirely through short-row shaping rather than increases or decreases, giving the fabric a smooth, uninterrupted surface. The design is both wearable and visually interesting, with the colour striping adding further dimension to the overall aesthetic.

Techniques Used

• Short-row shaping with wrap and turn (W&T): The entire taper of the scarf is created using a methodical short-row technique. On right-side rows, stitches are knitted to a specific point, the next stitch is wrapped, and the work is turned before reaching the end of the row. On subsequent rows, the wrapped stitch and its wrapping loop are worked together as one stitch to avoid holes or gaps in the fabric. This technique is repeated across many rows, progressively shortening the knitted rows to build the wedge shape incrementally.
• Stripe sequencing: The pattern uses a carefully planned multi-colour stripe sequence cycling through three shades of Rowan Valley Tweed. The stripes are worked in blocks of rows — for example, 16 rows in yarn A, followed by 9 rows in yarn B, then 9 rows in yarn A, then 17 rows in yarn C, and so on — creating a rhythmic, organic colour pattern that complements the tweed texture.
• Garter stitch throughout: The entire scarf is worked in garter stitch (knitting every row on both right and wrong sides), which produces a reversible, ridged fabric with excellent drape and body. Garter stitch is also particularly forgiving for short-row shaping, as the ridged texture helps to disguise the wrap-and-turn joins naturally.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch — knit every row, forming the sole stitch pattern throughout the entire piece
• Wrap and turn (W&T) — a short-row technique used to shape the fabric without binding off or casting on additional stitches
• Working wrapped stitches — on return rows, the wrap and the stitch it encircles are knitted together to maintain an even stitch count and a clean fabric surface

Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Valley Tweed in three colourways:
  • Littondale (102) — 4 x 50 g balls (yarn A, the dominant colour)
  • Janet's Foss (110) — 2 x 50 g balls (yarn B)
  • Hardraw (108) — 2 x 50 g balls (yarn C)
• Needles: One pair of 3 mm (UK no. 11 / US size 2/3) straight knitting needles
• Tension: 26 stitches and 53 rows to 10 cm measured over garter stitch using 3 mm needles

About Rowan Valley Tweed

Rowan Valley Tweed is a sport-weight yarn with a characteristically tweedy, slightly rustic texture that references the traditional wool-spinning heritage of the Yorkshire Dales. Its subtle fl