The Interwoven Scarf is a gorgeous oversize scarf that’s the perfect size to double as a shawl. It features a plaid-like, woven fabric that feels like an heirloom accessory you’ll wear for years to come.
But it’s more than just a crochet scarf pattern. The name represents not only the weaving technique used, but how all the elements of this design are woven together in one piece.
From the sheep, to the plant dyes, the celebration of shearing day, the earth, the hands used to work every stitch — so many wonderful aspects of nature, of community, of labor & love all interwoven together.
After reading Vanishing Fleece and visiting a local wool farm, this crochet pattern led me on a journey to learn even more about the wonderful world of wool.
Keep reading to hear more about the story (and the sheep) behind this scarf.
Get the pattern on Etsy or Ravelry & don’t forget to pin this post for later!
In the pattern, you’ll find some extras to help you along, including: a stitch diagram and two exclusive videos to help you learn the weaving technique used and to teach you how to create twisted rope fringe. The weaving technique really takes this scarf to the next level and creates a gorgeous plaid effect in the crochet fabric.
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The Story Behind the Yarn (and the Farm!)
We can’t talk about the yarn for this pattern without talking about the wool farm! The non-superwash wool yarn featured in this pattern comes from Mitchell Wool Co., which is a local wool farm close to my hometown here in Michigan. This pattern uses a total of 1,150 yds (400g) of DK weight (3) yarn.
I stumbled upon Mitchell Wool Co. at a fiber expo last fall and it was love at first sight. With my toddler in tow, we stopped to take a closer look at their yarn and it was clear this was something special. I got to spend a few minutes chatting with Sherry, Cindy, and Luke, the family behind Mitchell Wool Co. They shared their passion for reviving the US wool industry, their yarn, and of course their flock of sheep.
Through chatting for a few minutes, I quickly learned a few things about Mitchell Wool Co.:
- Their flock consists of over a hundred sheep (and growing) with a mix of Targhee, Cormo, Tunis, and a few other sheep like the Finn sheep that create their Farm Friends yarn.
- Every single sheep at their farm has a name. This year’s lambs are all named after sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld, and the Office.
- They send all their wool to Zeilinger Wool Company, which is right here in Michigan, to be processed and made into yarn!
- Not only is Mitchell Wool Co.’s yarn a non-superwash yarn, but you’ll only find natural colorways. They only use natural dyes, such as avocados, marigolds, and other plants to dye their yarn.
A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to visit Mitchell Wool Co. and see everything for myself! It was absolutely amazing to get to meet the sheep, see the farm, and peek behind-the-scenes to see where all the magic happens. Since then, I’ve been able to go back to the farm for shearing day, where the sheep are sheared and volunteers like myself get to help skirt the fleece (which is essentially picking out any hay or matter that is in the wool before it’s sent to the mill). I also got to stop by during lambing season and see the lambs – what a joy it is to see them frolicking around!
I feel incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon such an amazing farm that’s practically right here in my backyard. And of course, I owe a huge thank you to Mitchell Wool Co. for being so generous in sharing their time, knowledge, and farm. Their enthusiasm in sharing more about sheep and wool goes beyond yarn stores and fiber festivals and into their community – they’ve brought lambs to classrooms, hosted school field trips, and invested so much time and effort to help others like me learn. It’s been an eye-opening experience that’s given me a greater understanding and appreciation for wool.
Support Your Local Farm
If you feel inspired, try finding a local wool farm in your area! A quick Google search can help you find sheep or alpaca farms in your area to check out. You can also keep an eye out for fiber festivals in your area to get a chance to explore more local fibers.
When working with yarn from small fiber farms, you may find that each hank of yarn is as unique as the sheep itself. It is natural and normal for there to be variance from each different fiber, farm, and processing, resulting in a one-of-a-kind yarn for you to crochet with.
This pattern is designed to embrace the unique qualities of locally produced, non-superwash wool yarn by carefully choosing techniques that bring the natural characteristics together in one beautiful, harmonious piece.
Looking for more yarn options?
The Interwoven Scarf crochet pattern features three different yarn bases: Targhee, Cormo, and Farm Friends (a Finnsheep blend) from Mitchell Wool Co. While not all regions of the world are going to have a wool farm nearby, you might be surprised to find how many non-superwash wool yarns are available.
You can find a variety of non-superwash US wool from companies like Brooklyn Tweed, Quince & Co., and even this yarn from WeCrochet!
The Interwoven Scarf is a flexible pattern that will work up beautifully in DK or even worsted weight yarn of your favorite fiber. You’ll need about 230 yards of 5 different colors (1,150 yds total) for this crochet pattern.
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Ready to Make Your Own?
Get the Interwoven Scarf crochet pattern on Etsy or Ravelry! For more patterns from Woods and Wool, check out the patterns category here on the blog. And don’t forget to use the #InterwovenScarf hashtag on Instagram – I can’t wait to see your projects!