Enjoy this sampler scarf inspired by the crazy Maryland traffic.

This pattern is worked in multiples of 10 and can be easily adjusted length wise. The width is approximately 9 to 10 inches with beltway trim. As written the length is approximately 8 foot long.

You will need a set of 32” long or longer US 4 circular needles and 1 double pointed needle. You will also need a finishing needle (darning)

This took 700 yards or color 1 and 400 yards of color 2 with almost nothing left over.

On Tuesday May 29th, I was contacted for a potential deployment to Maryland for sewer back and flood issues related to the recent flood event in Ellicott City MD.

On June 1st a started my two-day drive and to my delight, I had booked a hotel in Timonium MD just blocks away from The Black Sheep Yarn Shop. The first opportunity I had I stopped in, I was immediately warm and fuzzy with excitement. This amazingly open and inviting space has and incredible selection of current staples as well and luxurious yarns. From fun and exciting sock yarns in both hand dyed and solids to the exotic fibers that are like candy to your fingers. Inviting finished models show off the look and feel of the options at hand and all the yarns were clearly marked with prices. It is refreshing to see enough yarn in each color selection to feel confident in choosing a nice size project.

I was immediately greeted with a friendly voice from around the corner but was allowed to browse without feeling hovered over. While paroozing the cubbies and skeins I could hear the buz of what was obviously comfortable customers and friends visiting with the shop staff. I felt welcome.

Occasionally, Deetzy (nick name) would check on me to make sure I was not feeling abandoned or ignored. I finally narrowed it down to a combination of a long patterned multi-color fingering yarn from Barroco and a Rustic tweed solid complementary color from Debbie Bliss. Not sure what I wanted to do with them, I was excited to ponder the possibilities.

Over the next day or so I found myself gazing at the new treasure in my passenger seat as I sat in traffic jam after traffic jam, manipulating my way around DC and Baltimore between inspection appointments. I decided this would be my inspiration for design and would create a project that started with easy basic design and turn into something requiring more skill while taking unexpected twists and turns.

This was the birth of The Manyland Mayhem Scarf! After the completion of the scarf I was inspired to do a second version of this pattern. I wanted it to be wider with more design elements and not quite as long. This is the Maryland Mayhem Wrap!

The pattern begins with a Picot trim and moved into a decorative stitch that is easy but elegant. It progresses into a postage stamp design using Entrelac techniques and ends with a slanted fringe and creative cast off.

I had a blast sitting in on Tuesday open stitch while I worked on the new design and had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of happy, creative people. If I lived in MD I could see myself camping here a LOT.