Slalom Scarf

Slalom Scarf by Xandy Peters

What Is Being Made

The Slalom Scarf is a knitted accessory designed as a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia colorwork. This finished scarf measures 8.5 inches (21 cm) wide and 60 inches (152 cm) long, making it a substantial neck accessory suitable for everyday wear. The design features wavy colorblocking inspired by the path a skier traces down a snowy mountain slope, creating dynamic visual movement along the length of the scarf.

Techniques and Stitches Used

Brioche Intarsia Colorwork: This pattern introduces knitters to brioche intarsia, a specialized colorwork technique that combines brioche knitting with intarsia color changes. Rather than carrying yarn across the back of the work as in traditional colorwork, intarsia uses separate yarn lengths for each color section, creating clean color transitions without bulk.

Brioche Increases and Decreases: The scarf uses simple brioche increases and decreases to manipulate the ratio of colors on each side of the wave pattern. These shaping techniques create the undulating visual effect while remaining straightforward enough for knitters to memorize the instructions, allowing focus on mastering the intarsia technique itself.

The pattern instructions are designed to be simple and easy to memorize, making this an accessible entry point for advanced knitters learning brioche intarsia for the first time. Video tutorials demonstrating each increase and decrease used in the pattern are available on YouTube to supplement the written instructions.

Materials

Yarn: The Slalom Scarf uses MollyGirl Yarn Harmony, a worsted weight yarn composed of 100% merino wool. The yarn provides 270 yards (247 meters) per 100 grams. The pattern requires three skeins total, each 50 grams:

• Light Color 1: Between Halloweens (1 skein, 50g used)
• Light Color 2: House of the Rising Sun (1 skein, 50g used)
• Dark Color: Stop Wondering (1 skein, 50g used)

Needles: Size 10 (6 mm) circular needles or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches by 16 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, reflecting the brioche intarsia colorwork techniques required. However, the straightforward shaping and memorizable stitch sequences make it an ideal advanced project for knitters looking to expand their technical skills without overwhelming complexity.