Product Description
I just love when I'm in my LYS, see something pretty, and can whip up a gift in one day! As soon as the twinkle of sequins in Yang caught my eye, I was reminded of a delightfully pretty and bubbly friend that arranged to have sparkling wine waiting for me in my hotel room when I visited. Espumante is a Portugese sparkling wine, which seemed an appropriate name for a scarf based on a Portugese lace edging.
This scarf has lace stitches on every row, and so a little experience with following lace patterns would be good. However, only basic stitches are used so don't be afraid to give this pretty little project a try!
The pictured scarf was made using one skein of SWTC Lang, and measures approximately 5' long.
All proceeds from my patterns are donated to March of Dimes whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality
Espumante Knitted Scarf by MsChris
What Is Being Made
Espumante is a versatile, reversible knitted scarf designed by Chris Abbott. Measuring approximately 4 inches wide and 5 feet long, this scarf is suitable for both day and evening wear. The design draws inspiration from sparkling wine, a bubbly personality, and traditional Portuguese lace edgings, making it an elegant accessory with vintage charm and contemporary appeal.
Techniques and Stitches
This advanced knitting project features lace knitting as its primary technique, incorporating a Portuguese lace edging pattern sourced from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The scarf is reversible, meaning both sides are visually interesting and wearable. The lace pattern creates an open, airy fabric with an undulating width that adds visual interest and movement to the finished piece.
The lace construction requires intermediate to advanced knitting skills, as lace patterns demand careful attention to yarn overs, decreases, and stitch placement to maintain pattern integrity. A cable needle is required for this project, indicating the presence of cable or twisted stitches that add textural depth to the lace design.
Materials and Yarn Specifications
- Yarn: One skein of SWTC Yang (93 yards/85 meters) in worsted weight
- Needles: US 10 (6.5 mm) needles
- Additional Tools: One cable needle
The original sample was created using SWTC Yang, a yarn with sequins that adds sparkle and visual interest to the finished scarf. However, the pattern is adaptable to any worsted-weight yarn that blocks reasonably well. The designer notes that this design would be equally attractive when worked in heavier or finer yarns, offering flexibility for yarn substitutions based on personal preference or availability.
Gauge and Sizing
Using US 10 (6.5 mm) needles with the lace pattern, the gauge is approximately 20 stitches over 4 inches and 20 rows over 5 inches. Due to the open nature of the lace pattern and the undulating width characteristic of the design, achieving a perfectly accurate gauge measurement is challenging. Knitters should use these gauge specifications as a guideline and expect natural variation in the finished scarf width.
Project Characteristics
Despite its advanced difficulty level, Espumante is described as a very quick knit when worked in worsted-weight yarn. The combination of worsted weight and the open lace pattern means the scarf comes together relatively quickly compared to other lace projects. The reversible nature of the design adds functional value, as either side can be displayed depending on styling preferences or how the scarf is worn.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Worsted |
| Pages: | 4 |
| Designer: | MsChris |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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