purlJam

# The Highland Hearth Scarf

**Description:**
A cosy, textured scarf combining traditional Aran cabling with a beginner-friendly geometric Fair Isle border. This project is designed to be knitted flat, introducing colourwork in manageable sections at the beginning and end.

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner/Advanced Beginner
(Requires basic knowledge of knit/purl, reading a simple chart, and basic cabling).

**Finished Dimensions:**
*   **Width:** Approx 28 cm
*   **Length:** Approx 160 cm (customisable)

**Tension (Gauge):**
18 stitches and 24 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm in Stocking Stitch using 5.0 mm needles.
*Check your tension. If your colourwork feels tight, try using a 5.5 mm needle for the chart sections only.*

**Materials Required:**
*   **Yarn:** Worsted / Aran weight wool.
    *   **Main Colour (MC):** Approx 350 metres (e.g., Cream or Light Grey)
    *   **Contrast Colour (CC):** Approx 80 metres (e.g., Navy, Burgundy, or Forest Green)
*   **Needles:** 5.0 mm straight needles (or circulars used flat).
*   **Notions:** Cable needle (cn), tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors.

**Terminology & Abbreviations (UK English):**
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **RS:** Right Side (front of work)
*   **WS:** Wrong Side (back of work)
*   **MC:** Main Colour
*   **CC:** Contrast Colour
*   **C6F (Cable 6 Front):** Slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, k3, then k3 from cable needle.

---

### CHARTS

**How to Read This Chart:**
*   Start at the bottom right corner (Row 1).
*   **RS (Odd) Rows:** Read from Right to Left.
*   **WS (Even) Rows:** Read from Left to Right.
*   Each square represents 1 stitch.
*   Catch your "floats" (the strand of yarn not in use) loosely behind the work. Do not pull tight.

**CHART A: Fair Isle Border**
*Repeat is 4 stitches wide.*

```text
      Key: □ = MC, ■ = CC

Row 7 (RS): □□□□ | □□□□ | □□□□
Row 6 (WS): □■□□ | □■□□ | □■□□
Row 5 (RS): ■□■□ | ■□■□ | ■□■□
Row 4 (WS): □□□■ | □□□■ | □□□■
Row 3 (RS): □□■□ | □□■□ | □□■□
Row 2 (WS): □■□□ | □■□□ | □■□□
Row 1 (RS): □□□□ | □□□□ | □□□□
           [4 st repeat]
```

---

### INSTRUCTIONS

#### Section 1: Lower Border

**Ribbing Setup**
Using **MC** and 5.0 mm needles, cast on **50 stitches**.
**Row 1 (RS):** K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Row 2 (WS):** P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Repeat Rows 1–2 until piece measures 4 cm ending on a WS row.

**Fair Isle Section**
Join **CC**. You will now work **Chart A**.
*Note: The chart is worked over the centre 48 stitches. The first and last stitch are always knitted in MC to create a neat edge.*

**Row 1 (RS):** With MC, k1 (edge st), work Row 1 of Chart A (repeat the 4-st pattern 12 times), with MC k1 (edge st). [50 sts]
**Row 2 (WS):** With MC, p1, work Row 2 of Chart A (reading left to right), with MC p1.
**Rows 3–6:** Continue working through Chart A rows as established.
**Row 7:** Work Row 7 of Chart A (all MC), break CC yarn leaving a 15 cm tail to weave in later.

#### Section 2: Main Body (Aran Texture)

You will now work in **MC** only.
*Design Note: The body consists of Moss Stitch panels and two Cables.*

**Setup Row (WS):** K1, (p1, k1) 6 times, k2, p6, k4, p6, k2, (k1, p1) 6 times, k1.
*(Math Check: 1+12+2+6+4+6+2+12+1 = 46? Wait, let's correct math).*
*Corrected Setup Row (WS) for 50 sts:*
K1 (edge), [p1, k1] 6 times (12 sts moss), k2 (divider), p6 (cable back), k4 (center moss), p6 (cable back), k2 (divider), [k1, p1] 6 times (12 sts moss), k1 (edge).
*Math Check: 1 + 12 + 2 + 6 + 4 + 6 + 2 + 12 + 1 = 46. Still missing 4 sts. Let's adjust the center moss to 8 sts.*
*Final Corrected Setup Row (WS):*
K1, [p1, k1] 6 times, k2, p6, k8, p6, k2, [k1, p1] 6 times, k1.
*Math: 1+12+2+6+8+6+2+12+1 = 50 sts. Valid.*

**Pattern Row 1 (RS - Cable Row):**
K1, [p1, k1] 6 times, p2, **C6F**, [k1, p1] 4 times, **C6F**, p2, [k1, p1] 6 times, k1.

**Pattern Row 2 (WS):**
K1, [k1, p1] 6 times, k2, p6, [p1, k1] 4 times, p6, k2, [p1, k1] 6 times, k1.

**Pattern Row 3 (RS):**
K1, [p1, k1] 6 times, p2, k6, [k1, p1] 4 times, k6, p2, [k1, p1] 6 times, k1.

**Pattern Row 4 (WS):**
Same as Row 2.

**Pattern Row 5 (RS):**
Same as Row 3.

**Pattern Row 6 (WS):**
Same as Row 2.

**Pattern Row 7 (RS):**
Same as Row 3.

**Pattern Row 8 (WS):**
Same as Row 2.

*Instructions:* Repeat Rows 1–8 until the scarf measures approx 152 cm (or 8 cm less than desired total length), ending on a Row 8 (WS).

#### Section 3: Upper Border

**Fair Isle Section**
Join **CC**.
**Row 1 (RS):** With MC, k1, work Row 1 of Chart A (repeat 12 times), with MC k1.
**Row 2 (WS):** With MC, p1, work Row 2 of Chart A, with MC p1.
Continue through Row 7 of Chart A. Break CC.

**Ribbing Finish**
Using **MC**:
**Row 1 (WS):** P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
**Row 2 (RS):** K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
Repeat until ribbing measures 4 cm.

**Cast Off:**
Cast off in rib pattern. To ensure the edge isn't too tight, use a slightly larger needle (e.g., 5.5 mm) to cast off if you tend to knit tightly.

### FINISHING
1.  Weave in all loose ends using the tapestry needle.
2.  **Blocking (Important):** Soak the scarf in lukewarm water with wool wash for 15 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring). Roll in a towel to remove moisture.
3.  Lay flat to dry. Pin the scarf to the finished dimensions (28 cm x 160 cm). Ensure the Fair Isle sections are pinned flat to showcase the colourwork diamonds.