Skyscraper Scarf

The Skyscraper Scarf is 50% off through December 15th with code: Skyscraper.

A few years ago, I took a class with Olga Buraya-Kefelian on negative spaces and their impact on the stability of the fabric. This prompted me to think about how window and door frames are used to add rigidity to buildings.  

The Skyscraper Scarf features fabric of three thicknesses. After creating each double knit window frame, dropped stitches cascade down to form the diaphanous curtains. The twisted stitches in the window frames enclose the instability of the dropped stitches. I knit this to a grand height of 9 feet to enjoy the glorious drape of the laceweight garter stitch fabric.

This video above was taken at the beginning of 2023 from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong -- truly a city of skyscrapers.

The sample shown is knit in a discontinued yarn.  Please look for laceweight yarn with a good twist and that isn't fuzzy (no mohair or alpaca). My 2 favourites to substitute are Koigu Lace & Julie Asselin Merletto.

Test if your laceweight yarn will work well for the dropped stitches: Cast on 11 sts; work approximately 16 rows of garter stitch; on the next row, repeat (K1, drop 1) to 1 stitch from end, k1. Then allow the stitches to drop through the fabric. If they drop easily (don't stick), it will work!

MATERIALS

Yarn: 2 contrasting colours of laceweight yarn; 800 yd of each colour for sample length

Needles: 3 mm/ US #2.5 straight or circular

Gauge: 25 stitches and 40 rows to 4 in/ 10 cm instocking stitch

Finished Size: 11.5 in/ 29 cm width; 102 in/ 259 cm length; length is adjustable

Notions: 6 stitch markers

Yarn in Sample: Shibui Lunar Velvet & Ivory; 2 skeins each

Recommended Yarn: laceweight yarn; Koigu Lace and Julie Asselin Merletto would be excellent choices

Inspiration: the class I took was Modular Knitting and Negative Spaces by Olga Buraya-Kefelian. I mention this because learning new knitting skills keeps us thinking & innovating. I’m hoping you enjoy that as much as I do.

Photography: Julie Crawford

Tech editor: Kate Atherley

Visit: https://marywmartinknits.com/

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