Habu Textiles Kusha Kusha Scarf
Habu Textiles creates ethereal patterns to compliment their incredible yarns. The Kusha Kusha scarf showcases Silk Stainless and Superfine Merino. Silk, merino wool, and stainless steel? That’s no typo, that is a one-of-a-kind combination! After knitting, the Kusha Kusha scarf is washed, which felts the merino wool and renders the fabric as light as a feather.
Our friends at Habu were kind enough to share the Kusha Kusha Scarf pattern with The Purl Bee!
The photo above is from Bay Area blog, Coloursknits. We always look to Coloursknits for inspiration in our knitting! Thank you Vanessa!
- Habu Textiles Super Fine Merino Wool – 1 cone, Yarn A
- Habu Textiles Silk Stainless Yarn – 2 cones, Yarn B
- Knitting Needles – US 8 (5 mm), US 6 (4 mm), US 4 (3.5 mm), US 3 (3.25 mm)
- Tapestry Needle – For Finishing
We would like to give special thanks to our friends at Habu Textiles, who have allowed us to share this pattern with you!
Shop our wonderful collection of lace-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Explanation of Schematic
Habu Textiles patterns rely on diagrams, which are a visual way to represent a knitting pattern. We know that for some of you this diagram looks less like knitting and more like a mysterious geometry lesson! Standard American directions follow below, but if you are curious about learning to read Japanese knitting diagrams, here is how you do it.
Read the diagram from the bottom up. This pattern is worked in Stockinette Stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side).
The diagram is telling us that the bottom width of the scarf is 8 inches wide and consists of 68 stitches. For this part of the scarf you will work with both yarns, A+B and US size 8 needles. Slightly up the diagram are two grey boxes with some numbers in them: 6-1-10, (-10)
This means, work 6 rows, decreasing one stitch on each end of the 6th row 10 times. This will leave you with 48 stitches. This section will be 60 rows long, and will measure approximately 9.2 inches in length, and when you are through, 5.6 inches wide. Continue on the 48 stitches with your size 8 needles for 200 rows, or 30.2 inches more (for a total of 40 inches).
At 40 inches, you will drop yarn A and continue on with only Yarn B. Switch to US size 6 needles and work 12 rows. Then switch to US size 4 needles and work 24 rows. Switch to US size 3 needles to work 94 rows (or 22 inches more) to complete the scarf. Bind off and felt scarf.
Mystery solved!
Kusha Kusha Scarf Pattern
Work enitre pattern in Stockinette Stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) beginning with a knit row.
Yarn A: Habu Textiles, Super Fine Merino
Yarn B: Habu Textiles, Silk Stainless
With US size 8 needles and yarns A + B, cast on 68 stitches.
*Work 5 rows, on the 6th row:
Purl 2 together, purl to last 2 stitches, purl 2 together.
Repeat from * 9 more times.
You will have 48 stitches.
Continue in Stockinette Stitch with US size 8 needles for 200 more rows or until piece measures approximately 40 inches long.
Switch to US size 6 needles, and drop Yarn A.
Work in Stockinette Stitch with Yarn B only for 12 rows.
Switch to US size 4 needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch for 24 rows.
Switch to US size 3 needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch for 94 rows, or for 22 more inches.
Scarf should measure approximately 62 inches long.
Cast off loosely.
Sew in ends and felt piece in soapy water by hand. Block and allow to dry.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Wow. The beige and white is lovely. I’m working on the kit now, but the photo that came with the original pattern is confusing. It looks like the center is stainless and wool while the ends of the scarf look like stainless only. According to the pattern, you knit both strands from one end and then finish with just the stainless. Right? Thanks.
Dear Stephanie,
Yes, in the pattern we’ve featured here, you knit with both strands (one merino and one stainless) for part and then switch to just one strand of the stainless all the way to the end.
I really like the laciness and lightness – but is it soft???? and wearable?
Dear Michelle,
It is soft, and it is wearable. Its not necessarily warm or cozy, but it is delicate and light, perfect for spring.
I love this scarf and really want to make it, but it seems you are out of the super fine merino. Are you planning to restock? Thanks!
