Beginners will find this scarf is an ideal learn-to-knit project. Working in rib stripes is great for practicing both knit and purl, and it helps the work grow quickly. Experienced knitters will appreciate the opportunity to use up leftover yarns. Leave long yarn ends; then knot and trim the ends to make a fringe along one long edge of the scarf.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The scarf took 14 hours to knit.
SIZE
Width: 6 in. (15 cm) excluding tassels; length: 63 in. (160 cm).
YOU WILL NEED
• 250 g (approx. 9 oz.) total weight of wool or wool mix-DK in as many shades as you can find of pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue (including indigo), and purple.
• pair of size US 5 (3¾ mm) knitting needles
GAUGE
26 sts and 26 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over rib, when pressed, on size US 5 (3¾ mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
cont = continue; k = knit; patt = pattern; p = purl; RS = right side; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTES
• Each 4-row stripe uses 2 shades of each color, changed at random for each 28-row repeat.
• Use as many shades of each color as you can find. Sort the yarns into the 7 color groups and select a different shade for each two-row stripe.
• When changing colors, leave ends of around 6 in. (15 cm).
SCARF
Using green, cast on 40 sts. K2 rows.
Row 1 (RS) K3, [p4, k2] to last st, k1.
Row 2 P3, [k4, p2] to last st, p1.
These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib, working 2 more rows in another shade of green, then work: 2 rows in yellow, 2 rows in another shade of yellow,
2 rows in orange, 2 rows in another shade of orange,
2 rows in red, 2 rows in another shade of red,
2 rows in pink, 2 rows in another shade of pink,
2 rows in purple, 2 rows in another shade of purple,
2 rows in indigo, 2 rows in blue,
2 rows in green, 2 rows in another shade of green.
These 28 rows form the patt. Changing shades with each repeat, as desired, cont until scarf measures 63 in. (160 cm). Cont in same color as last stripe, k 1 row.
Bind off knitwise.
TO FINISH
For each tassel, cut an 8-in. (20-cm) length of yarn in an appropriate color. Make a slip knot in the center. Take 4 ends of yarn from the edge of the scarf, slide the slip knot over the ends and up close to the edge of the scarf. Tighten the knot; then using all 6 ends, tie an overhand knot close to the edge of the scarf to make a tassel. Repeat until all ends are secured. Trim the tassels to the same length. Press scarf.
TIPS
• Although DK-weight yarns from different sources are theoretically the same, the actual thickness will vary from brand to brand. In a project like this, slight variations in thickness won’t matter.
• It is essential to use yarns with the same or similar fiber content. Wool and wool-mix yarns are suggested, so the scarf can be pressed to open out the rib.
• You could work the scarf in stripes just two colors, but remember to cut the yarn, leaving a long end each time you change colors to make the fringe.
If you don’t have all the colors, swap yarns with friends or use a hank of tapestry yarn.
