With an itch to make a scarf, I found myself happily lost in the pages of Barbara Walker’s seminal “Treasuries” of stitch patterns. Intrigued by the rhythms and possibilities of her slip stitch patterns, I think I tried them all. And then I finally combined a couple, a bit of Woven Stitch and a dash of Linen Stitch and voila, a reversible stripe!

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

This magical world of slip stitches has me firmly in its clutches. How else could there be a simple knit fabric with so much complexity and fascination?!? One side of this stitch pattern is smooth and flat, seemingly woven, with impeccably thin horizontal pinstripes; while the other side is textured in deep, hearty ridges, running in vertical stripes like a knotted tweed.

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

When wrapped, folded, and tucked around your neck, this scarf is delightfully dizzying! It achieves all I hoped for and more. No curled edges and two sides that aren’t just both presentable, but whose contrast in pattern and texture actually enliven and complement one another.

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

In the spirit of the love and generosity of Valentine’s Day, I knit up my scarf in Jade Sapphire’s unparalleled Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere. An elegant yarn for a timeless scarf,  it is amazingly soft and toasty warm. If only I had the heart to actually give it away! -Laura

Update: New Yarn + New Size

October 2013

Pictured below is a new version of the Reversible Stripes Scarf using a combination of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere and Alchemy’s Kozmos, a wonderfully complex yarn that adds texture and shine.

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

I followed the original pattern (below) with one modification: a cast on of 55 stitches, resulting in a more generous finished dimension of 9 inches wide x 92 inches long. -Laura

Update: New Yarn in Original Size

September 2017
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In an opposites-attract spirit, we used two very different Purl Soho yarns to knit up a new Reversible Stripes Scarf. Our gorgeous new Season Alpaca gives this scarf the kind of coziness that feels so good against your neck, while our classic Mulberry Merino (NOTE: No longer available.) brings understated luster and smooth warmth. For more pictures and our new bundle options, visit the Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns post! -Laura

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoReversibleStripesScarf. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

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For the new version (left)…

  • Yarn A: 4 skeins of Alchemy’s Kozmos, 30% silk, 26% mohair, 15% wool, 31% cotton, in the color Silver.
  • Yarn B: 3 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere,100% Mongolian Cashmere, in the color Ivory.

Or for the original (right)…

  • Yarn A: 2 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian Cashmere, in the color Pewter.
  • Yarn B: 2 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian Cashmere, in the color Ivory.

Pictured below are swatches of nine additional available colorways, each using 2 colors of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 Ply Cashmere…

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho
  • Top Row, from left: Silver Fox (Color A) + Pewter (Color B), Silver Pearl + Cousin Coral, Pink Panther + Silver Pearl
  • Middle Row, from left: Ivory + Pink Panther, Ivory + Silver Pearl, Pewter + Silver Pearl
  • Bottom Row, from left: Ivory + Cousin Coral, Silver Pearl + Silver Fox, Cousin Coral + Pink Panther

You will also need:

Gauge

24 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern

Size

  • New Scarf (6 Ply Cashmere + Kozmos): 9 inches wide x 92 inches long
  • Original Scarf (all 6 Ply cashmere): 8 inches wide by 72 inches long
  • Swatches: 3½ inches square

Notes

If you would like to adjust this pattern for a different width, simply cast on any odd number of stitches.

Slip stitches purlwise.

Each row in this pattern starts with the instructions to either “Turn” or “Slide” the work:

  • “Turning the work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with a circular needle. That is to say, put the needle in your left hand into your right and the needle in your right hand into your left, and flip the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
  • “Sliding the work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needle. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.

You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is magically there waiting for you! For extra help, check out our Reversible Stripes Stitch video tutorial!

Swatch

With Yarn A, cast on 23 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 2¾ inches.

Repeat Rows 1-3.

In Yarn A, bind off knitwise.

Pattern

With Yarn A, cast on 49 stitches (or 55 stitches for the 6 Ply/ Kozmos version). We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (wrong side): Turn, and slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif). With Yarn B, *p1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to end.

Row 2 (wrong side): Slide, and with Yarn A, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Row 3 (right side): Turn, and slip 1 wyib. With Yarn B, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to end.

Row 4 (right side): Slide, and with Yarn A, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measure 71¼ inches (or 91¼ inches for the 6 Ply / Kozmos version).

Repeat Rows 1-3.

FINISHING

With Yarn A, bind off knitwise.

Weave in ends and gently wet block your finished piece.

Reversible Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho