Men’s Mini Herringbone Scarf
I have accumulated quite a bit of neckwear over the years. Some bright, some bulky, some sleek, lots ecru, but hands-down, what earns me the most compliments is my Big Herringbone Cowl, scooped off these pages of the Purl Bee!
It is undeniably wonderful. After making one for myself, I was hooked on herringbone. It creates a flat, woven-like fabric on one side while remaining quite lofty and full on the other. It has a fascinating texture with a hypnotizing rhythm, and its drape is just beautiful. Considering this unique combination of characteristics, I had to have more herringbone!
My scarf counterpart to Whitney’s cowl showcases a mini-herringbone pattern, bordered by slip stitch rib edges. To highlight the timelessness of herringbone, I knit this scarf with Swan’s Island Worsted, a sumptuously soft organic wool inspired by the rugged traditions of coastal knitting. I hope you find this pattern as classic and handsome as Whitney’s cowl is modern and chic!
Update: New Yarn
October 27, 2017
A little bit bigger than our original version, this one also gets a yarn update. We knit it up in our unspeakably soft Understory, a baby alpaca, baby yak and silk blend, here in the rich and juicy color Ripe Plum. It also has new selvage stitches, as well as an accompanying all-new Mini Herringbone video tutorial that shows you how it’s done!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMensMiniHerringboneCowl. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Swan’s Island’s Worsted. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 500 yards required. I used the color Oatmeal. (NOTE: We no longer offer Swan’s Island’s Worsted, but choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
- US 10 (6 mm), straight or circular needles
Gauge
30 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: 7½ inches wide x 62 inches long
Notes
Slipped Stitches
All slipped stitches are to be slipped purl-wise.
Mini Herringbone Stitch
For more help with this stitch pattern, check out our video tutorial, above!
Pattern
Cast on 55 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 wyif (with yarn in front), p1, k1, * p2tog and leave stitches on needle, purl the first stitch again and drop both stitches together from left-hand needle, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p1, k1, p2.
Row 2: Slip 1 wyib (with yarn in back), k1, p1, * slip 1 with yarn in back, k1, then with left-hand needle raise up the slipped stitch as if to bind off but before dropping off right-hand needle, knit it and then drop from needle, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k1, p1, k2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 row until scarf measures approximately 61 1/2 inches or until desired length. Repeat Row 1 once more.Bind off in pattern with RS facing. To do that… once you have bound off the three selvage stitches and are working the Mini-Herringbone stitch pattern, instead of knitting the slipped stitch as you slip it up and off the right-hand needle, as you have done previously, just drop the slipped stitch of the right-hand needle without knitting it.
Here is a video that goes through the bind off step by step…
Weave in your ends and block if desired.
Hi, I’m knitting this in the For Better or Worsted in the color Aspen which is a beautiful color using a size 10 needle. However…..I have tried multiple times to get a tight edge pulling the yarn tight but it still is very loose and has holes. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Christine,
Thank you for the question. Because you are knitting with such a smooth worsted yarn on a US 10, you might have to tighten up your tension on the selvedge stitches. To do this you’ll knit and purl but pull upward after each stitch to tighten the stitch on the needle. If this doesn’t work, you might want to consider moving down to a US 9. I hope this helps. Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
I’m somewhat confused about the gauge on this scarf of 7.5 inches per inch. I’m using the recommended Swans Island Worsted, which is listed as 4.5 stitches per inch on US8 needles. So, if I go up to US10, shouldn’t I get less stitches per inch and not the pattern’s gauge of 7.5 inches per inch?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I see where the confusion so happening. The gauge on this scarf if given in stitch pattern and this stitch pattern is quite dense. Therefore the given gauge will be significantly different than the gauge of the yarn. I would suggest knitting up a gauge swatch in pattern and then checking your gauge for this project.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I’m somewhat confused about the gauge on this scarf of 7.5 inches per inch. I’m using the recommended Swans Island Worsted, which is listed as 4.5 stitches per inch on US8 needles. So, if I go up to US10, shouldn’t I get less stitches per inch and not the pattern’s gauge of 7.5 inches per inch?
