Field Guide No. 13: Master Class is a choose-your-own-adventure!

In our excitement about taking Kaffe’s legendary stripes out for a spin, it’s possible we’ve gone the tiniest bit overboard. There are a lot of options here. Some of them are a substantial commitment of knitterly devotion, and others (the Cowl in particular) are quick, fun adventures in modern, graphic colorwork.

There are three choices: a tubular scarf (worked in the round), a mistake rib scarf (worked flat), and a cowl (worked in the round).

You may replicate the photography samples shown in the Field Guide, or choose one (or more) of the a solid or stranded stripe patterns and make your own Kaffe magic.

The options are literally endless, as you can see from the beautiful projects made by our preview knitters.

Materials
-- Felted Tweed by Rowan [50 g skeins, each approx 191 yds (175 m), 50% wool/25% viscose/25% alpaca]: see page 52 for colors used in scarves and cowls shown in this Field Guide
-- Mistake Rib Scarf: Size US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, or size needed to achieve gauge
-- Tubular Scarf: Size US 5 (3.75 mm) double-point needles (set of 4 or 5), or size needed to achieve gauge
-- Cowl: Size US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle, 24” long; size US 5
(3.75 mm) circular needle, 24” long, or size needed to achieve gauge
-- Stitch markers (Tubular Scarf and Cowl only)

A Note on Yarn Quantities
You will need the following total yardage for each of the projects in this pattern:

Tubular Scarf: If working a 2-color pattern, you will need 3 balls each of 2 colors, for a total of 1,146 yards. For a multicolor scarf, you will need up to approximately 1900 yards, or 1 ball each of 10 colors. (You’ll have lots of yarn left over.)

Mistake Rib Scarf: approximately 1500 yards, or 1 ball each of 8 colors. (Again, you’ll have lots of yarn left over for other multicolor projects.)

Cowl: approximately 764 total yards, or 4 balls in 2 or more colors. (Cowls are an excellent use of yarn left over from the Tubular and Mistake Rib Scarves.)

If you wish to replicate the photography samples, the quantities and shades required are listed on page 52 of the Field Guide.

For a starting point with plenty of options, we offer 10-color bundles of Felted Tweed in the MDK Shop, at a 10 percent discount off the single ball price.

Knitted Measurements
-- Mistake Rib Scarf: 5.75” wide × 80” long (14.5 × 203 cm)
-- Tubular Scarf: 12” circumference × 80” long (30.5 × 203 cm)
-- Cowl: 22.75” (58 cm) circumference × 11.25” (28.5 cm) height

Gauge
-- Mistake Rib Scarf: 30 sts and 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) over Mistake Rib, after blocking
-- Tubular Scarf: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” (10 cm) over stockinette stitch, after blocking
-- Stranded Scarf and Cowl: 24 sts and 33 rows = 4” (10 cm) over stranded stockinette stitch, after blocking

Size
-- Various Sizes

Notes
You may work scarves in a stripe or stranded pattern. When a stripe or motif is complete, if you will use the same color again within next 10 rows/rounds, carry color up outside edge/up WS, twisting colors at beginning of row/round. Otherwise, cut yarn and weave in ends. If working a stripe pattern in the round, you may use Jogless Stripes for stripes of 2 or more rounds.