Hi Kathryn,
Yes we will continue to stock this lovely yarn. If you’d like to be notified when we receive a shipment, just send an email with your request to our customer service email address (below). They’ll let you know as soon as it arrives.
customerservice@purlsoho.com
Please notify me when you have more Habu Textiles super fine merino in stock. Thanks
Dear Linda,
Please send an email with your request to our customer service email address (below). They’ll let you know as soon as it arrives.
customerservice@purlsoho.com
I just purchased the Hand Knit Works by Setsuko Torii. I love the look but cannot decipher the patterns. Is there anyone who can help?
Thank you
hi. i am wondering if you could tell me which stainless yarn you feature in the top two images? it looks like a white with a cream mohair. the only light option in stainless that i saw was lavender. are there others? thanks!
Hi Janine,
Both yarns in the photo are the off white, but it looks like we’re out of the off white stainless at the moment. If you’d like, you can email our customer service address and they will let you know when we get it back in.
You can find our customer service email form at this link:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/contact
Hope this helps!
Hi–I am ready to felt the kusha kusha scarf. Being new to felting I need a few more details. Water–how hot? soap–what kind? And how long to leave it in the water? And do I swish it around and scrunch it up or just let it sit there? And rinse in cold water? And then block? Thanks for any help you can give.
Mary Kay
Hi Mary Kay,
Warm water and handwash soap. Fill the basin and submerge the scarf. Then rub the scarf in your hands. You’ll see it begin to felt after a moment or two. Keep doing it until it is as felted as you would like. Then rinse it by soaking it in several changes of warm clear water. Block and allow to dry.
Ah I was wondering when you were going to stock Habu. Whenever I’m in New York I go out of the way to get to their shop but now I can just roll everything into one trip.
will the wool stainless felt? can the Kusha-Kusha pattern be used satisfactorily with the wool stainless as the only yarn?
Hi NJ,
The wool stainless does not felt. For this pattern the merino does felt, but the stainless does not, creating two different textures. If you wanted the entire scarf to felt you should use just the wool rather than the stainless. Hope this answers your question, but if not please let us know. Thanks! PB
I’m not able to find any kits. How much of each yarn do I need to purchase?
Thank you!!
what are the two colors used in the photo?
Hi Adrienne-
The silk stainless is white-1 available here:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2979-Habu-Textiles-Silk-Stainless
The fine merino is color 20 available here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2980-Habu-Textiles-Fine-Merino
Thanks for your question!
Can I use Habu's Silk Mohair Kusa instead? and do I still need to felt it after finishing it in that case?
thanks
Hi Margaret-
You can definitely use it but I believe that yarn is quite a bit thicker than the merino so it will be different.
You can felt it or not- it just depends what it looks like when you're done knitting.
Good luck with the project and please keep us posted!
Molly
Hello,
I just received an order of the Habu and then realized it was much much thinner than I imagined and went sewing for a pattern and have found this perfect one. However, I was wondering if there would be a better marital of needle to use: I use metal ones, but it doesn't feel right, but maybe that's because the merino is so very fine? Would it be better to use wooden or plastic needles? Does it matter?
HI Christy-
Any kind of needle should work. It's a matter of personal preference. We use metal circular needles for almost everything but if you don't like the way they feel on this particular project you might want to try wooden or plastic ones. It's up to you!
Thanks for writing in!
Molly
I love this, and am just starting the scarf, but my edges are not turning out very pretty. Stitches either get too loose and loopy or appear to knot up. Any advice as to how to handle the edge stitches? Thanks! Love, love, love this site! Katerina
Hi Katerina!
Sometimes worrying too much about the edges will actually make them look messier! Sometimes if you pull the first stitch very tight to try to tighten up the edge, it’ll get uneven. Best thing to do is just knit the edge stitch like every other stitch.
You can also use a slipped stitch selvedge like we did on our City Cape. Find the pattern here, and see the first note in the “notes” section.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
I just found this posting and i reeeeeaally want to try knitting with metal. ASAP. Can you help me pick a striking color combination? I like aegean blues but I can’t tell from the site if there is a complement here. how about the two greys? hit me.
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for the comment! For a grey color-way I would take a look at the Silk Stainless in Top Grey and the Superfine Merino in Light Grey. For a blue color-way I would hold the Silk Stainless in Ocean blue and the Superfine Merino in Sky Blue. The Superfine Merino in Navy held with the Ocean Blue could also be really striking with a little more contrast of color. The whole palette looks really nice together so feel free to mix it up! You can browse the color selection for both of the yarns on our website here;
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2979
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2980
I hope this helps and feel free to respond if you’d like anymore suggestions!
Good Luck!
Jake