scarves, etc through the years
Scarves, cowls, wraps, shawls, ponchos…in addition to being essential for weathering the colder months of the year, these types of pieces provide a smaller canvas in which to explore a new-to-you yarn, a compelling stitch pattern, technique, colorwork motif, or shape. That is why we love putting together the Scarves, etc collection every year. We ask designers to freely play within this framework and to dream up a perfect piece of neckwear. Here is a very small selection of the 76 pieces we've published through these collections over the last 6 years...
playing with color
Peg Blechman gave us Flying Geese for our Scarves, etc 5 collection, published in 2016. Knitted in Owl and shown in Huckleberry (MC) and Cement (CC), this piece features stranded colorwork and corrugated ribbing, and the contrast between the two shades is striking.
For our Scarves, etc 4 collection in 2015, Ellie Sokolow designed Inverness in Osprey. Her idea for a plaid pattern over cushy garter stitch was so appealing to us. After much experimentation, the colorway shown here (Slate background with Iceland, Poppy, and Honey) was born, and we loved the results.
Reixa was published in Scarves, etc 2013, and designed by Lily May Lewis. The combination of stripes and a meditative mesh pattern is pretty compelling. Knitted in Chickadee and shown in Chanterelle (MC) and Bird's Egg (CC).
left to right: Flying Geese by Peg Blechman, Inverness by Ellie Sokolow, Reixa by Lily May Lewis
playing with ribbing
Stone's Throw, also from Scarves, etc 2013, was designed by Kim Haesemeyer and worked up in Lark (shown here in Gingerbread). This interesting take on 1x1 ribbing creates little raised bubbles of ribbing with the use of double yarnovers, and is finished with a deep section of plain ribbing at each end for a really cool effect.
Entrelac looks so good with ribbing. With the Torno cowl from Scarves, etc 4, knitted up in Chickadee and shown here in Damson, Amy Maceyko had been frustrated with the more traditional, quilted look of Entrelac in stockinette stitch and decided to flatten the fabric with a little ribbing—and the result is reminiscent of a basketweave pattern on a diagonal. Brilliant.
Ann Klimpert's Bradford cowl, designed for Scarves, etc 5 in 2016, is knitted up in Tern, and it is a simple, reversible twisted rib piece that is fun and meditative to work. In addition, we love the subtle shine of the silk that adds some extra depth to the motif. Shown here in Syrah.
left to right: Stone's Throw by Kim Haesemeyer, Torno by Amy Maceyko, Bradford by Ann Klimpert
playing with stripes
Makiho Negishi designed Parallel for our Scarves, etc 2014 collection—two-color garter stitch meets two-color brioche in this Lark scarf, shown in Delft and Fjord. Worked on double-pointed needles, this is a fun challenge that results in a very cool piece. And of course, part of the fun is picking the colors!
For Scarves, etc 6, published in 2017, Ela Torrente designed Trictangle, an ample wrap that uses garter stitch, stripes, and short rows to create a really stunning piece of neckwear. Knitted in Owl Steppe, Lagoon, and Mesa, Ela split the colorwork between two tessellated wedges, one with two-color stripes, one with three-color stripes.
Aroura, published in Scarves, etc 2013 and designed by Karalee Harding, uses an ingenious combination of garter and rib in two colors of Chickadee (Iceland and Pea Coat shown here), and WS color changes, to create a complex-looking (but easy to work) and very textural deep border.
left to right: Parallel by Makiho Negishi, Trictangle by Ela Torrente, Aroura by Karalee Harding
We're about to offer up a new installment of this annual tradition with 10 new scarves, shawls, cowls, wraps, etc on Thursday, October 11th…so stay tuned and make sure you're signed up to receive our email announcements!