Hi Donna,
The herringbone stitch is very, very dense. This means that even on a larger needle you’ll get way more stitches per inch. Let me know if you have any other questions — I’d be glad to help.
-Adam
Hi – I’m a new beginner, and excited to do something that looks complicated! I’m wondering if there are any video recommendations that demonstrate the written instructions. I’m having a hard time understanding them in written form. I’d like to knit this scarf as a gift and want to do a good job of it. Thanks!
Hello Shannon!
Thank you for writing in! Unfortunately we do not at this time have a video tutorial for the Herringbone stitch. I recommend checking out our pattern for the Big Herringbone Cowl for some images of this stitch. Also, a quick internet search of “Herringbone Knit Stitch” is sure to send some videos your way. I hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I am currently working on this scarf pattern. I LOVE IT! It’s gorgeous!! But for some reason, the scarf is tilted.. I’m trying my best to keep the same pressure of hold while kitting but for some reason it is pretty badly tilted.. is it because I am using circular needle instead of straight one? Is there any way to fix it? Please help me!!
Hi Rob,
Thanks for writing us! Sorry this pattern is giving you trouble. I am not sure why your scarf is coming out tilted. It is hard to tell without seeing the scarf in person. Does the stitch look correct? I would do another swatch on the side and see if you get the same results. Let me know how it goes!
-Adam
hello- I am in the process of making this mini herringbone scarf and I must say it has been very fun and exciting process.
but I am slightly confused since my scarf pattern seems… tilted.
the whole scarf is off shape. its not straight..
I am trying to use same pressure all around as I knit, and seems like I am knitting it correctly so I am confused as to why it is tilted..
is this something that can be fixed? or do I need to start the whole thing again..?
is this because I am using circular needle by any chance?
Please help me!! i wanted to knit this to give as a gift so I want it to look perfect.. 🙂
Thank you in advance!
Hi Rob,
Thanks for writing us! Sorry this pattern is giving you trouble. I am not sure why your scarf is coming out tilted. It is hard to tell without seeing the scarf in person. Does the stitch look correct? I would do a swatch on the side and see if you get the same results. Let me know how it goes!
Best,
Cassy
I was given some beautiful Folio yarn for Christmas and would like to knit this scarf for myself. However, the yarn calls for size 5 needles. Would this be an impossible task? What adjustments would I need to make?
John
Hello John,
Thanks for your question! To knit this scarf with size 5 needles all you will need to do is knit a gauge swatch in the stitch pattern to find out how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you have this number you can figure out how many stitches to cast on to achieve your desired width. You will want to be sure to cast on an odd number. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi there. I have some Hometown USA super chunky that I’m hoping to use for this. Just wondering if it will work, and any suggestions on needle size would be much appreciated.
Hello Sue,
Thanks for writing in!
This scarf was knit with a worsted weight yarn so you will not be able to achieve gauge with a super chunky yarn. If you don’t mind this scarf coming out wider I would try knitting with a US 15. If you would like your scarf to come out with a width of 7 1/2″ you can knit a gauge swatch in the stitch pattern to find out how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you have this number you can figure out how many stitches to cast on to achieve your desired width. You will want to be sure to cast on an odd number. I hope this helps!
-Marilla
I notice that Swan’s Island Worsted is no longer available front Purl Soho. Is there another yarn you would recommend for this project?
Hello Meara,
Thanks for reaching out! This scarf would be beautiful in our Worsted Twist and will knit up to the same gauge.
I hope this helps!
-Marilla
Hi! I just had a quick comment about slipping of stitches. The directions say to slip as if to purl – should I slip as if to purl with the yarn in front or just slip as if to purl with the yarn in back? I’ve done both depending on the pattern and wanted to check 🙂
Thanks again!
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for writing in! One row 1 you will slip with yarn in front and row 2 you will slip the yarn in the back. You can also view the video above if you are more of a visual learner. I find that it helps make this pattern fly by!
Best,
Cassy
I love this pattern! I’m trying to create a blanket but I’m not sure how many stitches to start with?
