Airy Yet Warm - Free Knit Scarf Pattern

I can't believe that I am saying this, but we are fortunate to have the four seasons in this part of the country where I live. So it is inevitable that it will change from summer to winter in the very near future. I am not a fan of the hot, hot nor the cold, cold.


Guess what? It's time to think about that accent piece that brings in the color and style for this fall. If you haven't read my post on July 3rd, then you can go back to it and get the links to the 2010 fall fashion trends. You can get on board with this red bulky knitted scarf pattern.


The scarf that I am featuring will put you in style for the fall. It is in the color red, which is one of the main colors for this coming season. I made it with large needles, two strands of yarn which made it bulky, and it is a longer length and that is another feature for this fall.


This pattern uses three different pattern stitches; seed stitch, stockinette stitch, and openwork stitch. It is great for all levels, but especially for those that have not as of yet stepped out of their comfort zone and mixed pattern stitches or are unfamiliar with these pattern stitches.

The seed stitch pattern is used at the bottom and top of the scarf, as well as the beginning and end of each row to prevent the scarf from curling in. The curling occurs when you only use stockinette stitch with no border. The seed stitch pattern is also a very nice decorative stitch.

Materials:
2 - 8oz skeins of worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver) or 8 oz of bulky weight yarn

1 pair of size US 15 needles

Stitch markers (optional - can be used between the border stitches and the main body of the scarf to remind you to begin row and end row with 4 stitches in seed stitch pattern)

Size shown: approx. 11 1/2 x 66

Stitch Pattern Guide:

Seed Stitch Pattern

This is a pattern stitch that you switch between a knit stitch and purl stitch. On the next row you do the opposite stitch that you see on the row below. The seed stitch can be worked on either odd or even number of stitches. For both the top and bottom borders of the scarf pattern, the seed stitch is worked across the entire row of an even number of stitches. Because I am using a couple of stitch patterns together in the body of the scarf, the seed stitch will not come out the same for an even number count. This is one of those exception to the rule. If you go by the pattern that I wrote you will be fine.

Any odd number

Row 1: k1, * p1, k1; rep from *
Rep this row.

Any even number

Row 1: *k1, p1; rep from *
Row 2: *p1, k1; rep from *

Stockinette Stitch
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl

Abbreviations:
co - cast on
k - knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
yf - yarn forward
bo - bind off
RS - right side
WS - wrong side

Gauge: not necessary for this project

Definitions:

Bind off in pattern - when you are using a specific stitch pattern (in this case the seed stitch pattern), you bind off using the sequence given for the pattern stitch.

Yarn forward - move the working yarn to the front of the work, such as to work a purl stitch

Directions:

Using two strands (if you are using worsted weight, if not one strand of bulky yarn)

CO 26 (I used the long tail cast on)

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1* repeat from *.* ending with p1
Row 2 (WS): *p1, k1,* repeat from *.* ending with k1

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 8 rows total and ending on a wrong side row. This completes the bottom border.

Body of Scarf:

(Note: the first 4 stitches and the last 4 stitches on each row will be the seed stitch pattern and you can mark the two places with stitch markers)

Row 9 (RS): k1, p1, k1, p1, k across to the last 4 stitches, k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 10 (WS): p1, k1, p1, k1, p across to the last 4 stitches, p1, k1, p1, k1 (this is a combination of the seed stitch pattern for border stitches and stockinette stitch for middle of scarf)

Repeat rows 9 and 10 three more times giving you a total of 8 rows

Note: on the next row you will start using the openwork stitch

Row 17 (RS): k1, p1, k1, p1, yarn forward (the yarn is already where it needs to be since your last stitch was a purl stitch),k2tog, *yf, k2tog*, repeat from *.* to last 4 stitches, k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 18 (WS): p1, k1, p1, k1, p to last 4 stitches, p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 19 (RS): k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, *yf, k2tog repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1 (note: the last 5 stitches includes the last stitch before the stitch marker and the 4 stitches after the stitch marker that make up the side border)

Row 20 (WS): p1, k1, p1, k1, p to last 4 stitches, p1, k1, p1, k1

(note: Be aware that when starting the diagonal openwork stitch on row 17 it starts with yarn forward and row 19 starts and ends with k1. This shifts the stitches over one to make the diagonal stitch. I am only talking about the diagonal stitch pattern and this does not include the 4 stitches on either end for the side border. They remain throughout as the seed stitch pattern.)

Repeat rows 17 thru 20 once more. This is a total of 8 rows of the openwork stitch pattern.

For the rest of the scarf pattern you will be alternating between 8 rows total of rows 9 and 10, switching to rows 17 thru 20 repeating once more to equal 8 rows.

This scarf can be made in any length. But if you would like it to match the beginning of the scarf, then end with the 8 rows total of rows 9 and 10.

Note: Use the picture as your guide as to how the pattern should look.

When you have come to the length of the scarf that you desire, or the length that I used, you will repeat rows 1 - 8 of the seed stitch pattern to end scarf for your top border. This is worked the same as the bottom border.

Bind off in pattern (see definitions).

Finishing:

Weave in ends.

Any questions please feel free to write a comment.

Enjoy

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