Pattern: Eton’s Scarf
Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% wool yarn; worsted/10 ply)
Needles: Size 8 (5mm)
Dimensions: Appox 5′ long and 6″ wide.
Cast on 36 stitches. You can make it narrower/wider by using a number divisible by 4.
* For a cleaner edge, slip the first stitch of every row *
Row 1&2: (K2, P2) – repeat til end of row.
Row 3&4: (P2, K2) – repeat til end of row.
Repeat til happy with length of scarf.
Pretty simple, eh? It makes for some great train knitting while listening to music and/or podcasts.
P.S. Thank you to everyone out there who’s been reading my blog this year. You guys definitely keep me writing – it’s nice to know you’re not writing into the ether…
Addendum: It took me a month to finish this scarf since I put it down and picked it up several times. Otherwise, it should take no longer than a week or two – depends on your knitting speed.
Addendum #2: For a cool looking chunky cowl with this pattern, you can double up 2 worsted yarns (creates a nice marble pattern) with size 15 needles. You can knit it flat and sew up or crochet the edges together.
Hi! So, since I need to slip the first stitch, should I cast on 37 stitches?!?
no, you cast on 36 stitches and slip the first stitch, K1, P2, K2, P2, and so on. Hope that clear it up :)
I made this scarf last year and loved it. But now I cannot remember what I did–if I slip the first stitch does that mean I am slipping the first stitch, then K1, P2, then continue with the K2P2? So..SL1, K1, (P2K2) to end?
Hi Jen, should I always slip my first stich knitwise? Thanks!
Yep!
Am a brand new knitter an this will be my first project! Wish me well! Making one for my husband in charcoal gray and one for myself in a beautiful blue. Plan on making mine a little wider and a little wider. Love the look when it drapes. Besides the divisible by 4 rule is there anything else I should know?
Nope! I would suggest slipping the first stitch of every row for a smooth seam. I should update the pattern with that note. Happy knitting :)
I’m just about to bind off on this scarf. Really love the pattern. There were times when I wasn’t sure what row I was on, but looking at what side the “tail” was on, helped determine the row.
I just use a simple ribbed bind off – so purl 2 and knit 2 as you were in the previous row. Except binding off after every stitch. Hope that helps!
Do you have any guidance toward a hat pattern that would match up?
I am a beginner and gave myself a 2015 resolution to make some hats and have now done two. They look OK. Once I feel more confident about making them I’d like to make a hat to match my Eton’s scarf but the yarn I used for that scarf was fairly expensive. I’m practicing with other yarns.
This is a great scarf to do while watching TV as it doesn’t require tremendous concentration. And yet it turns out so pretty!
Thank you so much.
Hey Patti! Thanks for the comment. I don’t currently have any hat patterns but it’s a great idea for a future post! I will definitely start thinking of something soon :) In the meantime, I’d suggest looking at Purl Soho’s blog – they have some pretty simple beginner hats that I’ve loved making again and again. The slouchy one is my favorite.
I am knitting this scarf, and really like the pattern. For some reason it is 8 inches wide, but that’s fine. May be the yarn. I have been slipping the first stitch, but the two edges do not match. Went on YouTube and found there is another step. Not really noticeable so I will just continue on. I like the concept, and will do it properly next time. Thank you for the pattern.
Oh sorry it’s giving you a weird edge! What’s the other step? I’d like to know so I can try it out and modify the pattern if need be :)
According to YouTube, if you are slipping the stitch knitwise, then when you get to the last stitch, you would purl. If you’re slipping the stitch purlwise, then you would knit the last stitch. YouTube explains it much better. Maybe I wasn’t slipping properly. On rows 1 and 2, I was slipping knitwise, and rows 3 and 4, purlwise. Anyway, one side has the nice edge and the other just has a normal looking edge. No one will notice. You just see the beautiful pattern. Thank you.
What will happen if I use a larger needle?
Beginner and am limited with my needle size right now. Love the pattern!
Thanks!!
If you use larger needles, you should adjust the number of stitches you work with. Just use a smaller number of stitches that’s divisible by 4. The pattern is easily adjustable so you can make it wider or narrower based on preference!
The scarf in the photo is beautiful, but it clearly isn’t just 2×2 rib stitch which is what the pattern says to do. Am I missing something? thanks!
It’s not a ribbed stitch – it’s an alternating 2×2 pattern which are just really small basketweave boxes :)
Fabulous pattern, quick and easy for those impulse 1 skein purchases. Thank you so much for sharing. (found this on Pinterest)
Susie
I’m assuming from the photo of the scarf that you start with a rib stitch and THEN begin the pattern. The instructions for the rib stitch is not indicated on the pattern. A beginner may not understand this. I’m definitely gonna try this.
