PATTERN REMIX: The Nagano Sakura Scarf Cabled

I love cherry blossoms. And this is perhaps one of my most favorite times of the year in the bay area… blossom time… cherry blossoms in full riot, dusting the ground with snowy petals, magnolias heavy with silky, improbable flowers, and everything smelling so damn good…

I saw this pattern in Knitty: Issue 15 Spring 2006. Designed by Sara Parelhoff, the Nagano Sakura scarf has that kind of mix between utility and randomness which I love.

I loved the whimsy of it, but I don't have access to a washing machine which offers much control, so felting was out for me. So I adapted the pattern thusly…

A note: the original pattern, images, and notes can be found here.



Nagano Sakura Remix

MATERIALS:
MC: 1 skein:
Karabella Aurora 8 100% Merino, dark brown
(50g/98 yds)
ballband gauge – 18 sts/10 cm on US 7-8
CC1: 1 skein (you'll have a ton left over):
New England Shetland 100% Merino Extrafine, #73 Lady Slipper (pink)
(50g/196 yds)
ballband gauge – 24 sts/ 10 cm on US 2-4
CC2: 1 skein (you'll have a ton left over):
New England Shetland 100% Merino Extrafine, #19 Blackberry (deep purple)
(same specs as CC1)

NEEDLES:
#9 Straight or Circular
#11 dpns
#2 Stright or Circular (Addi Turbo circulars recommended)


PATTERN NOTES:

I changed the materials and the construction of this scarf, if not the general feeling of it. This way, it's less of a think scarf and more like an embellishment…although for such a thin little thing, it keeps your neck surprisingly warm. Perfect for late winter, touch of spring, in the Bay Area…

CHANGES:
• Materials
• Length
• Not felted
• Cable instead of stockinette for main body of scarf
• Added a second blossom size


PATTERN:

SCARF:

Branch #1
Using your #11 dpns, CO 3 sts. Work 6 inches in I-cord. Cut yarn and set aside on a dpn or stitch holder.

Branch #2
Using your #11 dpns, CO 3 sts. Work 10 inches in I-cord. Cut yarn and set aside.

Branch #3
Using your # 11 dpns, CO 2 sts. Work 8 inches in I-cord. DO NOT break yarn.

Turn work around so WS is facing. Move branch #3 to right end of needle. Slip branch #2 onto left end of work and slide next to branch #3. Slip branch #1 onto left end of work and slide next to branch #2.

Using #9 needle, purl all sts to join strands of I-Cord; 8 sts

Next Row (RS): Using #9 needles, k1, inc 1, k 6, inc 1, k1; 10 sts.
Next Row (WS): Purl all.

Begin Cable Pattern: 6 row repeat:

Row 1 (RS): k1, p2, k1, p2, k1, p2, k1
Row 2 (WS) p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1
Row 3: Same as row 1.
Row 4: Same as row 2.
Row 5 (Cable Row): k1, p1, slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold to back of work. P1, k1, p1 from left needle; then p1, k1, p1 from cn, p1, k1.
Row 6: same as row 2.

Repeat Cable pattern until the scarf is as long as you want it to be.


Next RS Row (Decrease): k1, p2tog, k1, p2, k1, p2tog, k1; 8 sts remain.
Next Row (WS): p all

Next Row (RS): Using #11 dpn, k2. Place remaining sts on a second dpn.

Branch #4: Using 2 sts on first dpn, knit 4 inches of I-Cord, BO these sts and cut yarn.

Branch #5: With RS facing, transfer next 3 sts from holder dpn to a new dpn. Rejoin yarn and knit 10 inches of I-cord. BO these sts and cut yarn.

Branch #6 With RS facing, use last 3 sts on holder dpn, and rejoin yarn and knit 7 inches of I-Cord.

Weave in loose ends, being careful not to bunch up the I-Cord branches.


FLOWERS (Make 9 total of the two different sizes. I did 3 large and 6 small.)

I added a larger size blossom to the mix, to give the clusters a bit of variety. The Picot edging which follows applies for both sizes:

Cast on & picot edging: Use the #2 needles and CC2, and leave a long tail at start and finish of CC2. Use the knitted cast on to cast on:
CO4, BO1, CO2, BO1, [CO5, BO1, CO2, BO1] 4 times, CO1; 25 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, and switch to CC1:

LARGE FLOWER:
Row 1 (WS): p all sts
Row 2 (RS): k all sts
Row 3: p all sts
Row 4: [ssk, k1, k2tog] 5 times. 15 sts remain.
Row 5: p all
Row 6: [S2KP] 5 times. 5 sts rem. (S2KP: Slip next 2 sts knitwise, k next st, pass 2 slipped sts over the st just knitted. This forms a centered double decrease.)

SMALL FLOWER:
Row 1: p all sts
Row 2: [ssk, k1, k2tog] 5 times. 15 sts remain.
Row 3: p all
Row 4: [S2KP] 5 times. 5 sts rem.

Cut yarn and draw through the remaining 5 sts. Pull tight and sew edges together to form flower shape.

Weave in the CC1 ends. With one CC2 tail, embellish the flower by sewing a few sts in the center of the flower (see photo), and either weave in the end or wrap it around the decorative sts you just made, on the WS, where they gather towards the center.

Take the other CC2 tail and thread through to center. You will use this one to attatch the flowers to the scarf. Place them however you like – the more random, the more natural the "branches" will look!

And don't forget to stop this spring and smell the roses!