This scarf features a lace pattern from Barbara Walker’s A Treasure of Knitting Patterns page 218 called “Vine Lace.” The four-row pattern is a good first lace project and provides enough to keep it interesting working the front side while allowing you to rest while purling across the back side.

Adding beads is optional; they add a little sparkle and weight, but the scarf is just as pretty without them.

The sample uses one skein of Frog Tree Alpaca Handpaints Fingering yarn and measures 11 inches by 50 inches after blocking.

Materials

Yarn

One skein of Frog Tree Alpaca Handpaints Fingering, 430 yards/100 grams, fingering weight

Alternate yarns:

Malabrigo Merino Lace, 470 yards/50 grams, lace weight

Jade Sapphire Cashmere/Silk Lace, 400 yards.

If you use a lace weight yarn, cast on 18 more stitches to increase the width of the finished scarf.

Beads (optional)

Approximately 60 grams of 6/0 beads

Needles

US size #4/3.5 mm Use larger needles for a more open lace pattern.

Notions

Stitch markers (optional to mark pattern repeat)

Tapestry needle

Beading needle

Gauge

Sample scarf gauge = 5½ stitches per inch.

Instructions

If you are using beads, string a “comfortable” number of them on the yarn to begin with. Determine how many beads you can string on the yarn before it becomes cumbersome to knit. You will need to cut the yarn to add beads, so plan to do this at the end of a row.

Cast on 60 stitches. Knit 6 rows, slipping the first stitch of each row.

Begin working in pattern, continuing to slip the first stitch of each row. See the chart on the next page for bead placement.

Row 1: K3, * k1, yo, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, yo * repeat between the * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Row 2 & 4: K3, purl to last 3 stitches, K3.

Row 3: K3, *yo, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, yo, k1 * repeat between the * to the last 3 stitches, k3.

Continue in pattern for 50 inches, or until you have just enough yarn to knit six rows and bind off. Knit 6 rows and bind off all stitches.

Finishing

Block to measurements. Weave in ends and wear!