May Scarf of the Month: Mayflower Lace

The Mayflower Lace Scarf uses a modified long single crochet to add texture to the already beautiful Love Knot mesh. Working these large, open stitches in worsted weight yarn gives this scarf a lacy look while providing plenty of warmth. The two-row pattern of triangular mesh creates a geometric design of six-petal "flowers". If you want your scarf to be even lacier, you could skip using the modified stitch and just make the classic long single crochet in its place! Finished size of scarf is 8" (20 cm) wide with border. Length may vary. Example shown is 62" (157.5 cm) long.

Need some help? There's now a graph available with an additional tutorial!

Skill level:

Materials:
You can use any worsted weight yarn you like! But...
I used Caron One Pound in Lilac
Crochet hook size I/9 - 5.50MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn needle or smaller hook to weave in ends
Stitch markers *optional* -If you have trouble keeping track of your turning chains, you'll want them!
Measuring tape or ruler *optional* - For consistency of long loops

Gauge:
In 4" by 4" (10 cm by 10 cm)
4 rows (two pattern repeats)
3 Love Knot stitches across

Notes:
Pattern is written in multiples of 3 + 2, over two rows.

Pattern increases on odd numbered rows and decreases on even numbered rows.

Stitches and abbreviations:
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)

Beginning Love Knot (Beg LK) - Instead of explaining this stitch here, I've written it into the pattern.

Love Knot (LK) - Pull up a long loop to about 1" (2.5 cm). Yarn over, pull through long loop. Insert hook in base loop of long chain. Yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through both loops.

Modified long single crochet (MLsc) - Insert hook, pull up a long loop to about 1" (2.5 cm). Yarn over, pull through long loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook from [right to left for right-handed] [left to right for left-handed] behind all three strands of the long loop. Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all three loops.

Directions:

Begin with a slipknot on your hook. Chain 2. Insert the hook in the farthest ch from hook, make a sc. Pull up a long loop. Yarn over, pull through the long loop. Insert hook in base loop of long chain. Yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through both loops. (Beg LK complete.)

Make 4 more LK to complete the beg ch of 5 LK. Make 2 more LK to count as the turning ch.

Row 1:
Make MLsc in 2nd LK from hook. *Make MLsc in next LK. Make LK, MLsc in same as last.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (6 "V's" in row)

Row 2:
Make LK, turn. *Make MLsc in next MLsc. Make LK, make MLsc in same as last.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Make MLsc in next LK. (5 "V's" in row)

Row 3:
Make 2 LK, turn. Make MLsc in first available MLsc. *Make MLsc in next MLsc. Make LK, MLsc in same as last.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (6 "V's" in row)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 to desired length. Example shown has a total of 66 rows (32 more repeats) for a finished length of 61" (155 cm), without border.

You can see in the pictures that this scarf is beautiful as-is, so you can bind off and weave in ends now if you wish. Before you decide to do that, here's a few reasons why I added the border:

Contrast. That's it. I just like the contrast of the lacy body with the solid stitches of the border. I think it makes the lace "pop" more.

The solid stitches of the border make a great place to weave in the ends. Usually with a super-lacy fabric like this, I would get out the needle and matching sewing thread to hide those tails and firmly secure them. If you follow the blog, then you know I hate sewing. Borders help me avoid sewing more than I already don't want to.

Stretch! This lacy pattern made in worsted weight yarn pulls itself out of shape when hanging. Although it looked awesome when I tried it on minus border (kinda bo-ho chic style), the geometric design was lost in clumpy loops. The border helps the lace hold its shape and stops the fabric from stretching.

So, if you decide to skip the border, you're on your own for weaving in the ends. I don't cover that in the tutorial - But if you're tackling this pattern, you've probably got that handled anyways, right? Enjoy your lacy scarf, and I'd love to see photos shared!

Now, in case I've convinced you to add it, on to the border:

The Love Knot is a stitch that can vary in size depending on how you make it! My LK might be exactly one inch, but yours might be a tiny bit bigger or smaller. The following pattern for the border is simple to follow. I've simply placed my number of stitches in parenthesis ( ), so if your gauge varies from mine, you can easily replace the number I've used with a number of stitches that works for you.

Working down the length of the scarf: Make (3) sc in the first available LK side-post space. Make (3) sc in each side-post space to the end. Ch 2, make (3) sc in the long loop of each LK across. Ch 2, make (3) sc in each LK side-post space up the length of the scarf. Make (3) sc in the long loop of each LK across the final side. Ch 2, join with a sl st to the beg sc of border.

Bind off, weave in ends.