Making the Scout Shawl

Hello and welcome to the first post of 2024. As I mentioned at the end of last year, we are in the middle of a big house move so things are a little in flux here, however, I have had a project on the go through all the stress of selling a house and it has been invaluable in helping to cope not just with this, but also the dark winter days that seem so short and damp and plagued with endless grey skies. If you follow my journal, you will know that I am not by any standards, a prolific knitter. In fact although I learnt as a youngster and did make the odd thing many years ago, but in general I am much more of a stitcher. However, being a lover of vintage style, I have really enjoyed how fairisle knitting has become on trend in recently and on instagram the inspiration is endless. Also we lived in Stockholm for three years and there knitting is a national pastime and colour work is commonplace and totally glorious. Ever since we returned to live back in the UK, I always promised myself that I would have a go at this and a few years ago, I did…tentatively, but positively. The first thing I made were some wrist warmers by Marie Wallin and I enjoyed it so much that I went on to make a cowl and then a capelet, all of which I love dearly and wear often. I first saw the ‘Scout Shawl’ by Florence Spurling on instagram (as usual) and I loved it immediately. It is a sort of patchwork of fairisle patterns that knits up into a cacophony of colour and cosiness. I kept it bubbling along in my mind and somewhere on my ‘projects I’d like to do’ list for months and months. On holiday in Cornwall, my friend took me to a beautiful wool shop in Falmouth called Stitches and Cream and that was when I made the decision to just go for it. The lady in the shop, knew instantly which pattern I wanted and what yarn would work. I chose 3 colours of beautiful hand dyed yarn, with the idea that I also had some wool at home which could be mixed in with it for some of the sections. I came away, loaded up with a new project. Even so, I didn’t quite have the courage to start it and also for me fairisle knitting is something for those hard winter months when you spend so much more time at home.

I followed the hashtag for the shawl on instagram and could see that people found it intimidating, especially in the beginning, but also how beautiful the versions were that popped up on my feed and I thought it was actually really something rather special to make.

I began in October. I was filled with trepidation. There were two reasons for this, one was that it was not knitted in the round and having realised that knitting fairisle on circular needles is so much easier than having to do purl rows, I was concerned this would drive me nuts. The other reason is that it requires both intarsia and fairisle, albeit the intarsia is really just the border, but it meant that you have multiple balls of wool on the go at any one time. My reasoning on the first problem is that it is only a scarf and not so many stitches so perhaps doing purl rows would not be so bad. I am not one of these knitters who can use both hands to feed in the colours so it was always going to be a slow project. On the second count, I figured that basically you have to be sitting at the table and as long as you pop the balls of wool into little bowls to stop them moving about and getting even more tangled up than the knitting would already make them, it would be manageable.

The beginning looks scrappy, but it is tiny so very manageable. It’s a chart based project and you need to be prepared for this. I would say that a magnetic board with strips to hold the chart in place is absolutely essential. I used this magnifying line guide for the beginning but as the number of stitches on my needles grew, I ordered some longer magnetic strips from amazon which covered the length of the chart.

You need patience and time for this project but it does grow into something magical as you work your way through the pattern. I found using separate bowls for my yarn to be key and here it is worth noting that you need to wind your skeins of wool into smaller balls, so they are more manageable.

Knitting on straight needles and having to do a purl row was definitely harder for me and especially as you can’t see the pattern forming on the purl side. Of course you know at the end of each row if your counting is correct and actually I found I didn’t make mistakes because the blocks of pattern are not large. On a small project like this where you have definitive sections I found myself working well enough and began to enjoy the challenge of the colour way choices. High contrast in the yarn colours works the best in my opinion and here following the hashtag for the Scout Shawl on instagram was invaluable. I could see what others had done and consider carefully what worked with my colours. I added in some ochre coloured yarn on top of my original choices, to add some more contrast and this gave the piece a more cosy look.

My stranding on the back was sound enough but not all that regular. I never went more than 3 stitches without carrying the spare colour across, and it formed a sort of tweedy look. This shawl is so bright and busy though that I thought it would be fine and over time with wear, fairisle seems to sort of felt together. The 4 ply yarn is quite thick when knitted in fairisle and this pattern may look more delicate knitted in fingering weight. As I was going for the more vintage look, this all seemed to be working out just fine.

Two other things proved invaluable to me with this project. One was ‘Audible’. I do love listening to books and often have something on in the sewing room. With this, because you do need concentration, I decided to chose some lightweight fiction that could sort of wash over me. The last month has been a ‘Georgette Heyer’ riot. Oh how I have delighted in listening to these lovely light hearted books of regency title tattle wash over me as I have knitted. There are some fab productions on ‘Audible’ and it was like Bridgerton wafting around the kitchen, accompanied by endless cups of tea and Christmas biscuits to boot.

The second thing that has been marvellous, is a small portable daylight lamp which on these short winter days has brought extra brightness and clarity to the table. I highly recommend these for any kind of hand work because your eyes can get tired with the charts and this definitely illuminates everything (even when you need to back track!)

It is January now and this scarf is done. Once I got to decreasing on the home run, I raced along and got more and more thrilled to see the finished piece. It is absolutely essential to wash and block this once it is complete. The single thickness of the border curls up under the weight of the fairisle and properly blocking will release this and allow it to lie flatter. It helps to have a long dining room table.

It is only finally when you see it all laid out like this that you can appreciate the phenomenal amount of work that has gone into it. The patchwork of patterns dance against each other and it is a practically a work of art! I say that tongue in cheek of course, but it is just that it is a lot of effort to make something like this for most people (me included) and in the end, it is all about sticking with it and finishing it. I’m so glad I did. Being creative is fantastic to combat January blues or just the plain ol’ blues. The sense of accomplishment for me is enormous and although I will be laying down my knitting needles for a break now, I know that I will be ready for a new challenge later in the year.

My Scout shawl slips into my wardrobe with ease and will be much worn and treasured, especially given the storms we are having at the moment. It is just a wholly beautiful thing to have and I’m really proud of it. If you are thinking of having a go…all I can say is GO FOR IT. You can find the pattern at Florence Spurling Studio - just click the link - there is a lot to explore on her fabulous website.

I’ll see you again on the other side of our move, with new adventures and new places to explore. Toodle..ooo ….Ruby x