Laughingbird Scarf

Laughingbird Detail, a photo by ShelbyD on Flickr.

This scarf pattern was inspired by watching swirling water in the wake of a boat that was ferrying my family to Laughingbird Caye, a small island park off the coast of Belize. The Carribbean was a remarkable light, fresh blue, and I was very happy to find this colorway of tosh sock to help me realize this pattern. Blocking really opens up this pattern and emphasizes the wavy edges.

Materials
380 yards fingering weight yarn, such as 1 skein madelinetosh tosh sock in Windowpane color way
Size 7 straight or circular needle
4 stitch markers (optional)
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Blocking pins and/or wires

Abbreviations
K -knit
p -purl
K2tog - knit two together
p2tog - purl two together
Ssk - slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together
p2tog tbl - purl two together through back loop
yo - yarn over
Pm - place marker
Sl - slip as if to purl
* - repeat between *

Dimensions: Approx 7 inches wide by 72 inches long

Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in garter stitch

Pattern notes
The optional markers offset the garter border stitches from the main lace panel as well as dividing the ten-stitch repeats from one another. The first stitch of each row is slipped to create a clean edge.

Pattern
Cast on 36.
Knit first row, placing markers as follows if desired: k3, pm, k10, pm, k10, pm, k10, pm, k3
Knit 5 rows.

Row 1: Sl 1, k2, *yo, k8, k2tog* 3 times, k3
Row 2: Sl 1, k2, *p2tog, p7, yo, p1* 3 times, k3
Row 3: Sl 1, k2, *k2, yo, k6, k2tog* 3 times, k3
Row 4: Sl 1, k2, *p2tog, p5, yo, p3* 3 times, k3
Row 5: Sl 1, k2, *k4, yo, k4, k2tog* 3 times, k3
Row 6: Sl 1, k2, *p2tog, p3, yo, p5* 3 times, k3
Row 7: Sl 1, k2, *k6, yo, k2, k2tog* 3 times, k3
Row 8: Sl 1, k2, *p2tog, p1, yo, p7* 3 times, k3
Row 9: Sl 1, k2, *k8, yo, k2tog* 3 times, k3
Row 10: Sl 1, k2, *yo, p8, p2tog tbl* 3 times, k3
Row 11: Sl 1, k2, *ssk, k7, yo, k1* 3 times, k3
Row 12: Sl 1, k2, *p2, yo, p6, p2tog tbl* 3 times, k3
Row 13: Sl 1, k2, *ssk, k5, yo, k3* 3 times, k3
Row 14: Sl 1, k2, *p4, yo, p4, p2tog tbl* 3 times, k3
Row 15: Sl 1, k2, *ssk, k3, yo, k5* 3 times, k3
Row 16: Sl 1, k2, *p6, yo, p2, p2tog tbl* 3 times, k3
Row 17: Sl 1, k2, *ssk, k1, yo, k7* 3 times, k3
Row 18: Sl 1, k2, *p8, yo, p2tog tbl* 3 times, k3

Repeat rows 1-18 23 times or to desired length.
Knit 6 rows.
Bind off all stitches.

Finishing
Block to desired width, using pins or wires to enhance the wave shape inherent in the pattern. Weave in ends.