Dear Ann,
Spring is here, and once again I take up the search for the perfect summer scarf. Eileen Fisher always leads the way, with a variety of lightweight, drapey, wrappy and often gauzy scarves. Eileen Fisher has so many scarves on offer that there is generally a tangle of good ones in the (tasteful wooden) sale bowl, and it is easy to find similar scarves elsewhere. Eileen F. is super helpful, too. Every season there is an EiFi How to Tie a Scarf video. Have you seen this Spring’s video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo0kxWbkNLg
It makes you think that maybe we Eileen fans are a little dim; the knots are very familiar from year to year. I’ve been known to stand in an Eileen Fisher shop watching the scarf video loop for a pretty long time. (I never quite get The Pretzel.)
Summer scarves are challenging. They are not needed for warmth (exception: overambitious air conditioning), yet I want that comforting feeling of something around my (ahem) maturing neck–a scarf is like a soft, wrinkly friend for your soft, wrinkly friend.
I like to have a scarf on the needles, winter or summer, but I’ve yet to find the perfect summer scarf that is knitted, not woven. At Stitches South last weekend, in the Neighborhood Fiber Company booth, I found this year’s first Summer Scarf contender:
The large skein is 4 ounces (560 yards) of Capital Luxury Lace, which is 80% wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. It’s soft and drapey, with a smooth, cottony feel.
The small skein is 1 ounce (one! ounce!) (413 yards) of Chromium, which is 69% silk noil, and 31% stainless steel. It’s paper-thin and holds a scrunch.
The pattern is Ann Weaver’s Iodine, a cloud-like cowl that weighs only 45 grams. (Well, maybe it weighs a touch more when using Capital Luxury Lace instead of the originally-prescribed Loft, a silk/mohair blend.)
I fell in love with the shop sample. As one of the 55 Ravelers who made it has noted, however, “It’s hard to photograph!” Even the photo on the pattern, featuring Neighborhood Fiber Company’s lovely Karida Collins, does not quite do it justice. It floats and it crunches. I feel like it took me longer to wind the yarn the other night (two episodes of EastEnders and 3/4 of an episode of All Creatures Great and Small) than it will take to knit the thing.
As happy as I am to be casting on Iodine, I am still in search of a knit scarf in a more traditional summer fiber, such as linen or cotton, or even — possibly– silk. Something swingy, meshy, and/or beachy.
Readers, if you have a pattern suggestion, would you please shout it out in the comments?
Much obliged!
Love,
Kay
I just finished a keyhole scarf using Queensland Collection Uluru. It is a cotton and acrylic blend and made a wonderful fabric for a lightweight scarf.
Ohh that’s lovely looking yarn. I am biased, tho…..I’m an Aussie in NC. ???? Time to break my Cold Shheping for some Aussie yarn!
Sorry — no suggestions here. “Summer scarf” is something of an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp” or (these days, especially) “intelligent politician”. . . .
That’s what I was thinking. Here in NC I would die wearing this scarf in the summer. It is a beauty, though!
lol I’m in NC, too. It doesn’t get as hot here as it does in Australua, where I’m from, but is much moe humid. Just the thought of wearing a scarf in the summer, even a cotton or linen one has me in a puddle! lol
I think L.1 in Shibui linen is pretty divine! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/l1
As much as I love love love Quince & Co. Sparrow, for a scarf I think the chainette construction of the Shibui is an advantage, since it’s a bit lighter and floatier when you have a long length of knitting.
I think the Diagonal Pinstripe Scarf would look great in a linen: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diagonal-pinstripe-scarf
Kozue is super lovely: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kozue
Multigrain makes me swoon: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multigrain
Tier, also from Shibui: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ss15–tier
For something less rectangular, Window Shopping: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/window-shopping
Montego Bay by Amy Singer, in Handmaiden Sea Silk, great drape and swing, mesh, funky, beachy – my go to summer scarf for my mellowing neck.
I love the Churchmouse yarn company’s “Bias Before and After Scarf”. It calls for a light weight linen (or wool for winter) and a larger needle size for drape. There is an option for adding some very subtle beading along the edge. The linen softens with a soak. It is a quick knit. I’ve made 4 of these for gifts. Love it
Exactly what I was going to suggest!
I also love this scarf–for a lovely solid, try it in Shibui Knits Linen!
I love Shibui Linen but I have to add a word of warning: I made a sleeveless top out of it in navy, and it was amazing, but the first time I wore it was a warm (read: sweaty) day and my arms turned blue. Oops.
So definitely rinse your project REALLY well if you’re using a darker color, unless blue arms are your thing. I’m not judging.
