Meadow Breeze Scarf + Shawl
With an easy stitch pattern reminiscent of a field of gently waving grasses, our Meadow Breeze Scarf + Shawl in our new fingering weight cotton and linen Oleander yarn is as soft and light as a summer breeze!
Simple increases and decreases travel in a repeating pattern across the surface of the fabric, blowing first in one direction, then the other… A mesmerizing knit! The straightforward pattern repeats each right-side row, shifting one stitch to the left or right until it’s time to change direction, for easy, meditative knitting.
And the stitch pattern naturally creates a beautiful ripple along every edge of the fabric. A quick, little slip stitch to start and finish every other row enhances these soft lines.
It’s all super elegant in our new Oleander. Named for a silver-leaved, flowering shrub that thrives in the hot climate of the Mediterranean, Oleander is the ultimate warm-weather knitting yarn. It’s as light as a whisper, and you’ll need just two balls for a narrow, floaty scarf, and five for a generously sized square shawl.
Made in Italy from 50% Turkish cotton and 50% Belgian linen, earthy Oleander is breathable enough for the hottest of days. The linen has a pleasing, dry touch, while the cotton brings touchable softness for next-to-skin wear… And both fibers will keep you wonderfully cool!
Cast on for a Meadow Breeze Scarf or Shawl that you’ll wear all summer long. You’ll smile every time you feel the fabric floating in the gentle gusts it’s named for!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. See even more of Hiromi’s work on her Instagram!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMeadowBreezeScarfAndShawl, and #PurlSohoOleander. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 (5) balls of Purl Soho’s Oleander yarn, 50% cotton and 50% linen. Each ball of this fingering-weight yarn is 205 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 385 (910) total yards required. We used the colors Toasted Sesame and Dijon Yellow.
- US 2 (3 mm), 16- or 24-inch circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
NOTE: If you’re knitting the Shawl size, you may not need the 5th ball (we used every last bit of 4 balls, plus an extra few yards for our sample). If you don’t end up needing it, you can return unwound yarn for a refund within 30 days of purchase, or within 6 months, for store credit. Our Return Policy has all the details!
GAUGE
30 stitches and 39 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
SIZES
Scarf (Shawl)
- Finished Dimensions: 5½ inches wide x 59¼ inches long (27 inches wide x 27¼ inches long)
SAMPLES: We knit the Scarf in Toasted Sesame and the Shawl in Dijon Yellow.
NOTES
STITCH MULTIPLE
This pattern is worked over a multiple of 10 + 2 stitches.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all slip stitches purlwise with yarn in front (wyif).
LIFTED INCREASES (RLI + LLI)
RLI (Right Lifted Increase): Lift right leg of stitch below next stitch on left-hand needle onto left-hand needle and knit it. [1 stitch increased]
LLI (Left Lifted Increase): Lift left leg of stitch 2 rows below last stitch on right-hand needle onto left-hand needle and knit it through the back loop. [1 stitch increased]
To see both techniques in action, visit our Lifted Increase Tutorial!
PATTERN
Cast on 42 (202) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Slip 1 (see Notes), purl to last stitch, slip 1.
Work Meadow Breeze Pattern either from Written Instructions or Chart, both below.
MEADOW BREEZE PATTERN: WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1 (right side): K2, *LLI (see Notes), k2, slip slip knit (ssk), k6, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 and all even-number rows (wrong side): Slip 1, purl to last stitch, slip 1.
Row 3: K3, *LLI, k2, ssk, k6, repeat from * to last 9 stitches, LLI, k2, ssk, k5.
Row 5: K4, *LLI, k2, ssk, k6, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, LLI, k2, ssk, k4.
Row 7: K5, *LLI, k2, ssk, k6, repeat from * to last 7 stitches, LLI, k2, ssk, k3.
Row 9: K6, *LLI, k2, ssk, k6, repeat from * to last 6 stitches, LLI, k2, ssk, k2.
Row 11: K7, *LLI, k2, ssk, k6, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, LLI, k2, ssk, k1.
Row 13: K6, *knit 2 together (k2tog), k2, RLI (see Notes), k6, repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k2tog, k2, RLI, k2.
Row 15: K5, *k2tog, k2, RLI, k6, repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k2tog, k2, RLI, k3.
Row 17: K4, *k2tog, k2, RLI, k6, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k2tog, k2, RLI, k4.
Row 19: K3, *k2tog, k2, RLI, k6, repeat from * to last 9 stitches, k2tog, k2, RLI, k5.
Row 21: K2, *k2tog, k2, RLI, k6, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 23: K1, *k2tog, k2, RLI, k6, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1–24 twenty-three (10) more times.
Go on to Finishing section, below.
MEADOW BREEZE PATTERN: CHART
NOTE: New to reading charts? Unravel the mysteries with our Reading A Chart Tutorial!
Starting in the bottom right corner of the Chart below, work right-side (odd number) rows from right to left and wrong-side (even number) rows from left to right.
Work Rows 1–24 twenty-four (11) times.
KEY
CHART
NOTE: Want to see it bigger? Download this chart (and key) as a PDF!
FINISHING
With right side facing you, bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and gently wet block.