Hey Karine,
Thank you for the nice message. Glad it’s helpful – it makes a good beginner’s scarf since the stitches are simple but it makes a nicer scarf than garter ;)
Hah, not sure how you increased stitches but as long as it looks ok! The “9x” bit is just so you repeat the 4 stitches 9 times for 36 stitches total across. I should edit it so it’s just “repeat til end”.
Hi Jen
Thank you for this lovely scarf :)
I have been looking for a long time to find a ‘easy to knit’ nice scarf pattern as it is my first serious piece of work.
Because I am a beginner, I got up from 36 to 40 stiches (I dont know how!!) but still , I am 1/3 though and it looks really nice.
Many thanks again
ps: did not follow the *9 because I dont understand this bit. I have been doing row 1/2 then 3/4 alternatively.
Karine
Hi, Jen! I just found this beautiful scarf through Ravelry – my mother is quite picky about knits but she was admiring a scarf in a “waffle” pattern recently and I think this will look a little like that!
She likes quite wide scarves – so I was thinking I would try for about 8 inches wide instead; I’m going to swatch it and see how wide my gauge is for your pattern. I’ll report back!
One question, though. I’m driven batty by curling and have found that blocking only goes so far when it comes to scarves. Does this pattern lead to curl at all? It seems like it wouldn’t – a nice even distribution of k/p – but you never know!
Cheers,
Krissa
Hey Krissa, thanks for stopping by and leaving a note! The scarf doesn’t curl at all so you’ll be safe with this pattern. Hope you post it on Ravelry so I can see the results! :)
When you say size 8 needles do you mean 8mm or something else.
Oh, sorry about that. I mean size US 8 needles which are 5mm :)
Do you think this would work as a baby blanket? I’m thinking to make it around 36″ wide by 42″ long using 29″ circular needles and a medium weight baby brushed acrylic. Do you think it might look nicer to use a larger needle size and two strands worked together? Do you think I should add a side edging, and if so do you have any recommendations?
Thanks, I love the look of this pattern, but I need to make some baby blankets so I’d like to adapt it.
I have made scarves with 2 and even 3 strands of yarn with bigger needles and it looks really good. I used off white cotton/wool blend, medium brown acrylic, and dark brown alpaca yarns and it creates a really nice mix of textures that are both warm and soft on the skin (without killing your wallet). Which colors are you thinking of using? For a blanket, I think side edging is a good idea. You could add a yarn over and to create loops and sew ribbon through the loops :) Or if you know how to crochet, a nice scallop edge would be nice.
It’s very nice. Thanks
I promised myself that I can start making this scarf after I finish an application essay! Thanks for the motivation!
Glad to be of help :)
Hey Jen. I am trying to make this scarf & having trouble with the pattern. Your beginning stitches look different than the main body of the scarf. I don’t know what I’m doing (and I know you can’t help me over the internet haha) but my scarf was looking like the main body of your scarf, but then it took on the look of what the first few rows of your scarf looked like. I ripped it all out!!!! I am trying to go back & start again using your instructions. I guess my question is why the difference in the beginning of your scarf with the main body of your scarf. The beginning looks like edging that someone would use on the bottom of a sweater and the main body looks like little “bubbles” or diagonal pattern?
Hey Tina,
I start off with a regular cast on method so it’s not anything fancy. You’re right – the cast on row does create a sort of “edge” at the bottom. The rest of the body does have the impression of little “bubbles” so you were probably on the right track. Start again and take a photo and you can link to it – I’ll take a look and see if there’s anything I can help with :)
Thank so much. I did start again & will send a picture when I get far enough.
when you say Row 1&2 (K2,P2) 9x – this means 9 groups of K2P2, right?
and then after Row 3&4
you have repeat until happy with length
so this means repeat row 1&2 and then do row 3&4 and then do row 1&2 and then row 3&4 over and over??
sorry – but I’m new to this and just wondering?? Right now I’m practicing learning the purl stitch & switching –
so you comment here or to my email??
Hey Cynthia, good question. Yes, (K2, P2) 9x is 9 groups of K2P2 for a total of 36 stitches which is the total number of stitches you’re working with.
Yep, the pattern is really that simple – repeat 1&2 and then 3&4 to create the little ‘boxes’ for the checkerboard pattern. You can make it a short cowl and attach the ends with buttons or you could crochet it together. The more common option is to make a longer scarf – to whatever length you’d like. Hope that helps!
Will this work well with bulkier wool, too? Or do you think the pattern will get lost
It looks great with bulkier wool. You’d just have to adjust the number of stitches to get the right gauge.
about how many skeins of yarn are needed for this project?
It’s a little over 200 yards so I’d recommend 2 skeins.
Beautiful scarf! Thanks for sharing! Is there a a rib pattern for the first couple of stitches? It looks that way in the photograph. Thank you!
The ribbing is due to the cast on row and the first 2 rows of the pattern – it just naturally looks like it’s ribbed. If you want a more defined ribbing in the beginning and end, you could add a few extra rows.
And thank you :)
This is nice!!!
thanks :)