Ravelry: Xylith pattern by Skeinwalker Knits

Xylith by Skeinwalker Knits

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Pattern

details

Xylith

by Skeinwalker Knits

Published in

Skeinwalker Knits

Craft

Knitting

Category

Neck / Torso → Scarf

Neck / Torso → Shawl / Wrap

Published

June 2025

Suggested yarn

Lana Grossa Cotonella

Yarn weight

Worsted (9 wpi) ?

Gauge

19.5 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches
in stitch pattern

Needle size

US 5 - 3.75 mm

Yardage

490 - 1041 yards (448 - 952 m)

Sizes available

Small (scarf), large (stole); easily customizable.

Languages

English

This pattern is available for €8.99 EUR buy it now

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Wrapped in a sea of trees, the towering rock formations rise towards the canopy like a wave of color. The sandstone walls wear shades of deep and dark red, warm amber, and soft terracotta. Brushed by wind and rain over centuries, and sculpted layer by layer, they bend and ripple, creating fascinating rocky shapes. Every ridge, every ripple in the sandstone holds a story, told in shades of gold, rust, and rose.
The Xylith scarf / stole is inspired by the red rock formations of the Altschlossfelsen in Germany. Xylith grows from the center-out in a colorful crescendo of stitch patterns reminiscent of the layers, crests, ridges, towers, and arches of the weathered rocks.
The Xylith scarf / stole is an invitation to slow down. Come take your time, stitch by stitch.

The Xylith scarf / stole is a word play on “xylo”, Greek for wood, and “lithos”, Greek for stone.

For best effect, use a reasonably round yarn with enough stitch definition (without halo or fluff). Yarn weights ranging from Fingering to Aran would be suitable. As for colorways, I would recommend solid, semi-solid, speckled, or gradient (single skein or gradient set) yarns.

Do you like the Xylith scarf / stole? You might like those patterns too: The Éolia scarf / stole, and the Valfières cowl. For endless fun with gradient fun, and lace, of course! Check them out!

Yarn
Lana Grossa Cotonella (Worsted; 100% Cotton; 280 meters / 306 yards per 100 grams); 2,4 balls. The scarf (sample, small size) uses 160 grams in color 004 wine red/orange/red/fiery red/terracotta/brick red/pink/purple. The stole (large size) uses 340 grams.

Needles
3.75 mm (US size 5) 100 cm / 40 inches circular needle or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge
20.5 stitches and 29.5 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch, unblocked.
19.5 stitches and 25 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern B – Sandstone, blocked.
19.5 stitches and 23 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern C – Rocky Ridge, blocked.
19.5 stitches and 23.5 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern D – Towers & Arches, blocked.
19.5 stitches and 25 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern E – Terracotta Ripple, blocked.
Note: obtaining the gauge given is not crucial but will affect the finished size and the yardage needed.

Notions
Stitch markers (optional): 2 in color A (edge marker), 1,3 in color B (repeat marker). Waste yarn (or spare circular needle cable). Shorter cable (60 cm / 24 inches) for the working needle. Cable needle. Tapestry needle. Blocking pins. Blocking wires (optional).

Sizes
Small (scarf), large (stole); easily customizable.

Final measurements
Small size (scarf): Width (w): 21 cm / 8.25 inches, length (l): 241.5 cm / 95 inches. See schematic.
Large size (stole): Width (w): 44 cm / 17.5 inches, length (l): 241.5 cm / 95 inches. See schematic.

Skill level
Basic stitches, increases, single and multiple decreases (knits and purls), cable stitches. Most patterns with relatively easy to memorize stitch pattern and easy patterning on both sides. One pattern requiring some attention and with a few purl decreases. Lace and cable patterning on odd rows only. Judy’s Magic CO. Elastic BO.
Video tutorials are provided for the stitches and techniques used.

Pattern notes
This pattern is worked flat from the center of the scarf / stole, starting with a provisional CO. Suggestions are given to customize the pattern.
Charts and written instructions are provided, as well as clear video tutorials for the stitches and techniques used.

Pattern support
For questions about this pattern, please PM me on Ravelry or send me an email. Contact details are provided.

Thank you note
I’d like to send a big thank you to my truly awesome test knitters on Ravelry: amyschoen, ArleneBaron, carolfitz2, moewe-2008. Thank you so much for your time and dedication, for helping me make this pattern even better and for showing how the pattern would look like with different yarns!

Yarn ideas
Do you need ideas for gradient yarns? Here you go!

Here are some suggestions for a few specific yarns in varying yarn weights (and in no particular order). Choose a round yarn without halo or fluff and good stitch definition. Please plan your substitution and check the put up and fiber content before buying (cotton and alpaca are heavier than wool, for example):

Indie dyers who make a lot of gradient yarns:

More gradient yarns on Ravelry, per weight:

If you’d like to use a gradient yarn, I’d suggest using the following options to work the pattern:

1 strand from a large skein of yarn with one continuous gradient
1 strand from two 100g skeins with one continuous gradient and use them “head to toe” (for example: light to dark then dark to light, forming a double gradient)
2 strands held together from two balls of light-weight yarns, starting at exactly the same color for both
one gradient yarn completed at the beginning and end with the matching colors to transition in and out of the gradient
a set of gradient skeins from your favorite local brand or dyer. If you are using a light-weight and two strands, you can even fade them at the color transitions (for example: two strands in color A, then one strand in color A and one strand in color B, then two strands in color B, etc.)
you could even try to dye your own gradient yarns
or you could dye the finished project to have full control of the color transitions (please practice dyeing before you dye your project!)
of course, you can use a lighter-weight yarn, like lace held single to knit the pattern. In that case, check your gauge to maintain good measurements (and most probably add some pattern repeats). The yardage will really depend on whether you want to maintain the measurements.
and you can use a heavier-weight yarn, like DK or Worsted and make the pattern larger. In that case, check your gauge to maintain good measurements. You might even want to add some pattern repeats to make the pattern much larger.

Want to get a free cowl? Read on!

We all love knitting, right?! I certainly do! I’d like to gift you a cowl and doing so spread the love for knitting even more :-) This gift is available to everyone.

Curious about which cowl that is? Head over to the Skeinwalker freebie page to find out!. Upon registering and confirming your email address, you will receive the link to download the pattern PDF, and you will get a free subscription to The Explorers Weekly newsletter, with tips, inspiration, updates on new pattern releases along with exclusive coupon codes for discounts that I don’t share anywhere else.