I agree, this will be the scarf I begin to make as soon as the temps are warm enough for me to knit in the sun on my deck. I’ve ordered two skeins of Tahiti, a cotton yarn by Schachenmayr, in variegated colors named Breeze. I don’t plan to add the beads, though.
I too love a summer scarf. I have a couple lovely ones from Theodora and Callum. I also loved the Neighborhood Fiber Company’s booth. I bought an Albers Cowl kit there. Also by Anne Weaver. I always mean to knit something in a linen or silk yarn, but the just don’t feel right on the needles.
Habu Textiles makes a yarn called Cotton Gima. Whatever pattern you chose will be light and airy.
how about that pretty veronik avery one – http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lace-ribbon-scarf – in purl’s new quill which has a healthy dose of linen in it?
or how about a vintage kaffe fassett project instead? please reveal!
The bit about the “maturing neck” – Hilarious! I absolutely understand. I’m very interested to see what scarves your readers recommend.
P.S. – Is stainless steel yarn difficult to knit with?
It’s a bit slippery in its own but manageable if you are determined. Held with another yarn it’s a piece of cake.
Churchmouse Diagonal Lace Scarf/Wrap and also Jane Richmond’s Strathcona in linen. I’ve made the Strathcona, and am working in the Churchmouse (if by working you mean ripped out and starting over).
I was coming on here to recommend strathcona! So seconded. I loved knitting it and it would totally be awesome in a range of non-wool springy yarns 🙂
I’ve made two strathcona scarves in linen so far.
I looked up Strathcona. Nice “V” shape to wear in front or back:)
Declare by Julie Hoover is worth considering. Lovely play of texture and yarns and light enough for warmer weather.
Can’t find “Declare” – could this have been another auto-correct incident and you actually meant “Decalage?”
I made Kieran Foley’s Painted Waves out of Silkpaca lace for my summer scarf. It took lots of concentration, but it was definitely worth it. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/painted-waves
The Marly Scarf calls for two colors of Habu Tsumugi held together, but other yarns can be used. It comes in two sizes.
I have also been thinking of linen yarns recently.
Toronto’s summers are very hot but inside restaurants, cinemas etc can be over-air conditioned indeed.
I found two ideas recently (so have not knit them):
smaller – Scalene
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scalene-scarf
long – Lady Fern (but could be shortened or in only two colours?)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-fern-2
my perennial favourite but on the large side – Windward
I have knit this a few times and plan a few more. I think it may suit Eileen Fisher style very well.
I was thinking to try it in a summer lace yarn. May turn out a smaller size.
Otherwise I have knit it in Shibui Linen – takes me a bit more than two balls.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windward-2
I am looking forward to the comments on this post!
I haven’t made it yet, but I have always thought the Banana Leaf shawl would be a great summer accessory.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/banana-leaf-shawl
I’ve knitted the Banana Leaf shawl/scarf in Jade Sapphire silk/cashmere – terrific pattern. My friend in CA adores it. Hope to knit it again in Anzula/Breeze – a silk/linen combo. Thumbs up!
I see someone has already put forth Amy Singer’s fantastic Montego Bay scarf. It’s fabulous in the Handmaiden…but just yesterday at the MN Yarn Shop Hop I saw it done in Rowan Denim at Darn Knit Anyway. LOVE!
…oh, and I’ve always wanted to knit a clapotis in linen. I think that would be lovely.
I’ve made clapotis in bamboo and it is lovely
Madame … two shapes … two yarns … winners both of them … THE CHECKERBOARD SCARF from Purlsoho in their new Linen Quill … I made it way back when in Ellen’s Half Pint Farm Merino Tencel … take a peek here … http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tantesophie/checkerboard-lace-scarf … and then the all year round useful JETSTREAM in madelinetosh PRAIRIE … another winner winner chicken dinner … a second option for even more fun color flow is the NORO TAIYO LACE which has a fair amount of cotton in its composition … surprising for NORO and you do like that yarn a wee bit! Flip a coin and cast on!
Really enoyed this post. I am a fan of EF clothes, but since I am not 6’2, with a weight of 103, I find that I look frumpy in her designs, rather like an unmade bed. Your pithy comment about the use of a scarf vis-a-vis one’s neck condition brought to mind the title of Nora Ephron’s book. I look forwared to readin about summer neck concealers in the comments…
Loved loved loved that book. I listened to her read it and it has danced in my head ever since. “I’m Sad about my Neck” Nora Ephron.
