Crocheted lacy dress scarf - free pattern

I've made this lightweight dress scarf for my mum as a Christmas present (don't worry, she won't see it before the big day, she's not on the internet!)

I like it so much, I thought I would make one for myself as well and if I like it, others may as well so I'm sharing how I made it as a free pattern.

The stitch is a modified version of one I found in a book. The original is a kind of diamond lace but it was more solid, I've used dtrs (UK terms) instead of trs and opened it out using more chains. Here's a chart of how the modified stitch is worked along with top and bottom finishing rows.

EDIT: As of 15 July, there is now a written pattern (click here). 

I used Drops Baby Alpaca Silk (yarn group A, it's a three ply yarn) and a 2.5mm hook. I did around 70 rows (I've wrapped it up now so I can't double check that, sorry!) I used two 50g balls of colour 6235. Starting chain is 8 plus multiples of 7 so you can made it as wide (or as narrow) as you like. Skinny scarves are very "in" at the moment, I've noticed. I started with 43 chain for mum's which has 5 pattern repeats.

Work the foundation row first and then repeat rows 1 and 2 until the scarf is as long as you want. The top finishing row is worked after you've done all your repeats. Fasten off, turn your work upside down and work the other finishing row to match. 

The scarf is fully reversible so no side is right or wrong.

I was going to add a simple fringe to it, there was just enough yarn left over after I got the length I thought mum would like but I have been meaning to use a fun bobble stitch border I found on Pinterest using Once Upon a Pink Moon's blog's instructions.  I did four bobbles on both ends. The pattern on Once Upon a Pink Moon's blog uses US terms so I made trs instead of dcs and I made my chains a little longer, 9 inially to make it drape nicer on my project.  Obviously you can do whatever border you like to personalise yours or you can leave it plain with the finishing rows. Either way looks nice.

The scarf will benefit from blocking. Drop it in a bowl of tepid water and then very gently squeeze the excess water out (do not wring!) Roll it up in a dry towel to blot out some more. Lay the scarf on fresh dry towels (I needed two laid end to end) over carpet or your usual blocking board and then pin it out gently, stretching it a little as you go using rustless stainless steel pins. Leave to dry overnight. 

If you've got any questions about how to make it, don't hesitate to ask in the comments section and I'll do my best to answer them. If there's enough demand, I may do a written version of the pattern as well for those who find following charts difficult..

Before I wrapped the scarf with her other present, I've been running around the house and garden taking photographs of it.

I can envisage it being worn loose around the collar of a jacket or knotted at the throat, there are lots of different ways to wear it. I chose the colour because I think it will go nicely with a jacket that mum's got. It’s lightweight and airy so might not work well in the winter, it IS long enough to be wrapped around the neck twice for warmth but it’s meant to be more for decoration; it'll look really nice in the Spring with her blue jacket. Fingers crossed, I hope she likes it!

Happy Christmas to all my blog readers.