Hi Angella,
What a lovely idea! The cast on number will depend on how large you would like to make your blanket. The gauge for this pattern is 7 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in stitch pattern and the pattern works over an odd number of stitches. So if you would like your blanket to be 40 inches wide, 7.5 x 40 = 300 and the nearest odd number is 301. Based on this, for a 40 inch wide blanket, you would cast on 301 stitches.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
What cast on method did you use?
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely scarf we used the long tail cast on. Our tutorial for this cast on can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2006/09/29/long-tail-cast-on/
For most of our patterns, unless otherwise noted, we use the long tail cast on!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Beautiful pattern! I noticed the Swan’s Island is out now. What is the total yardage needed for this? Thanks
Hi Grace,
Thanks for writing in! Sadly we do not carry Swan’s Island anymore. For this lovely scarf you will need approximately 500 yards of an Worsted to Aran weight yarn!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Can you do a video of the actual stitch, not just the bind off? Other videos are not this stitch. I have ripped it apart 6 times because it has ugly holes between stitches and knit in the back or the front on the S1 K1 slip knit……? Vague instructions for a beginning knitter. The bind off is useless without the actual stitch. The cowl and hat are nothing like this pattern either. Searched this entire site to get no assistance in this scarf.
Super excited to make my son a scarf for Christmas, but feel like throwing it all in the trash and buying something already made instead.
Hi Renee,
Thanks for writing in! You are in luck! We just relaunched this pattern using our new yarn Understory and with it, we made a video of the stitch. It can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/mini-herringbone/
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Cassy
p1, k1, * p2tog and leave stitches on needle,
I don’t understand this part . what are referring to by these abbreviation ? please explain ..
and is there any difference between the normal herringbone stich and this one ..what I did is ,I casted 55 stich and row 1 was getting 2 stiches on the needle with yarn in back and yarn over and pull through and then slip one stich . and the second row is purl 2 stiches with yarn in front and yarn over and pull through then slip one stich and here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eP7WRR5M4Q&t=208s
Hi Noor,
Thanks for writing in! We just relaunched this pattern and with it we made a video of the stitch. It can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/mini-herringbone/ I think that watching the video may clear things up for you! In this newer version, we did alter the edge stitches a bit and perhaps this pattern will work better for you. It can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2017/10/27/mini-herringbone-scarf-in-understory/
Best,
Cassy
I am so excited to try this scarf! Thank you very much for all the information on how to knit it, and for the video you just posted, showing the repeats on the right and wrong sides! Suddenly the instructions became clear!
This is such a lovely scarf; I think it would be perfect for my very fussy adult son. However, I can’t find the original pattern for the Men’s Version. I would like to do that one because I know he would prefer the selvedge edge on that original version. All I can find is the updated version, with a different edge. Can you direct me to the original Men’s pattern? Thank you!
Hi Barbara,
Here’s the like to the original pattern!
Men’s Mini Herringbone Scarf
Enjoy!
Carly
Perfect — thank you so much!
BB
I love the herringbone scarf, but…my fabric has a definite bias type lean. I think this is the same problem that Rob referred to earlier this year. I am using two strands of worsted and knitting on a size ten circular needle. I have started and restarted this project several times, and the fabric always develops this bias type lean. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Liz,
Thanks for writing in! Bias can happen on this very compact stitch pattern when you are knitting more tightly than you are purling or vice versa. It may also be due to using needles that are too small for this very compact stitch pattern. Here we are using worsted weight held single and a US 10. If you are holding 2 strands of worsted weight, you may need to go us as large as a US 15 or 17 to get a fabric that matches what we have here. I’d suggest going down to 1 strand of worsted weight and your US 10 needles and see if you get a better result!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hello, what Cashmere yarn would you suggest for this pattern?
Hello Mrs K,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this scarf would be beautiful in Jade Sapphire’s 6 ply Cashmere. You would need 4 of these skeins to complete this scarf. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I am new to knitting and wondering if there is a video that walks through the steps so I can see how it is done. I unfortunately don’t understand the terminology used in the instructions but would love to try to make it.