As usual, the MDK comments will be a resource I will return to. I absolutely love Bristol Ivy’s Lida Shawl and have been tempted to rewrite it into a scarf shape. Knit in Quince linen, it’s my go to scarf in summer. It would make a lovely rectangular scarf.
Amy Singer’s Montego Bay springs to mind. I live on Cape Cod and never leave the house without a scarf or shawl. When the breeze comes off the sea it always has a chill.
I made Iodine several years ago and wear it all winter. Although it is wonderfully light it is much too warm for summer here. I have just finished Purl Soho’s Open Air Wrap. http://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/05/22/whits-knits-open-air-wrap/ I think it will be perfect all summer.
Love this Open Air Wrap! I’m going to make this one myself. There are always some summer evenings or even days where you want something just to cut the cool breeze, but not so heavy you feel like you’re wearing a pashmina.
you should check out both purl soho and churchmouse yarns and teas,as has been suggested.both have several patterns for scarves that are strictly spring/summer,and churchmouse especially has patterns that the staff has worked up in different weights of yarn,making them all-season accessories.
This is my favorite scarf-tying video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYAEz777AU
Oh, I have one on my dresser waiting to start, using a silk/linen blend (though I SO want to try a yarn with a scrunch to it). It is BERMUDA by Ilga Leja. The shape is a triangle, but with short-rows and self-striping yarn, it looks like waves. I can’t wait to start mine (though it is currently snowing outside my window here in Southern Ontario). I am enjoying all the suggestions too.
Kieran Foley’s Gossamer Bubbles. I made it in Lisa Souza’s Aurora (drapy silk with mohair and a little glitzy stuff). If it ever warms up here, it will be my summer wrap — I added repeats to make it wider and longer.
I’m currently making and recommend Xenia from the Berroco’s Mykonos yarn.
The yarn is linen, nylon and cotton. Pattern is mostly YO, k2tog, outlined by 8 garter stitches – which are then picked up and a knitted lace edge is added to 2 sides of the triangle. Very drapy, slippery, meshy. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/xenia-3
Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, “Seafoam Scarf & Wrap” in Berroco Modern Cotton. Fun (and easy) to knit, pretty colors, drapey lightweight scarf.
Thank you for the video, Kay!
Maybe I should practice these scarf-tying methods – my single, tried and true, method of tying a scarf leaves much to be desired, and has long made me think that I don’t Need to make another scarf. Cowls, yes. Shawls, yes. A scarf? maybe not. Watching this video is making me rethink that…
Hello, fellow EFer and scarf addict. Yes, scarves are my weakness. I don’t feel dressed without one. They are the perfect souvenir from travels and a quick and satisfying knit or crochet project. Therefore, I have so many that organizing them is always a challenge.
Now, for suggestions: I am currently knitting my fourth Before and After Bias scarf. I have two in the suggested Classic Elite lace and one in Shibui linen. The current one is also Shibui linen. It is an all season scarf. You can double them up in the winter and leave them single in the summer. They drape beautifully and in some yarns, like the Shibui linen, are a cinch to make. I have also seen beautiful ones in Sea Silk type yarns. Silk crocheted grannies are also gorgeous (and wearable year-round), but you have to be willing to take on a tiny hook. I have a few on my Rav page if you are curious.
A couple of other good lightweight patterns that I have yet to make but of which are in my file, are Strathcona, and Tier. Both of these would be great in linen or silky yarns.
Another suggestion and one I did not too long ago. Buy yourself some white silk chiffon from Dharma Trading Co. and have a blast dipping and dyeing. You can’t believe how easy it is and how pretty they turn out. And now, I am going over to EF to see what they have in store. You can’t have too many scarves! Especially once the neck starts getting mushy. ;-P
P.S. Also, someone else suggested Habu Cotton Gima and I second that. I have a Hakusa made from it and it is light and crisp and cool. Super fun yarn to work with. Feels like paper.
I used the stitch pattern from the Holey Cocoa scarf (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holey-cocoa) and Berroco Captiva in white, and voila! I had a summer cowl.
I am now knitting a Baktus scarf in a stash yarn called Risata from KnitPicks. The yarn is in color Seedling. It is 42% cotton 39% superwash merino wool 13% Polyamide and 6% Elite Elastic (196 yards), fingering weight. It has a boucle-ish look to it. I LOVE IT! I forgot I had it and now it is discontinued. Boo Hoo. It seems perfect for Spring and probably Summer. I went to YarnSub and the recommended substitute is just cotton and wool, not what I was hoping for. Does anyone out there know of a yarn with these “elements”?
Capillary scarf in the latest (summer ’16) Knirscene. It’s a long mesh rectangle that you thread a contrast (or not) i-cord through to shape at will. It’s shown in wool, but I imagine cotton or linen would be lovely. Cool and modern!
