Snitterby Sampler scarf

This scarf is knitted using the mosaic technique. Mosaic knitting is very easy and yet can produce extremely complex looking patterns. It is worked by knitting and slipping (purl wise) stitches on a right-side row and then on the wrong side by knitting again those stitches that have been knit on the previous row, and slipping the stitches that were again slipped on the previous row. It can produce work that looks very similar to two-colour intarsia but most people seem to find the joy of mosaic working is that you only work in one colour at a time and do not end up with long “floats” at the back of the work. You change colour every two rows and the stitches that have been knit in the first colour then become the ones that you slip in the next two rows.

This pattern is based on a series of workshops I ran with a group of ladies who wanted to learn to work mosaic stitches. The individual patterns are chosen to be increasingly more complex as understanding and confidence is gained. I have provided a written version for each pattern but I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you knit from the chart(s). You will see that the first charts are annotated for each stitch to indicate whether you knit or slip. I think, from feedback, most if not all the people I have taught to work mosaic knitting have found that, scary as they can look, working from charts is much more easy than keeping you eye on a long line of written instructions. So please, have a go at the chart versions of the pattern. I promise you won’t regret it. One other way of helping keep the count correct is to place markers after each repeat of the pattern, some people find that this works for them.

You will need two 100gm balls of yarn which form a strong contrast. I used approximately 70 gms of each, plus 3mm knitting needles, my preference is for circular needles but straight needles are equally suitable.