Hello Bira,
Thank you for reaching out and your interest in this project! Here is a link to a video tutorial we made for this project: .
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I just started knitting a scarf using this stitch and it’s also coming out tilted! Since there’s a little stripe pattern on each end it really shows and doesn’t look good at all, is there a way I can avoid it? I’m using chunky yarn and 6mm needles and never usually have this problem with that combination of sizes!
Hello Han,
Thank you for writing us! Bias can happen on this very compact stitch pattern when you are knitting more tightly than you are purling or vice versa. It may also be due to using needles that are too small for this very compact stitch pattern. Here we are using a light worsted weight held single with a 6mm/US10. If you are using a chunky weight, you may need to go us as large as a 9mm or 10mm to get a fabric that matches what we have here.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I was wondering if you had any advice on how to weave in the ends of the Men’s Herringbone Scarf, the original pattern not the updated. I grew up knitting, however my great gran always wove in my ends for me; she loved to particularly after arthritis made it too challenging to knit a whole project. She’s no longer here to share her technique with me so any advice would be helpful.
Thanks so much,
Kathleen
Hello Kathleen,
Thank you for reaching out! The key to weaving in your ends is really to follow your original stitch pattern as you go. There are many ways to do this and everyone has their preferred methods. For a more in depth discussion on how to weave in your ends check out our tutorial on weaving in ends.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hello! I’m planning to knit this pattern with a DK weight. If I knit double, what needle size would you suggest? Same question if I were to knit single with DK weight. The suggested needle size for my yarn is US 4. Thank you!
I’m knitting with Sugar Baby Alpaca by Woold and the Gang
Hi Lindsay,
Thank you for your question! I would recommend doing a gauge swatch on the needles recommended in the pattern to start. Everyones gauge is a little different so keep swatching with different needles until you find the correct size.
Best,
Carly
Can I use this pattern for a colour block scarf?
Hi Linda,
You can do color blocks or stripes in the herringbone stitch; however, there will be a little “wiggle” along each color change instead of a straight line. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not sure if that’s the look you are going for! I would recommend trying it out in a small swatch first to see if you like to look of color changes in the Herringbone stitch.
Thanks for your question!
Julianna
I’m wondering what the formula is to cast on a larger number for a wider piece. I checked the Big Herringbone Cowl pattern and didn’t see any notation there for casting on an even or odd number or multiples of 3 or whatever.
Do you have any information on this?
Hello Lee,
Thank you for reaching out! The mini Herringbone is worked over any odd number greater than 5.
Warmly,
Marilla
I’m confused. when row 1 says purl the first stitch again, which is the first stitch? the left one or the right?
Hello Gabriel,
Thank you for writing us! With your row facing you the first stitch refers to the stitch on the right or the stitch that is closest to the end of your left needle.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I LOVE THIS PATTERN/scarf. the cast on edge is very curled. will it be able to be flattened upon blocking or should I rip out and start over.
Hello Chris,
Thank you for reaching out and for your enthusiasm! Blocking should eliminate this issue, but depending on how much it is curling you could knit up a little swatch and block it to make sure it will take care of the curling issue.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi,
I am knitting the men’s mini Herringbone scarf. What is the correct gauge in pattern? If the yarn is 4.5 per inch and the stitch is denser and the needle larger, shouldn’t I get less stitches per inch? Thanks for your help.
Resa
Hi Resa,
Thanks for writing in! Herringbone stitch by its nature creates a very dense fabric and compresses your stitches quite a bit, so you will end up getting more stitches per inch than you would in stockinette or garter stitch, even when using a larger needle than regularly recommended for the yarn. We did get a gauge of 7 1/2 stitches per inch with worsted weight yarn on US 10 needles!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Could I knit this pattern with sock yarn?
If so, what kind of changes would you recommend I make as far as the needle size goes?
