This scarf looks intricate, but in fact, it’s an easy knit, completely suitable for beginners; about 2/3rds of it is plain garter stitch, with just a little bit of interesting complication every so often. It’s knit lengthwise, making it a great stashbusting pattern—just stripe in your scraps as you go along to create vertical stripes softened by the garter stitch transitions. The ends are set off with a simple lace-patterned edging worked in one piece with the main body of the scarf.

The scarf lies flat and is reversible, though I have to admit that I find the anemone stitch pattern slightly prettier on one side than on the other.

I’ve written the pattern in two sizes, for worsted and DK weight yarns, though it would work well in any weight from laceweight to chunky—just adjust the number of stitches cast on at the beginning for the desired length of your scarf. The pattern includes instructions for how to do this.

The information given above is for the worsted weight version (knit with two skeins of Patons SWS in Natural Earth, i.e. 220 yards). The gauge for the DK weight version is 22 stitches/44 rows before blocking, and it takes approximately 300 yards of yarn. I used Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend yarn for the DK weight version, two skeins, in the “Violets” colorway.

However, being knit lengthwise, the scarf has a strong tendency to stretch vertically, becoming longer and narrower, so you may wish to account for this when knitting your swatch. The gauge after blocking and weighting is about 2 stitches per 4 inches looser, for both yarns, than the gauge before blocking. Or, if you’re living dangerously and not swatching, err on the side of the scarf being wide and short.