Instar Intarsia Scarf by Kristen Hein Strohm

Instar Intarsia Scarf

This stylish scarf celebrates transformation! It’s named for the stages before and after a butterfly’s metamorphosis, and its design transforms traditional French lace by adding intarsia colourwork for a look that’s sure to wow!

The pattern is available online at this link and in print at this link, in the UK magazine Inside Crochet. UK crochet terms are translated to US terms in the back of the magazine.

The scarf is based on 14 elegant square motifs, which are joined together with slip stitches in the final round of each square. No seaming required! The color changes look beautiful from both the front and back, because the intarsia colorwork technique doesn’t require stranding across the back.

This stitch pattern would also make a stunning cowl, shawl or afghan! Simply connect the two ends for a cowl after choosing your desired length, add 2 rows of motifs for a rectangular stole, or add 6 (10,12,15) rows of motifs for a twin (full, queen, king) sized blanket!

Each of Kristen’s Wild Bird Song Designs is dedicated to an environmental or social charity, and 10% of her proceeds from sale of this pattern will be donated to butterfly conservation efforts worldwide. To learn how you can help conserve butterflies and other insects in your area, please visit these links: Buglife (UK), the Xerces Society (US), Butterfly Conservation Europe, or Conservation International.

Additional yarn ideas:

Organic wool options:
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK
Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK (wool/cotton blend)
Rowan Purelife Organic Wool
Sublime Yarns Organic Merino Wool DK
The Sanguine Gryphon Free Range
BC Garn Semilla DK
WOOLganic Organic Merino Knitters Yarn
Garthenor Organic Wool DK (Shetland, Wensleydale, Black Welsh Mountain, & Manx Loghtan)
Sirdar Eco Wool DK
Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK
Treliske Organic Merino 8ply
O-Wool Legacy DK
O-Wool Balance DK (wool/cotton blend)
Stylecraft Ethical Twist 70/30 Wool/Alpaca
UK Alpaca Super Fine Alpaca (wool blend)
Hjertegarn Vidal Alpaca Superwash 100% Alpaca

Organic cotton options:
Mirasol Samp’a
Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK
Sublime Yarns Organic Cotton DK
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Cotton
Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Sincere Organic Cotton DK
Plymouth Earth Oceanside Organic Cotton
Fibranatura Cottonwood
Novita Luxus Cotton
Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK (wool/cotton blend)
O-Wool Balance DK (wool/cotton blend)

Low carbon footprint options:
Quince and Co. Lark
Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK

Fair trade options (best worker conditions):
Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend
Frog Tree Meriboo
Frog Tree Picoboo
Frog Tree Pima Cotton/Silk
Be Sweet Bamboo
Be Sweet Bambino
Mirasol K’acha
Mirasol Tupa
Mirasol Tuhu
Mirasol Samp’a
Mirasol Cotanani
Mirasol T’ika
Mirasol Lachiwa
Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
Quince and Co. Lark
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK

Additional yarn ideas in solid colors:
Rowan RYC Silk Wool DK
Roway RYC Pure Silk DK
Rowan Pure Wool DK
Rowan Wool Cotton
Rowan Felted Tweed DK
Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool
Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino
Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK
Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK
Sublime Angora Merino
Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist
Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK
Debbie Bliss Pure Silk
Debbie Bliss Rialto
Debbie Bliss Merino DK
Debbie Bliss Prima
Debbie Bliss Andes
Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo
Classic Elite Miracle
Classic Elite Premiere
Berroco Lustra
Berocco Pure Merino DK
Artesano Superwash Merino DK
Artesano Alpaca DK
Jaeger Pure Silk DK
Filatura di Crosa Zara
GGH Silk
Valley Yarns Deerfield
Valley Yarns Northfield
Valley Yarns Superwash DK
Cascade Pima Tencel
Cascade Ultra Pima
Rico Cotton Essential DK
Knit Picks Gloss DK
Knit Picks Elegance

Additional hand-dyed yarn ideas:
Madelinetosh Tosh DK
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK
Madelinetosh DK Twist
Madelinetosh Dream Alpaca
Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage
Alchemy Sanctuary
Alchemy Temple
Alchemy Migration
Alchemy Silk Purse
Malabrigo Silky Merino
Louisa Harding Grace Hand Dyed
Stricken Smitten Sinful DK
Stricken Smitten Shimmer Glimmer DK
Jade Sapphire 6-ply cashmere
The Sanguine Gryphon Traveller
Dream in Color Everlasting DK
Colinette Tao
Colinette Cadenza
Handmaiden Double Sea Silk
Handmaiden Silken
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Heavyweight
Artyarns Regal Silk
Artyarns Silk Pearl
Skein Himalaya
Skein BFL DK
Skein Super DK
Fiesta La Luz
The Plucky Knitter 55/45 Cashmere Silk DK
The Plucky Knitter Merino Lite
The Plucky Knitter Silk Merino Lite
The Plucky Knitter Handpainted Cashmere
Mountain Colors Jeannette
Mountain Colors Cashmere
Old Maiden Aunt Alpaca/Silk Sport/DK
Lotus Yarns Cashmere DK
Hedgehog Fibers Silk/Merino Singles
Hedgehog Fibers Blue Faced DK
A Verb for Keeping Warm Slick
Tilli Tomas Plie