By Birdy Evans

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTflitfloat.php 5 August 2011 Page 1 of 8

by Birdy Evans

Butterflies are not only a classic symbol of rebirth and renewal, but the epitome of grace and beauty.

In this short and breezy scarf, the butterfly swarm flits 'n floats up the lace on both ends. Wearing this scarf is like standing in a meadow full of butterflies in flight.

I used Lace Butterfly from Barbara Walkers'
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Belle Epoque from Nicki Epstein’s Knitting on the Edge, as my jumping off points.

I would love to say this: I was standing in a glorious spring meadow surrounded by butterflies and flowers when design inspiration began nibbling on my brain. But alas, I was at a WNBA game watching the Silver Stars plow into the Finals. Knitting Bunnies strike when one least expects it.

SIZE One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Width: approx. 8 inches at widest point (not including ruffles) Length: 56.75 inches

MATERIALS:

· Misti Alpaca [100% Baby Alpaca; 437yd/400m per 50g skein]; color: #4050 Lavender; 1 skein

· 1 set US #4/3.5mm straight needles

· 1 set US #6/4mm straight needles (used only for CO) [always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

· Yarn needle

· Waste yarn, or cable from interchangeable needle set (see Pattern Notes re. Open Cast On)

GAUGE: 30 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st, after blocking

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

Instructions for the Open Cast On method can be found here.
Note: Instead of waste yarn, I used the cable from an interchangeable needle set. This makes it easy to work the second half of the scarf without needing to remove waste yarn from the CO edge.

Instructions for the Cable Cast On method can be found here.

Blocking:
Information about blocking can be found here and here.

DIRECTIONS:

Using larger needles and Open Cast On method, CO 47 sts.
Switch to smaller needles and work first ruffle.

First Ruffle:
Row 1 [RS]: K all sts.
Row 2 [WS]: K7, [p1, k7] to end.
Row 3 [RS]: P7, [k1, p7] to end.
Row 4 [WS]: Work as for Row 2.
Row 5 [RS]: P7, [yo, k1, yo, p7] to end. 57 sts.
Row 6 [WS]: K7, [p2, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 7 [RS]: P7, [yo, k3, yo, p7] to end. 67 sts.
Row 8 [WS]: K7, [p4, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 9 [RS]: P7, [yo, k5, yo, p7] to end. 77 sts.
Row 10 [WS] : K7, [p6, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 11 [RS]: P7, [yo, k7, yo, p7] to end. 87 sts.
Row 12 [WS]: K7, [p8, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 13 [RS]: P7, [yo, k9, yo, p7] to end. 97 sts.
Row 14 [WS]: K7, [p10, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 15 [RS]: P7, [yo, k11, yo, p7] to end. 107 sts.
Row 16 [WS]: K7, [p12, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 17 [RS]: P7, [yo, k13, yo, p7] to end. 117 sts.
Row 18 [WS]: K7, [p14, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 19 [RS]: P7, [yo, k15, yo, p7] to end. 127 sts.
Row 20 [WS]: K7, [p16, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 21 [RS]: P7, [yo, k17, yo, p7] to end. 137 sts.
Row 22 [WS]: K7, [p18, p1 tbl, k7] to end.
Row 23 [RS]: P7, [yo, k19, yo, p7] to end. 147 sts.
Row 24 [WS]: K7, [p20, p1 tbl, k7] to end.

BO all sts using Picot Bind Off method, as follows:
BO 2 sts in pattern [When binding off in pattern, if the next st on the needle is a knit st, purl it; if it is a purl st, knit it.]; slip st remaining on right needle to left needle.
*Using Cable Cast On method, CO 2 sts; BO 4 sts (including sts just cast on).
Slip st remaining on right needle to left needle.
Using Cable Cast On method, CO 3 sts; BO 5 sts (including sts just cast on).
Repeat from * until 1 st remains. Break yarn and draw through last st.

Scarf: Carefully remove waste yarn from CO edge and place resulting live sts on needle. Join yarn with RS facing. When working first row, increase 1 st, so that there are 48 sts in total.

Work Rows 1-8 of Chart A six times, then work Rows 9-18 once.
Work Rows 1-42 of Chart B.
Work Rows 1-36 of Chart C.
Work Rows 1-88 of Chart D.
Note: If you wish to lengthen scarf, work more rows of stockinette st between Rows 34 and 54 of Chart D.

Work Rows 1-36 of Chart C.
Work Rows 1-42 of Chart E.
Work Rows 1-10 of Chart F once, then work Rows 11-18 six times.

Second Ruffle:
K 1 row (a RS row), decreasing 1 st, so that there are 47 sts in total.
Beginning with Row 2, work as for First Ruffle.

FINISHING: Weave in ends.
Wet block scarf (see linked articles in Pattern Notes, above). For scarf shown, ruffles were supported using small wads of plastic wrap during blocking, to help maintain shape. Allow to dry completely.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Birdy lives with her husband, two children and two cats in San Antonio, TX. She calls her burgeoning designs Knitting Bunnies and they drive her half mad--nibbling away at her brain when she’s supposed to be doing other things.
Birdy blogs here and sells knitterly stuff here. She also spends entirely too much time on Ravelry as BirdysKnits.