I’m knitting Quince and Co’s Petunia cardigan in Sparrow, their threadlike, fingering-weight linen. Petunia is all garter stitch knit on #4’s, creating a loose, net-like open weave. I like it, I think. Point is, it could make a cool option for a warm weather scarf. Patterns here: http://quinceandco.com/collections/sparrow?page=1 or make your own?
Here are my “favorites”, none of which has been started:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/in-the-heat
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/wacachupi/clapo-ktus
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mustaavillaa/asymmetrical-scarf
It’s not so much the pattern as the fiber. Any lacy shawl or scarf pattern can be perfect for summer if knit in the right yarn. A few years ago I knit Ishbel out of a rayon/linen blend, the sadly now discontinued Berroco NaturLin. The great thing is that you don’t even have to block this fiber; it just opens up when you soak it and then never scrunches up again. You can just hang the damp shawl over a drying rack and the lace is perfect. I wear this in the summer constantly. It’s never too hot and always flattering, over a sleeveless dress or a tee shirt.
Amy Singer’s Montego Bay pattern (an oldie but goodie from IK Summer ’07). Makes a nice open holey scarf… I made mine in Artyarns Regal Silk, which was a little splitty and has developed some pills in wearing, since it’s a single-ply… Maybe a silk or linen blend instead?
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mellenknits/montego-bay-scarf
How about a little Sumpin Sumpin?
A little meshy, beachy, and the sample was done in Handmaiden Sea Silk–in a slinky yarn, this is definitely summer material…at least, that’s when I wear mine!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sumpin
First of all, thank you everyone for all the suggestions. There are some real contenders!
I haven’t knit this myself but a friend did and it’s gorgeous: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clapo-ktus
I started the Bias Before and After last summer after seeing it around another friend’s neck. It is so pretty but it’s also the world’s most boring thing to knit (in my humble opinion). Maybe this summer…
I’m ready to begin the Beaufort Scale cowl with a lovely ‘Lapis’ skein of Breeze by Anzula yarns. Breeze is perfect for spring/summer. 65% silk/34% linen. I’ve knitted Romi Hill’s ‘Artseian’ (fast knit!) in Anzlula’s Milky Way – another fab yarn for the season. Both yarns are really nice to work with.
I’m contemplating something in Firefly, which has a beautiful bronzed green, something which doesn’t usually appeal to me, but has a particular quality in this yarn that is calling to me.
However, here in hot, windy OK, which somehow manages to be both dry AND humid, “summer scarves” really are more for spring and fall.
Kay,
The Magic Lace Knit Scarf, as seen on Pinterest, looks light, airy, and lovely. It also doesn’t look like a usual lace scarf with symmetrical repeats. I think that your yarn would look elegant knitted up in that pattern and that it would look very nice on you. That said, though, I am not sure that I myself would be able to slog through the directions. It is, however, worth a look-see to determine yea or nay.
LoveDiane
If you want an open airy scarf, the quickest way to get one is to crochet filet, which goes so much faster than knitting mesh it is not even funny. I have been knitting for over forty years and crocheting for less than two. Make a chain that is as wide as you like, plus three more chains. Double crochet into the second chain from hook. Chain 1, double crochet, skipping one chain, repeat until you have a long enough scarf. A stitch dictionary is the way to go here. I crocheted a mesh scarf using filet in under a week and it was my first FO in crochet.
Use cotton, use linen, use silk, use wacko cool stuff from Habu, use whatever you want, you get a nice mesh that resembles graph paper, goes lickety split.
That scarf tying video was cool, thank you.
Love your blog, read it every morning.
I would like to say simply that I think this cowl is gorgeous, but I am really over the moon about Karida’s lipstick shade. Fantastique!
Well I am just so glad you asked! Living here in southern Southern California, I am always looking for the lightweight knits (after many years in Colorado and lots of warm, heavy knits). I even recently built a pinterest board where I can keep track of my SoCal/summer patterns.
So here are my choices in the scarf/wrap category….patterns by Habu/Cocoknits/Shibui. Likewise Habu, Shibui, Kidsilk or similar yarns.
Currently I like Shibui Knits Spectrum and Tier scarves/wraps, Habu Stainless Steel Drop Stitch Scarf, and Moonrise Shawl by Olga Buraya-Kefelian.
The wraps or shawls are handy to unfurl in AC or the evening.
PS – did I miss an announcement of Lorna’s Laces winners? Always like to see the winners – congrats to all!
PS – did I miss an announcement of Lorna’s Laces winners? Always like to see the winners – congrats to all!
