Product Description
This pattern can be found in my 2016 book Double or Nothing: Reversible Knitting for the Adventurous.
After I discovered the excitement of off-the-grid double-knitting and applied it in my enigmatic Silk Road necktie, I was itching to play more with this concept. I had sketched all kinds of patterns that used modifications of the spirals I had generated previously, but I didn't want to create dozens of different patterns just to show off the possibilities.
Instead, I wrote a bunch of them into a single pattern that changes as it progresses. Integrated into this scarf are off-the-grid diamonds, spirals, Greek keys, and more.
The finished piece is approximately 77” long by 6” wide and uses a total of 340 g of yarn. Since you’ll have a total of 400 g, you’ll be all set.
Hesperos Scarf by Alasdair Post-Quinn
What Is Being Made
Hesperos is an advanced double-knit scarf designed by Alasdair Post-Quinn, originally published in Double or Nothing. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a sophisticated scarf featuring dynamic spiral and diamond motifs that emerge through strategic color shifts and mirrored chevron techniques.
Design Concept and Inspiration
The scarf explores the visual effects of progressive spiral shifts in double-knitting. The design builds on techniques first developed in the Silk Road necktie from Extreme Double-knitting, where two sets of chevrons mirrored on a horizontal axis create diamonds. By shifting these chevrons incrementally, Hesperos develops evolving spiral patterns throughout the length of the scarf. The off-the-grid double-knitting is spaced widely enough to keep the pattern visible and followable, making it an excellent project for practicing advanced double-knit techniques.
Knitting Techniques and Stitches
This pattern employs double-knitting as its primary technique, a method that creates a reversible, two-color fabric with distinct pattern on both sides. The scarf features:
- Chevron stitches arranged in mirrored pairs to establish the foundational pattern structure
- Off-the-grid double-knitting throughout the scarf, which allows for non-repeating color sequences and complex pattern development
- Double-knit increases and decreases, which the pattern specifically highlights as learning opportunities for advanced knitters
- Spiral motifs created through sequential horizontal shifts of the chevron sequences
The pattern is classified as advanced difficulty, requiring solid foundational double-knitting skills and comfort with color work and shaping techniques.
Materials and Yarn
The pattern calls for sport weight yarn in two colors. The original design specifies Plucky Knitter Primo Sport (75% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 5% nylon; 275 yards per 100 gram skein). The pattern requires 2 skeins of Color A (Shimmy, a tan shade) and additional yardage of Color B. The designer notes that while Plucky Knitter yarn can be difficult to source, any sport weight MCN (merino, cashmere, nylon) or MCS (merino, cashmere, silk) blend will work as an effective substitute.
Tools Required
Knitting needles appropriate for sport weight yarn are required. Double-knitting typically uses needles one to two sizes smaller than standard recommendations for the yarn weight to achieve the necessary fabric density and stitch definition.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Sport |
| Pages: | 18 |
| Designer: | Alasdair Post-Quinn |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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