The Elsdale is a café in the heart of Montréal’s effervescent Quartier Beaubien. From the sidewalk, through Monstera leaves and Ficus trees sitting on large window sills, you can see freelancers working on laptops or new moms sipping on a latte. In the back, cute notepads and other paper goods are yours to buy for your impromptu moment of inspiration, you know, the one that happens when you have nothing to write on. It’s unpretentious, approchable, trendy : the Elsdale Café is the kind of place you get excited to go to.

I never go in, though. My therapist’s office sits right on top of it, so, every Tuesday morning, I get to glance inside just a little bit.

The Elsdale Scarf is a lightweight neck accessory worked from both ends separately, then grafted in the middle. This transitional piece, knit with two entire skeins of fingering weight yarn, elevates any Spring or Fall look. The simple ribbing variation, the stockinette body, the lace pattern and the finishing techniques render an enjoyable knitting experience for the seasoned knitter and a formative one for the adventurous beginner.

MATERIAL
Yarn : 2 skeins of Riverside Studios Supersock (80 % Merino, 20 % nylon) (100 g/383 yards) or any sock yarn with similar or more yardage.

Needles : At least 16” US 2 ½ (3 mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions : Stitch markers, tapestry needle.

GAUGE
32 sts = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette St, washed and blocked. Row gauge is not that important for this pattern.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
13” (33 cm) x 69” (1,75 m) after blocking.