Hoarfrost Lace Scarf

An advanced allover lace scarf in chunky wool. Large diamond eyelets (Chart A) alternate with a crystal mesh of paired yarn-overs, triple decreases and one patterned wrong-side row (Chart B). Five-stitch garter borders keep the edges flat. The fabric is meant to be wet-blocked hard, so the holes open into a soft, frosted lattice.

Difficulty: Advanced (chart reading on both sides, several decrease types, stitch-count discipline, lace blocking)

Finished measurements

After wet blocking:

• Width: 26 cm (10¼ in)
• Length: 170 cm (67 in)

The scarf is worked as a single size. For a wrap, see Pattern notes.

Materials

Yarn: 300 g of chunky-weight wool (CYC 5 / UK chunky), approximately 410 m (450 yds) total. A smooth, non-superwash 100% wool (around 137 m / 100 g) is strongly recommended — wool memory holds the blocked lace. Superwash will open with blocking but has less spring.

Needles:

• 8 mm (UK 0 / US 11) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain tension
• 9 mm (UK 00 / US 13) needle for casting off (optional, but recommended)

Notions:

• 3 stitch markers
• Smooth waste yarn or extra circular needle for lifelines
• Tapestry needle
• Blocking wires, T-pins and blocking mats
• Tape measure

Tension (gauge)

13 stitches and 18 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over Charts A and B, after wet blocking, using 8 mm needles.

Work a swatch of at least 2 repeats wide and 24 rows tall, plus garter edges. Wash and pin it exactly as you will block the scarf, then measure.

If you have too many stitches to 10 cm, use a larger needle; too few, use a smaller needle. In chunky lace, even 0.5 mm changes the cloth.

Abbreviations

Pattern notes

• Worked flat, from short end to short end. Do not join.
• Stitch count is 34 on every row. Count after every RS row until the charts are familiar.
• Charts show one 12-st repeat. Work the repeat twice across the centre 24 sts.
• RS (odd) chart rows: read from right to left. WS (even) chart rows: read from left to right.
• Empty cell (·) = knit on RS, purl on WS.
• Place a lifeline through a WS row at the end of every Chart B (every 24 lace rows).
• Work yarn-overs loosely so they match the scale of chunky wool; metal needles help the stitches slide.
• Tension is after blocking. The dry scarf will be narrower and shorter — work the stated number of repeats; do not knit until it measures 170 cm unblocked.
• Optional wrap: cast on 46 sts (5 + 12 × 3 + 5) and work 3 lace repeats. Allow about 450 g / 615 m.

Stitch patterns

Garter border (5 sts each side)

Knit every row. On every row of the scarf: k5, slip marker, work the lace to the last marker, slip marker, k5.

Chart A — Hoarfrost Diamonds

12-st repeat × 16 rows. Worked twice across the centre 24 sts.

Row 1 (RS): *k3, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k3; rept from * (12 sts produced ✓)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: *k2, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k2; rept from *

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: *k1, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k1; rept from *

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: *k2tog, yo, k8, yo, ssk; rept from *

Row 8: purl.

Row 9: *k1, yo, ssk, k6, k2tog, yo, k1; rept from *

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: *k2, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k2; rept from *

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: *k3, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k3; rept from *

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: *k4, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k4; rept from *

Row 16: purl.

Chart B — Crystal Mesh

12-st repeat × 8 rows. Worked twice across the centre 24 sts. Row 6 is patterned on the WS.

Row 1 (RS): *k1, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k1; rept from * (12 sts produced ✓)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: *k2, yo, k3tog, yo, k2, yo, sk2po, yo, k2; rept from *

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: *k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1; rept from *

Row 6 (WS): *p2, yo, p2tog, p4, p2tog tbl, yo, p2; rept from * (12 sts produced ✓)

Row 7 (RS): *k2, yo, s2kpo, yo, k2, yo, s2kpo, yo, k2; rept from *

Row 8 (WS): purl.

Symbol key

·   knit on RS, purl on WS
o   yo (yarn over)
/   k2tog
\   ssk
A   s2kpo (centred double decrease)
T   k3tog
V   sk2po
Δ   p2tog (used on WS only)
∇   p2tog tbl (used on WS only)

Charts are drawn with stitch 1 on the right (standard knitting-chart layout).

Chart A — Hoarfrost Diamonds

12 stitches × 16 rows. Work twice.

