Hallam

Hallam Scarf by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

Hallam is a versatile, wearable scarf designed by Laura Chau that combines simplicity with distinctive style. This knitted accessory features a gently curved shape that wraps comfortably around the neck, available in three size options: Short (60"), Medium (75"), and Long (90") in length, with a consistent width of 6.5" at the center. The scarf's personality comes from its textural contrast and thoughtful construction rather than complex stitch patterns.

Techniques Used

Hallam is worked from side to side, a construction method that creates the scarf's signature gentle curve through the strategic use of short rows. This technique involves knitting back and forth across a limited number of stitches before turning, which gradually shapes the fabric without requiring increases or decreases. The side-to-side approach also allows for easy adjustments to accommodate different yarn weights and gauges, making the pattern adaptable to a range of materials. The scarf features beginner-friendly lace edges on one side, adding visual interest and an elegant finish to the design.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout Hallam is seed stitch, which forms the main body of the scarf. Seed stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, producing a dense, textured fabric with excellent drape and reversibility. This stitch is ideal for scarves as it lies flat and looks polished on both sides. The lace edges introduce openwork elements that contrast beautifully with the solid seed stitch body, creating visual dimension without overwhelming the design's simplicity.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Hallam is designed to be knit with Worsted or Aran weight yarn, with yardage requirements of 300 yards (275m) for the Short size, 350 yards (330m) for the Medium size, or 400 yards (365m) for the Long size. The pattern is shown in Alisha Goes Around Panoply (of Peacocks), a superwash merino blend containing 80% fine superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon, with 200 yards per 4 oz skein (requiring 2 skeins for the Long size shown).

The pattern calls for US 9 / 5.5mm circular needles measuring 32" / 80cm or longer. Notably, the Worsted weight yarn is knit quite loosely to achieve a drapey fabric, and knitters should be aware that superwash wools, alpaca, and silk will stretch and relax considerably when soaked, affecting the final dimensions of the finished scarf.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 12 stitches and 30 rows over a 4" / 10cm square in seed stitch, after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and drape, particularly important given the scarf's side-to-side construction and the stretching properties of the recommended yarn fibers.

Difficulty Level

Hallam is rated as an intermediate project, making it accessible to knitters with some experience while offering interesting construction techniques and finishing details. The seed stitch body is straightforward to execute, and the beginner-friendly lace edges provide an introduction to openwork without excessive complexity. The short-row shaping adds a technical element that intermediate knitters will find manageable and rewarding.