A few weeks before our family Christmas gathering my sister sent me an urgent text. Her almost two year-old daughter had appropriated one of her favorite winter handknits, a wrap I’d designed for her in Moonglow. My niece would not give the wrap back; was there anything I could do in the next week to help?

Of course there was! I found a relatively simple center pattern in one stitch dictionary, modified an edging from another, picked a toddler-friendly warm purple color, and cast on for a small, distracting scarf to knit on my trip as a Christmas present. The first version was such a hit that I used the second half of the skein to knit a back-up scarf, and I’ve enjoyed seeing many photos of my niece wearing her soft, brightly colored scarf ever since.

If you, too, need a quick distraction– to bribe a toddler, or to keep your mind off other things–I hope this scarf might do the trick. The lace is only worked on right side rows, and the edging is knit at the same time as the center pattern, so it is a relatively simple design that can make a big impact!

Yarn
Miss Babs Moonglow
72% Kid Mohair, 28% Silk; 435 yd/1.7 oz (400 m/50 g) skeins
1 skein, shown in Violaceous

Or approximately 218 (435) yards/ (199) 400 meters of a similar mohair laceweight yarn.

Sizes
1 (2)

Finished Measurements
Width: 10”/25 cm
Length: 33 (66)”/82.5 (165) cm

Needles
US 6 4.0 mm circular needle, 24”/60 cm long, or size to obtain gauge

Gauge
Blocked: 19 stitches and 30 rows = 4”/10 cm in Distraction Lace pattern.
Approximately 3 repeats wide and just under 2 repeats tall = 4”/10 cm.

Notions
• Blocking wires
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

This pattern has been professionally tech edited.