Aquilegia

Aquilegia Scarf by Anne Hanson

What is Being Made

Aquilegia is a knitted scarf or stole available in three sizes: small, medium (large scarf), and large. The design features an elegant allover motif inspired by delicate, early spring blooms. The finished piece showcases deeply scalloped edges and is designed to create a sophisticated accessory that works beautifully in both lightweight and heavier yarn weights.

Design and Construction Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project is worked in two separate sections that are grafted together at the center back. The grafting technique, while somewhat challenging, creates a seamless and polished finish. The pattern includes wrong side lace stitches, which adds complexity to the construction but results in the signature scalloped edge detail that defines the piece.

The heavily textured pattern is specifically engineered to add depth and dimension to lightweight yarns that naturally lack body. When worked in lace-weight yarn on standard needles, the scarf creates an airy, delicate appearance. However, the same pattern worked in heavier yarn weights on larger needles produces a dramatically different aesthetic—described as lush and sexy, particularly when the fiber has inherent shine.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The pattern centers on lace stitches as the primary stitch technique. The allover lace motif creates the textured, blooming effect throughout the garment. The inclusion of wrong-side lace stitches distinguishes this as an intermediate project, requiring knitters to work lace patterning on both right-side and wrong-side rows for the complete effect.

Materials and Yarn Recommendations

Aquilegia is designed to work beautifully with lace-weight yarns and can accommodate various fiber blends. The pattern performs exceptionally well with natural fibers including cotton, linen, and silk blends, which benefit from the heavily textured pattern adding visual and tactile interest.

Suggested yarn options include:

• Bare Naked Wools Fresh Lace
• Cabécou Lace
• Hempshaugh Lace
• EcoButterfly Pakucho Cotton
• Qoperfina Lace
• Anzula Breeze
• Handmaiden Fi

The pattern is worked on needles appropriate to the chosen yarn weight. Important note: Substituting yarn and/or needles may result in variations in overall size, drape, and yardage requirements, so gauge swatching is recommended when making fiber or needle substitutions.