LEARN ABOUT OLEANDER + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
We used Oleander for this project because of its alluring earthiness and fine, soft touch. A fingering-weight yarn, Oleander is made in Italy from 50% Turkish cotton and 50% Belgian linen. It is the ultimate warm-weather knitting yarn, as light as a summer breeze and as lovely as an Italian hillside in bloom!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our growing collection of free Oleander knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop cotton yarn
- Shop linen yarn
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Thank you it looks to be a nice project. The yarn is cotton blend, does it stretch out over time? I do not do well with cotton so might be looking for an alternative. though I would like to take advantage of your sale, the colors are lovely.
Hi Rhonda,
We are so happy this pattern caught your eye! Cotton does tend to grow slightly over time but not bad enough where your project will lose it’s definition. This yarn lends itself well to the pattern allowing the stitch texture to really shine through. You can certainly use another yarn if you’d like but I will admit that the linen/cotton blend of Oleander is the perfect choice for those warm weather accessories!
All the best,
Gavriella
This us a lovely pattern! Can you recommend a thicker weight yarn? I cannot work with a size 2 needle unfortunately.
Thank you as always.
Hi Chermia,
We are so happy this pattern caught your attention! Cotton Pure would make a great alternative in this pattern with some slight modifications! Cotton Pure is our 100% cotton sport weight yarn. To modify this pattern you will want to start with a gauge swatch. You will then measure your stitches per inch and multiply that number by the desired width of your project and that will give you your cast on number. One thing to keep in mind is that this pattern is worked over a multiple of 10 + 2 stitches. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Two basics: Row 1 instructs LLI where there aren’t two rows yet.
And when you write slip all slipped stitches Purlwise, does that include the ssk’s?
Thank you
Hi KJ,
Those are great questions! In this pattern, the cast on will actually count as your first row so you will lift a leg from that edge in order to complete your LLI. As for the SSKs, you will want to work them as you normally would work an SSK! You can also find our SSK tutorial here, just in case you find that helpful!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I believe this is an 11 stitch repeat, not 10. On row 1 at the beginning of the repeat, after * LLI , k2 , ssk one has 5 stitches on the right needle. Adding k6 to the end * yields 11 stitches. So don’t we need to cast on 44 plus 2 (for the scarf, similar increase for shawl)? Kindly comment, and if I’m wrong explain. Thanks
Hi Craige,
Thank you for writing in! This pattern works over 10 sts plus 2. I have included a break down of how the stitches are counted below:
LLI = 1 stitch, k2 = 2 stitches, ssk = 1 stitch k6 = 6 stitches.
I hope this helps clarify but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Oh! So I was first doing the LLI, then knitting the stitch it was below, THEN counting k2. You’re saying that after the LLI the stitch above it counts as the first of those k2s, yes?
That is correct, the LLI is counted as a stitch all on its own and not with the stitch above it.
Hi ,
I like this pattern but I don’t understand it
The first row which is the right side i need to do LLI
shouldn’t it be RLI ? according to your tutorial RLI is done on the wright side and LLI is on the left side of the row . What am I missing ?
Also can I knit this scarf with “sweetgrass fine”?
Thanks for your answers
Hi Iris,
That is a great question. The RLI and LLI stitches are used to shape the waves you see on the scarf. This is what helps the stitches lean one way or another. You can also see in the chart how the waves will begin to form as you increase and decrease throughout. I hope this helps clarify!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I am really enjoying this pattern. It is lovely and does not get boring! I did find that I needed to knit exactly as written at the end of the pattern rows and not second guess it! I will make it again in a thicker yarn. Thank you for such a lovely pattern!
Hi Judy,
We are thrilled to hear you are enjoying this pattern and are so happy to hear everything is working out wonderfully. Happy knitting and please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Beautiful pattern! I would like to knit the scarf a little wider, by about 2 or 3 inches. How many more 10 stitch repeats would you suggest? And how many more balls of Oleander should I purchase? Thank you!
Hi Kathy,
Based on the gauge of this pattern (30 stitches and 39 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern), you would need to cast on 62 stitches for a scarf that’s about 2 or 3 inches wider than originally designed. I’d recommend just getting one more ball of Oleander, so 3 total!
All the best,
Lili
Lili, Thank you for this information!
Are circular needles necessary for this project?
Hi Este,
You can definitely try out this pattern on straight needles if you prefer. We just find that working with such a large number of stitches is a little easier with circular needles.
All the best,
Gavriella
Curiosity question: in the written instructions it asks for row 1-24 to be repeated 23 more times for the scarf and the pattern asks for it to be repeated 24 more times. Can you help me understand the difference? Thank you!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for writing in! The written instructions write out the first set of Rows 1-24, and then instruct you to work them 23 more times, for a total of 24 times. The charted instructions do not have this first pass through the repeated rows, so those instructions just give you the total number of times you should be repeating them, so 24 times!
All the best,
Lili
I just finished knitting this beautiful scarf for my niece with your Oleander yarn. After “gentle blocking”, the edges still curl inward. Is this an issue for everyone?
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for reaching out! Because this project is knit mainly in stockinette stitch, there will always be a bit of a natural curl to the fabric. Blocking your project does minimize the rolling significantly, but there will likely still be some due to the nature of the stitch pattern. If this bothers you, I’d recommend adding more of a border to the scarf! You can use a symmetrical stitch (like garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, etc.), and this will help prevent the edges from curling at all. We’ve also found that blocking the project wrong-side-up, as well as using blocking pins along the edges, helps to reduce the curling!
All the best,
Lili