Rites

Rites Scarf by Teresa Gregorio

Garment Overview

Rites is an intermediate-level knitted scarf designed by Teresa Gregorio and available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This design draws inspiration from folklore traditions surrounding the duppy, a ghost created through improper treatment of the deceased's soul. The scarf visually represents the blue smoke spiral through which the soul departs the body, making it a narrative textile piece that combines cultural storytelling with contemporary knit design.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for Sanguine Gryphon Codex yarn in the colorway Ella Minnow Pea. The yarn composition is 52% silk and 48% Blue Face Leicester wool, offering a blend of luxury fiber and sturdy wool characteristics. One hank of yarn is required, with a yardage of 234 yards (214 meters), providing sufficient fiber for the complete scarf project.

Tools and Gauge

The pattern uses 5 mm (#8) circular needles. The working gauge is established at 5 stitches and 6 rows per 1 inch when worked in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and drape of the scarf.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Rites employs several intermediate knitting techniques that contribute to its visual complexity and the narrative quality of the design:

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base, creating a smooth, refined surface suitable for showcasing yarn color and texture
• Increases are used throughout the pattern, with the designer noting that beginning increases will be particularly tight and require careful attention during the cast-on phase
• Knit through the back of the loop (ktbl) creates twisted stitches that add visual interest and structural variation
• Knit into the front and back of the same stitch (kfb) generates increases within the fabric
• Slip stitches (sl) are worked as if to knit with yarn held behind the work, a technique that requires consistent execution throughout the pattern
• Stitch dropping is deliberately incorporated into the design, with dropped stitches unraveled down to the cast-on edge to create intentional openwork or textural elements

Pattern Notes and Construction Considerations

The pattern includes specific guidance for successful execution. Knitters should anticipate that the beginning increases will present a tighter tension than subsequent rows, requiring patience and potentially adjusted hand tension during the initial stages. Consistency in slip stitch technique is emphasized, with all slipped stitches worked as if to knit and with yarn positioned behind the work. The deliberate dropping of stitches as a design element means that unraveling stitches down to the cast-on edge is an intentional construction method rather than an error correction technique.

Difficulty Level

Classified as an intermediate project, Rites is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with more complex stitch techniques and pattern instructions. The combination of increases, twisted stitches, slip stitch sequences, and intentional stitch dropping requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading knitting patterns.