The trick to the pretzel tie is that little loop has to be twisted before you pull the end through it.
I love that method, because the scarf lays so flat!
I’m in the scarf-does-not-equal-summer camp. I guess I don’t have enough of a polished look or am in denial about what my age has done to my neck. I can not stand the thought of a scarf around my neck when it is hot and humid!
The comments have been a great resource, as always. I was, however, substituting “spring” every time I saw the longer “s-word.”
I’m a big fan of Winding Fields by Suzanne Middlebrooks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winding-fields. In fact, I like it so much for summer, knit in two colorways of Noro Taiyo Sock, that I named it Summer Scarf. Taiyo Sock offers a beautiful weight and drape for warmer weather.
Have you tried the Firely Fringed Scarf, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald? I love it so much I’ve made three.
laoise
How about the Rill Scarf by Miriam Felton? http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rill-scarf I think it would be lovely in a lace weight linen or linen blend.
I’m getting ready to make another Magnolia Glen in Wolle’s color changing cotton. I love the first one I made.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mmcjohnson/magnolia-glen
Good grief – I read your “holds a scrunch” comment about the steel yarn as “holds a grudge”. Not sure that you’d want that around your neck.
Anyhoo, what is the color (it’s a pale, pale turquoise on my monitor) of the two yarns you bought from Neighborhood Fibers? It’s fabulous.
I made a Simmer Dim which is technically a “hap” but quite a small one; I consider it at the larger end of the what I call “neckershawl” spectrum. It was fun to knit, and so unbelievably light, it posed on delicate ferns and left them uninjured:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quinn/simmer-dim
(By the way, funny you should mention the difficulty of photographing that yarn – the first time I read about yarn with metal content I thought it would be challenging (=fun) to photograph! Not as sure it would be fun to knit with, though, and haven’t tried it yet. But someday.)
Dang, I neglected to mention the designer of the Simmer Dim -it’s Gudrun Johnston!
Quince &Co. linen sport weight Sparrow, Strathcona pattern….so many gorgeous colors
My favorite summer scarf is Cartographer by Heidi Kirrmaier which I made in Anzula Breeze and love love love–going to try her Windward pattern this summer.
Take a gander at L.1 in Shibui Linen. It has a very EF feel and is on my needles right now. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/l1
One more scarf typing video-oldie but a goodie!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/scarf-video
Tying, not Typing. Too lazy to re-read my stuff I guess!
Dare I suggest a little road trip to the Eileen Fisher Lab Store. They sell their mill ends on cones. It is mere steps from the Irvington train station.
I just downloaded “Alethea” by Amy Christoffers, designed for Berroco. It is just the summer look I want to rock. I will use linen yarn from my stash. I think it has an Eileen Fisher vibe. I am a big fan of her designs and simplicity. Good luck.
Ummmm Did you just read the post from Ann yesterday? Those are some awesome summer scarves!
In order to have something handmade to wear at this year’s MDSW (where I have been warned it could be HAWT) I have crocheted the Boteh Scarf in some random nylon/viscose blend I had hanging around. I really love it. It’s more of a necklace than a scarf and I can’t wait to buy some linen/silk blend with which to make my next one.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boteh-scarf
Funny that you posted about Iodine just a couple of days after I cast it on myself. Saw Karida’s beautiful samples at Stitches West in February and bought the Chromium and Luxury Lace (color: Upton) on the spot. Like you, I also had a hideous time working out the tangles in the Chromium. I’m timing my progress on this as I suspect I’ll spend less time knitting it than I did on the tangles.
I love a summer scarf — they’re the best! A couple of other suggestions are Montego Bay, mentioned by others, which I knit in a couple of skeins of Rowan Purelife Revive (brought by a dear friend from the Liberty Mothership in London), and Berroco’s Iwo, soft and floaty, with a pronounced stockinette roll.
How about Niiagata, from Rowan magazine 59? If you make it less wide it is a scarf instead of a wrap. Pure linen, smocked with beads.
Yup, I knit the perfect summer scarf a few summers ago. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/montego-bay-scarf. Out of Handmaid Fine Yarn Sea Silk
I still love it.
Hey there Kay! I just saw your quest for the perfect scarf, and just had to suggest a scarf I just finished a few weeks ago as a bday present for my mom. I participated in the Lagoon Shallows all held by Lindsey, aka eco-stitch, and I love the pattern. It’s a little lovely lace affair of simple textural stitches knit in linen or your favorite linen blend. It’s a perfect palate cleanser, simple and elegant, and oh so perfect as a quick knit to gift.