Wickerwork Scarf

Wickerwork Scarf by Cheryl Andrews

What is Being Made

The Wickerwork Scarf is a dressy lace scarf designed by Cheryl Andrews for Wooly Bear Hand Knits. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished scarf measuring 6 inches wide by 60 inches long (after blocking). The scarf features a decorative lace stitch pattern inspired by the woven appearance of caned wickerwork seats found on traditional chairs, making it an elegant accessory suitable for dressing up everyday outfits.

Techniques Used

This advanced-level knitting pattern employs several key techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The scarf begins with a seed stitch border, which is maintained along both long edges throughout the project to create a neat, finished frame for the central lace pattern. The primary construction method involves the wickerwork stitch pattern, which uses yarn overs and stitch manipulation to create an open, textured design. Knitters must be comfortable picking up stitches from the left needle and passing them over other stitches to achieve the characteristic woven effect. Blocking is essential to the finished dimensions and appearance of this scarf, as the gauge and final measurements are specified after blocking.

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch: A fundamental reversible stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1) across rows. This stitch forms the 3-stitch borders on each side of the scarf and the initial 5-row border at the cast-on edge.
• Yarn Over (YO): An increase technique that creates decorative eyelets and openings in the fabric, essential to the lace pattern structure.
• Wickerwork Stitch: The signature pattern stitch that uses stitch manipulation—picking up stitches from the left needle and passing them over adjacent stitches—to create the woven, interlocking appearance reminiscent of wickerwork.
• Knit and Purl Stitches: The foundational stitches used throughout the pattern to build texture and structure.

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for sport weight or double knitting weight yarn (DK weight), requiring approximately 200 meters total. The sample was knitted using Butterfly mercerized cotton in color 3352, which came from a single 125-gram skein containing 230 meters. The mercerized cotton provides a lustrous finish and drape suitable for a dressy lace scarf. Note that the sample did not use the entire skein, indicating the scarf could potentially be made longer if desired.

Needles: Size 10 needles are required for this project. The specified gauge after blocking is 16 stitches and 16 rows in the pattern stitch equaling 4 inches, which helps determine the final dimensions of the finished scarf.

Construction: The scarf begins with a cast-on of 25 stitches, expanded to 33 stitches after the pattern setup rows. The combination of the seed stitch borders and the wickerwork lace pattern creates a balanced, finished appearance suitable for a dressy accessory.