Medina Scarf Knitting Tips from designer, Juliet Bernard

You may have heard the news? We have launched a new make along! The Medina Scarf designed by Juliet Bernard. It's a fabulous Fair Isle design, knitted in the round and then steeked. All of those three techniques together may sound a little scary, but they really aren't. If you can knit and purl with confidence, then now is the time to get your needles into colourwork. 

If you've never tried steeking or have never heard of the technique before, don't worry, this project is a steek without the 'eeek'! Superbly described by Black Sheep Lucy.

What is steeking?
Steeking is a shortcut in knitting used to make items in-the-round without interruption until the end when a straight line is cut along the centre of a column of stitches. Usually this is to make an opening, attach another piece or pick up stitches.

For this project the 'steeking' is used to create a fringing at either end of the scarf.

We have created 3 kits to make the Medina scarf in Rowan Felted Tweed Colour and Rowan Felted Tweed DK. The kit contains all that you need to knit your scarf including, yarn, pattern and a stitch marker. 

If you prefer to choose your own yarn or stash bust we have the pattern available to purchase as a digital download on our website separately.

For anyone who would rather knit with acrylic yarns or has a wool allergy, Stylecraft Cabaret DK is a fantastic choice. Enjoy experiencing the variegated shading with an extra sparkle. This is a sample scarf that had been knitted up previously in Stylecraft Cabaret DK. It will take 2 balls of each shade - Tropical Flowers and Shadows. 

Sara recently chatted to Juliet live on Instagram to launch the make along. Juliet shared some great tips for anyone embarking on the project.

• A great way to try out steeking. You are only dealing with a knit stitch which makes it a very rhythmic, relaxing knit.
• A long tail cast on would be recommended. Make sure that you estimate enough yarn for the tail as there are 400 sts. Other options are a knitted cast on or cable cast on.
• The steeked part is 49 sts that will become the fringe.
• A test swatch is not critical for the Medina scarf, unless you knit really loose.
• Every 50 sts put a stitch marker in, at least for the first round.That way if you get lost with the pattern you only have 50sts to deal with.
• If you are unsure of joining in the round straight away you can always join in the round after the moss stitch border and add this section of fringing on later.
• Maximum number of stitches to float - 7 sts. After this you need to catch it in.
• If you are worried about the floats (yarn that is carried behind your knitting) then you can twist (putting the yarns around each other as you would joining in a new colour) every stitch rather than float them.

Sara will be going live next week on Instagram with Juliet at 1.30pm Tuesday 15th February to discuss how the scarf is coming along and then on 22nd February before you tackle the steek. This is a great opportunity to ask the designer herself any questions that might have cropped up whilst knitting the scarf.

Before you steek your scarf don't forge to have a watch of Juliet's Steeking video. It is super helpful to see how it's done. It truly is a steek without the eeek!

Juliet has shared a super video (garment shown in video is designed by Marie Wallin) to show you how to work the two colours without getting in a tangle.