Adding Fabric to your knitted scarf

For a sophisticated looking scarf that adds structure and showcases your fancy lacework, try adding a fabric backing. Since I made my scarf 54" long, I found a fabric that was 56" wide (so I only had to cut a quarter yard at the fabric store, saving money!). This also gives me extra inches for turning over the hem, making a nice neat edge.

Start by laying out your blocked scarf nice and flat, stretching out the sides so the lace appears as you want it to end up looking. Then fold over the edges of your fabric on all sides (I started with the long sides and folded the short ends after) and press with a hot iron. Since I used a lightweight cotton shirting, I could set my iron on the highest setting and steam the hems for extra crisp edges. If you use a different fabric make sure you know what type it is, cotton and linen can withstand high temps, but wool and silk are prone to burning and anything synthetic could melt at high temps. (You can use a knit too, like cotton or wool jersey and you don't even have to fold over the edge! Just cut the strip the same width and length of your scarf!)

After pressing, lay the scarf wrong side up (the side you don't want to show) and place the fabric wrong side down (so the clean side without the hem is facing up). Then I pinned them together with plain straight pins so they didn't wiggle and pull out of place while I was sewing. I whip stitched the ends together starting at one end and went all the way around the outside so my stitches were almost invisible.

To whip stitch, insert your needle in between the knitted part and the fabric at one end (so your knot doesn't show on the outside) then come up through the fabric. Catch the strand of yarn directly opposite where you just came up, insert the needle back into the fabric and poke it up about a quarter to half inch down the top of the fabric in one stitch, so you hardly see any of the thread.

Once you've attached your fabric to the scarf, you can leave it as is if the fabric is stiff and doesn't bag away from the knitted part. Mine was a little too drapey, so I took some embroidery thread that I got at Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz, and stitched a line running stitches down the scarf in four rows. This added a decoration to the back of the scarf (since I used a contrasting color thread) and kept both sides of my scarf hanging nicely together!

Summer Lace Scarf

This lace scarf is perfect for beginning lace work! It knits up so fast, especially if, like me, you use size 10 needles and sock or sport weight yarn. I used Madeline Tosh Superwash Merino Sock. Madeline Tosh is hand dyed and so beautiful, it flows through needles like butter! If you wanted your scarf smaller, with a tighter gauge, just use size 4 or 5 needles. If you want to beef it up for more Fall weather, try a worsted or DK weight yarn.

To begin, cast on 21 stitches. Work the lace pattern following the chart repeating rows 1 through 16 until the scarf reaches 54" (or your desired length). Below is the chart of the lace pattern, inspired by a sweater panel from "French Girl Knits" by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes.


The stitches are pretty straightforward with the exception of the three stitch decrease. Here is a picture of the step for slipping two stitches knitwise,

and here is what the stitch looks like after knitting the next stitch, and passing the two slipped over,



 

I like this decrease because it lets the middle stitch sit in front for a cleaner more even look.
Here is a picture still on the needles (before blocking).



Once you reach your desired length, bind off all stitches on the right side, knitwise and weave in the loose tails on either end of the scarf. Then block the scarf. I like to use a damp towel over the piece with an iron set between wool and cotton. This will help your scarf lay flat and show off all your hard work!

Now you can either wear your scarf, or add an extra touch by sewing a lightweight backing fabric to the wrong side, making it a bit more structured. I'll show you how on my next post! Another great advantage to using the Madeline Tosh yarn (which I bought at Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz!) is the yardage is so great you can knit two scarves! one plain and one with a decorative fabric backing. Check back soon to learn how.