Zebras on the Serengeti Scarf

Designer Carla Jeanne Hubbart delights in the freedom and spontaneity of asymmetric designs. In this scarf, she was inspired by the natural beauty that her daughter and son-in-law experienced on their honeymoon safari, and by the first animals they saw—zebras, of course!

Zebras on the Serengeti Scarf by Carla Jeanne Hubbart

I find asymmetric design quite freeing and spontaneous. I enjoy the balanced randomness and lack of preciseness of asymmetry, so it often shows up when I warp a loom. During the actual weaving of this piece, I did not feel compelled to simply repeat the same pattern at the other end of the scarf. Asymmetric design in both directions is a win/win for me!

Nature itself, never 100 percent symmetrical, also contributed to the design of this piece. The Serengeti was green at the end of the rainy season when my daughter and son-in-law went on safari for their honeymoon. The first animals they saw were zebras—her favorite!

If the Serengeti or zebras aren’t your thing, this design works quite nicely in other color combinations. Pick a handpainted fingering-weight yarn in your favorite color and combine it with either black and white or two other contrasting colors for the pattern design.

Carla‘s scarf was inspired by zebras and the colors of the Serengeti at the end of the rainy season.

Project at a Glance and PDF Download

Visit the Handwoven library or log in below to access the PDF download for the Zebras on the Serengeti scarf, available to Handwoven magazine subscribers.

STRUCTURE Plain weave with color-and-weave.
EQUIPMENT Rigid-heddle loom, 15" weaving width; 12-dent heddle; 3 shuttles.
YARNS
Warp: La Jolla (100% superwash merino wool; 400 yd/115 g; Baah Yarn), Serengeti Sunset, 345 yd; Black Pearl and La Perla, 63 yd each.
Weft: Weft: La Jolla, Serengeti Sunset, 240 yd; Black Pearl and La Perla, 85 yd each. Note: Serengeti Sunset has been discontinued. Choose another handpainted fingering-weight yarn as a substitute, such as La Jolla Sea‘s the Day or Mountain Meadow, both from Baah Yarn.
Other supplies: Fringe twister (optional); Eucalan or other no-rinse wash.