Avalon

Avalon Lace Knit Scarf by Susan Pandorf

What Is Being Made

Avalon is a quick knit scarf designed by Susan Pandorf, part of the Sunflower Designs collection. This elegant accessory measures 12 inches wide by 72 inches long, making it a versatile length suitable for various styling options. The scarf is crafted as a downloadable PDF pattern, allowing knitters to work at their own pace from their needles.

Craft and Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft, specifically employing lace knitting techniques. Lace knitting combines openwork patterns with strategic yarn overs and decreases to create an airy, delicate fabric with visual interest. The pattern features a repeating lace motif that develops across the width of the scarf as you progress through the rows. The design is classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to explore more complex stitch patterns and chart reading.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Avalon scarf utilizes several key knitting stitches to achieve its lace pattern:

• Knit (K): The foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl (P): Worked on wrong side rows to create texture and structure
• Yarn Over (YO): Creates the openwork holes characteristic of lace patterns, adding both visual lightness and structural interest
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to maintain stitch count while creating the lace design
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in combination with yarn overs
• Slip, Knit Two Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (SK2P): A double decrease that creates more dramatic openings in the lace pattern
• Make Bobble (MB): A textured stitch element that adds dimensional detail to the lace motif

The pattern is written out in row-by-row directions with a lace chart, allowing knitters to follow either written instructions or visual charting based on their preference. Garter stitch borders (knit stitches on all rows) frame the sides of the scarf, creating a neat, finished edge.

Materials and Gauge

The Avalon scarf requires 3 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed yarn in Color #164 Grey Mist, totaling 573 yards. Rowan Felted Tweed is a 4-ply weight yarn, providing a medium thickness that works beautifully for lace projects. The yarn's subtle heathered coloring complements the openwork pattern without overwhelming the delicate stitch details.

Knitters will need Size 4 (US) needles to work this pattern. The recommended gauge is 6 stitches equals 1 inch when measured in the blocked lace pattern, which is crucial for achieving the correct finished dimensions. Blocking the completed scarf helps even out the lace stitches and ensures the final measurements match the intended 12 by 72 inches.

Design Inspiration

The scarf is accompanied by evocative poetry by Elizabeth Wilcox that references Avalon, the legendary island from Arthurian legend, connecting the textile design to themes of timeless beauty and mythological wonder.