Aara Scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace - Downloadable PDF

Aara Scarf by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Aara Scarf is an elegant lace knit accessory designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This intermediate-level knitting project combines two luxurious yarn types—Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace—to create a delicate, refined scarf with sophisticated lace patterning throughout.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project worked flat on straight needles. The scarf features intricate lace construction, which involves strategic yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns. The design incorporates both stockinette stitch sections and detailed lace motifs that require intermediate knitting skills to execute accurately.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Aara Scarf employs a variety of essential knitting stitches and techniques:

• Knit stitch (K) and purl stitch (P) for foundational fabric structure
• Slip stitch (Sl 1) for edge definition and neat selvages
• Make one (M1) increases to create yarn overs and lace openings
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) decreases that pair with yarn overs for balanced lace patterning
• Garter stitch borders along the edges for stability and structure
• Stockinette stitch sections interspersed with lace motifs

The pattern works through repeating rows of increases and decreases that build the characteristic openwork aesthetic of lace knitting. Stitch counts increase and stabilize as the pattern develops—beginning at 130 stitches and expanding to 138 stitches through strategic increases.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Aara Scarf is worked in lace weight yarn, utilizing two complementary Rowan yarns:

• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in colorway Ghost 642 (8 x 25gm balls)
• Rowan Fine Lace in colorway Cobweb 922 (4 x 50gm balls)

The pattern requires two pairs of needles in different sizes to accommodate yarn weight transitions:

• 3mm (US 2/3) needles for initial cast-on and early rows
• 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main lace pattern sections
• Cable needle for any cable or stitch manipulation techniques

The combination of Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace creates a sophisticated blend of textures—the Kidsilk Haze provides softness and drape, while the Fine Lace contributes delicate definition to the lace motifs. This yarn pairing is ideal for creating an airy, elegant scarf suitable for layering.

Pattern Structure and Design Elements

The scarf follows a carefully charted lace pattern with repeating motifs. The design incorporates garter stitch selvages (edge stitches worked in knit) that frame the central lace pattern. Rows alternate between right-side and wrong-side rows, with the right-side rows containing the primary lace increases and the wrong-side rows setting up the structure for the following row. The pattern demonstrates intermediate-level complexity through its combination of multiple stitch types and the precision required to maintain lace pattern alignment across numerous stitches.