Step out confidently into the frozen wastes of winter with this protective outer layer. The two shifting colorways of Zauberball’s lustrous felted yarn mirror nature’s random shadings, and the yarn itself provides a cosy, substantial warmth.

If you’ve tried some lace knitting and want to move on to something a bit more challenging, let this pattern introduce you to a 3 to 15 stitch increase and a quadruple decrease -- which act together to create the dramatic zig-zag markings.
Fleece is knit in one piece, and works up quite quickly on US 8/5mm needles.

The colors change randomly in the yarn - you can let the color shifts determine your transitions between two charts - one plain and one fancy.

It’s easy to make a wider stole or narrower scarf by adding or subtracting repeats.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 62 inches
Width: 16 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Zauberball Sock [75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 459yd/420m per 4oz/100g ball]; 1 ball each color
[MC] #1508 Shadows
[CC] #1993 Chocolate Cream

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #8/5mm straight needles

Notions
Yarn needle
Rust-proof pins for blocking

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

It is essential to work loosely when knitting the last of the initial garter stitch rows and when working Row 8 of each chart, to accommodate the dramatic decreases and increases worked in Row 1 of each chart.
You may wish to practise these increases and decreases before beginning. To do this, CO 35 sts and knit several rows, then work Row 1 of Chart A, working the outlined pattern repeat section only once. Rip and re-knit this row until you are satisfied with your increases and decreases.

I found k5tog tbl to be the easiest quadruple decrease method for this project. Feel free to substitute another method, if you prefer.

To make the scarf wider or narrower, add or subtract a multiple of 30 sts.

Increase 3 sts to 15 sts: K3tog but do not drop sts from left needle; [yo, k3tog] seven times in same 3 sts, then drop sts from left needle. 3 sts increased to 15 sts.
Note: If you find this increase too difficult, work [k1, yo, k1, yo, k1] in each of the next 3 sts instead. Each st will be increased from 1 st to 5 sts.

Information about blocking lace can be found here and here.

DIRECTIONS
Using MC, CO 95 sts. K 4 rows; be sure to work last row loosely (see Pattern Notes).

Work Rows 1-8 of Chart A once. Outlined Pattern Repeat section is worked three times in each row.
Note: In Row 1, st count is increased to 107 sts.

Alternate as desired between Charts B and C until scarf is desired length, ending with Chart B.

Chart B creates solid chevrons with garter st ridges; Chart C creates lacy fans.

Switch colors as desired.

(See below for color and chart directions for scarf shown.)
Note: In Row 1 of Charts B and C, st count is increased to 113 sts. In Row 2, it is decreased back to 107 sts.

When scarf is desired length, loosely BO all sts.

The colors and charts for the scarf shown were worked as follows:
CO using MC. Work Chart A once.
Work Chart B five times.
Work Chart C five times.

Switch to CC. Work Chart B twice.
Work Chart C twice.
Work Chart B twice.
Work Chart C twice.
Work Chart B three times.
Work Chart C five times.

Switch to MC. Work Chart B twice.
Work Chart C once.
Work Chart B once.
Loosely BO all sts.

FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired.

Kieran lives in Dublin, Ireland, with a ferocious little canine called Mini.

He blogs here. Please visit his website to see his other designs.