Windy Scarf in Rowan Pure Wool Worsted - D160 - Downloadable PDF

Windy Scarf in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Windy Scarf is an elegant, elongated knitted scarf designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF pattern, this intermediate-level project produces a finished scarf measuring 16 cm (6½ in) wide and 250 cm (98½ in) long — a generously proportioned accessory that wraps with ease and drapes beautifully. The design takes its visual inspiration from the fluid, sweeping movement suggested by its name, achieved through a sophisticated combination of travelling stitches, cable crossings, and a two-colour slip-stitch technique that creates the illusion of interwoven strands of yarn.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted, a smooth, machine-washable 100% wool yarn in the worsted weight category. Two colourways are used throughout the design:

• Yarn A – Moonstone (shade 112): 3 x 100g balls
• Yarn B – Granite (shade 111): 2 x 100g balls

The pairing of Moonstone and Granite creates a refined, tonal contrast — a soft, light neutral set against a deeper, stony grey — giving the finished scarf a sophisticated, contemporary look that suits both casual and smart outfits.

Needles and Tools

• 1 pair of 4½mm (UK no. 7 / US 7) knitting needles
• 1 cable needle — essential for working the cable and crossing stitches throughout the pattern

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 30 stitches and 48 rows to 10 cm, measured over the stitch pattern using 4½mm (US 7) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important for this project, as the intricate stitch pattern and the finished length of the scarf depend on accurate row and stitch counts.

Techniques Used

The Windy Scarf is classified as an intermediate knitting project, and it draws on a range of techniques that go beyond basic knit and purl. Knitters will need to be comfortable with:

• Cable knitting using a cable needle to create twisted, rope-like crossings within the fabric
• Two-colour knitting worked by alternating between Yarn A and Yarn B on specific rows, creating a striped and interlaced visual effect without stranding or colourwork in the traditional Fair Isle sense
• Slip-stitch colourwork — stitches are slipped with the yarn held at the back (wyab) or at the front (wyaf) of the work, allowing the contrast colour to float across the surface and create the characteristic woven appearance
• Travelling stitches using Cr4L and Cr4R (cross 4 left and cross 4 right), which move stitches diagonally across the fabric without a traditional cable twist, producing the flowing, windswept lines that define the pattern's character

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern is worked over a 30-row repeat and incorporates the following specific stitches and techniques, all of which are defined within the pattern using special abbreviations:

• C7B (Cable 7 Back): Slip 4 stitches to the cable needle and hold at the back, knit 3, then knit the 4 stitches from the cable needle — creates a right-leaning cable cross over 7 stitches
• C7F (Cable 7 Front): Slip 3 stitches to the cable needle and hold at the front, knit 4, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle — creates a left-leaning cable cross over 7 stitches