        12 11 10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 16 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
 15 RS   ·  ·  ·  ·  o  /  \  o  ·  ·  ·  ·
 14 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
 13 RS   ·  ·  ·  o  /  ·  ·  \  o  ·  ·  ·
 12 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
 11 RS   ·  ·  o  /  ·  ·  ·  ·  \  o  ·  ·
 10 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  9 RS   ·  o  /  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  \  o  ·
  8 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  7 RS   \  o  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  o  /
  6 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  5 RS   ·  \  o  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  o  /  ·
  4 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  3 RS   ·  ·  \  o  ·  ·  ·  ·  o  /  ·  ·
  2 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  1 RS   ·  ·  ·  \  o  ·  ·  o  /  ·  ·  ·

Chart B — Crystal Mesh

12 stitches × 8 rows. Work twice.

        12 11 10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
  8 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  7 RS   ·  ·  o  A  o  ·  ·  o  A  o  ·  ·
  6 WS   ·  ·  o  Δ  ·  ·  ·  ·  ∇  o  ·  ·
  5 RS   ·  o  /  \  o  ·  ·  o  /  \  o  ·
  4 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  3 RS   ·  ·  o  V  o  ·  ·  o  T  o  ·  ·
  2 WS   ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·
  1 RS   ·  o  \  o  /  ·  ·  \  o  /  o  ·

Row 6 is the only patterned WS row: read it left to right.

How the pattern sits in the scarf width

 5 sts        12 sts         12 sts        5 sts
 Garter  |  Chart A or B | Chart A or B | Garter
  k5     pm   Repeat 1    pm  Repeat 2   pm  k5
 |-------|---------------|--------------|-------|
                    34 sts

5 + 12 + 12 + 5 = 34 sts ✓

Scarf

Cast on

Using 8 mm needles (or 9 mm if you cast on tightly), cast on 34 sts loosely. A long-tail cast-on over two needles held together, with the extra needle then withdrawn, gives a good match for blocked lace.

Set-up row (WS): k5, pm, k12, pm, k12, pm, k5. (34 sts ✓)

Lower border

Garter rows 1–8: Knit every stitch, slipping markers as you come to them.

8 rows = 4 garter ridges.

Lace body

Work Charts A and B in sequence 12 times as follows.

Chart A (16 rows):

• RS rows: k5, sm, work Chart A Row (reading right to left) twice, sm, k5.
• WS rows: k5, sm, p24, sm, k5.

Chart B (8 rows):

• RS rows: k5, sm, work Chart B Row (reading right to left) twice, sm, k5.
• WS rows 2, 4 and 8: k5, sm, p24, sm, k5.
• WS Row 6 only: k5, sm, work Chart B Row 6 (reading left to right) twice, sm, k5.

After each full A+B sequence you have worked 24 lace rows. Place a lifeline. Stitch count remains 34 ✓

Work this A+B sequence 12 times (12 × 24 = 288 lace rows ✓).

Total so far: 8 garter + 288 lace = 296 rows.

Upper border

Garter rows 1–8: Knit every stitch, slipping markers as you come to them. Remove markers on the last row.

Total rows: 8 + 288 + 8 = 304 rows ✓

Cast off

Using the 9 mm needle, cast off very loosely knitwise.

Russian cast-off (recommended): k2, *slip both sts back to the left needle, k2tog tbl, k1; rept from * until all sts are cast off. Fasten off.

The cast-off edge must be as elastic as the cast-on; if it draws in, undo it and use a larger needle.

Finishing

Weave in ends along the garter borders, not through the open lace.

Wet block (essential):

1. Soak the scarf in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for 15–20 minutes.
2. Lift out, support the full weight, and press (do not wring) between towels until damp, not dripping.
3. On blocking mats, pin or wire the scarf to 26 cm × 170 cm (10¼ × 67 in).
4. Run blocking wires through the garter edges if you have them; otherwise pin every 2–3 cm along all four sides.
5. Open each diamond and mesh eyelet with your fingers as you pin — chunky lace will not bloom unless it is stretched.
6. Leave until completely dry (often 24–48 hours).

Do not steam-crush the wool; a full wet block is what sets this fabric.

Once dry, unpin. Trim any remaining ends. The scarf will be a soft, open lattice with a frosted sheen from the blocked yarn-overs.

Schematic (after blocking)

              26 cm (10¼ in)
         |------------------|
         |  garter (8 rows) |
         |------------------|
         |                  |
         |  Chart A + B     |
         |  × 12 sequences  |
         |  (288 rows)      |   170 cm (67 in)
         |                  |
         |------------------|
         |  garter (8 rows) |
         |------------------|

Sample maths: 34 sts at 13 sts / 10 cm = 26.2 cm, blocked to 26 cm ✓. 304 rows at 18 rows / 10 cm = 168.9 cm, blocked to 170 cm ✓. Yarn allowance 300 g / 410 m includes swatch and tails.