The Anomaly Scarf Story
I’m so excited to share the Anomaly Scarf pattern with you! Originally published in the book A Proper Yorkshire Yarn, this design was one of several hand and machine knitting patterns created to highlight the beauty of fiber from the Wool Circle project. The project’s mission—to produce hyper-local, traceable British yarn from rare breed sheep—immediately resonated with me.
I first heard about this wonderful project from my friend Nic Corrigan, founder of the virtual Machine Knitting Community. The entire production process for this yarn took place within a 30-mile radius of her home! (I hope projects like this become more common in our increasingly global economy.) The yarn, spun from Whitefaced Woodland sheep, is both bouncy and strong, which made it perfect for creating the soft yet structured fabric of full cardigan stitch—one of my favorite double-bed machine knitting stitches. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like the natural beauty of undyed wool as a canvas.
If you can’t get Whitefaced Woodland yarn many options can replicate its qualities. Look for plied, smooth, wool-like yarns with elasticity. Undyed yarns, or yarns with subtle heathered tones, highlight the stitch definition. A great alternative is Brown Sheep’s Nature Spun Fingering. Whichever yarn you use, make a swatch!
I always love a touch of humor, especially in knitting! Visual jokes like biomimicry and trompe l’oeil art spark curiosity and invite a closer look. There’s a delight in discovering that what you first assumed about a piece is completely wrong, revealing layers of meaning you didn’t expect.
Rib fabrics hold a special place in my heart and my Passap e6000 creates them so beautifully! This scarf, in full cardigan stitch (aka fisherman’s rib or double English rib), can be easily made on any knitting machine with a ribber. That said, it took some experimenting to land on the right details—the type of tuck rib stitch, different racking patterns, the decrease method and the frequency rate that avoided unwanted bowing. I love listening to the yarn as it “tells” me what fabric it wants to become and how best to work with it.
The needles are set up in a 1×1 rib formation with the beds at half pitch. One carriage knits moving left to right and tucks moving right to left. While the other carriage knits moving right to left and tucks moving left to right. If you’re new to full cardigan stitch, check out this tutorial for Silver Reed machines for step-by-step instructions.
The Anomaly Scarf blurs the lines between a sweater and a scarf, breaking the rules and defying categorization. Its wide, angled bib highlights the fully-fashioned shaping created by the stitch, while the two tapered ends wrap around the neck like elongated arms, finishing in a cuff-like detail. Draped across the body, the scarf layers beautifully with other pieces, making it versatile and guaranteed to draw compliments and questions. Make it even more your own by knitting it in contrasting colors for a graphic effect. Or maybe lengthen the scarf’s arms for more dramatic layering?
The Anomaly Scarf machine knitting pattern is now available as a PDF here: Anomaly Scarf Pattern . I’d love to see your progress—be sure to tag me on social media!
Sometimes the most beautiful designs come from breaking expectations. I hope the Anomaly Scarf inspires you to embrace your own creative journey and unique expression.
FAQ: Your Anomaly Scarf Questions Answered
Can this pattern be knit on all machines? Yes! Any machine with a ribber can handle this scarf.
What if I want to use a thicker/thinner yarn? Adjust the tension and test with a swatch to ensure your fabric behaves as expected.
How much yarn do I need? This scarf used approximately 250g of 4 ply 100% Whitefaced Woodland undyed wool.
If you have more questions or suggestions, please consider posting them in the T Martin Studio Ravelry Group where they may benefit others. Also, feel free to reach out to me via email!