I’m not sure it’s ever recommending to knit a pattern with a lighter weight yarn than the designer calls for … but I have this beautiful, variegated sock yarn in my stash and I thought it might look nice knit up with this stitch.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
– Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing in! Worsted weight to sock weight is quite a jump, so I would definitely suggest knitting a gauge swatch on a needle 2-3 sizes larger than is recommended for your yarn. This will also give you an opportunity to see how the herringbone stitch looks in a variegated yarn – sometimes if the yarn is too busy it will obscure the stitch pattern, but it’s hard to tell until you have tried it! Once you have determined your stitches per inch, you can multiply that number by 7.5 and round to the nearest odd number to figure out how many stitches to cast on.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello, I see that the yarn you have suggested for this pattern is no longer available, I would like the same color , do you recommend another yarn? Thank you
Hi and thanks for writing in! Our Understory works beautifully in this pattern, and the Willow Bark color is quite similar to the shade of Swans Island Worsted we used for our sample. I also think our Good Wool in Driftwood Gray would work quite well!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello, I’m looking for the original men’s herringbone mini scarf pattern please .
Hi Mattie,
Thanks for writing in! If you scroll up to the section titled “Pattern,” you will find our original Mini Herringbone Scarf pattern on this page.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello, I was wondering if you had a recommendation on a hat pattern to match this scarf. I’ve seen the herringbone hat but I’m just not sure how I feel about the square top. I tend to lean towards the beanie style. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Hello Grace,
Thank you for reaching out! The Herringbone hat would have been my suggestion as it is the only hat pattern that would truly match this scarf. My second idea would be our Four Spokes Hat, Which I think would be really lovely in our Understory yarn which a we also knit this scarf up in. It could be really lovely if you used the same yarn for the hat and scarf to coordinate them.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thank you so much for this pattern, it’s beautiful and a delight to make.
I’m about to start knitting the Men’s Mini Herringbone Scarf. I was wondering if I should do a set-up row first & then begin the pattern. It’s often difficult to knit the first row, knitting off the cast-on stitches. So, I thought doing the more complex pattern might be even harder. Would it be better to first do one (or 2 rows of knit stitches (or purl). Thanks.
Hello Jeanie,
Thanks for reaching out! For this stitch there is no need for a set up row, I would just suggest no casting on to tightly.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
G’day,
If I’d like to change colours, should I change on the wrong side?
Cheers, Jo
Hi Jo,
Thanks for reaching out! I would actually recommend changing colors on the right side of the work; however, keep in mind there will be a little “wiggle” along each color change instead of a straight line. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not sure if that’s the look you are going for! I would recommend trying it out in a small swatch first to see if you like to look of color changes in the Herringbone stitch.
Best,
Julianna
Do you have any suggested resources showing how to recover from problems in this stitch? I’ve literally tried starting this scarf three times, and I keep making what are probably dumb mistakes (uh, one time wine was involved…I should know better), and I can’t figure out how to recover from them. The stitch is so beautiful, but I’m starting to feel twitchy about getting a handful of inches done and making a goof and having no idea how to fix. Other herringbone stitches I see debugging videos for online seem to be done differently. Thanks in advance if you can help!
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately we do not have a video for fixing mistakes in this stitch, though, as you have found, it can be tricky! My best advice would be to go stitch by stitch, and when taking out a knit row, uncross the slipped stitch before attempting to take it out. I will certainly pass your request for a video along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Hi Julianna,
Thanks for your reply — fortunately, I was able to get into a rhythm with this stitch and was ultimately able to make the two scarves in it I had intended as thank-you gifts for my surgeon and his P.A. after a recent spinal fusion surgery (I thought it appropriate I knit a bone-themed stitch while my bones were also knitting…).
I’m definitely going to use this stitch again, and I still think I’d be in trouble if I made a mistake, but I feel like I have much more of a “flow” with it now. If it was possible, though, I think a video showing how to recover from mistakes in this particular stitch would be an awesome add.
Hello,
Thank you for this and all of your lovely patterns! I’m a fan. I want to knit this scarf for my boyfriend, and am trying to decide between the two versions of pattern (old and new). I’ve settled on understory. Debating scarf width and the edge style.
I’m a fairly experienced knitter and not afraid of the original pattern’s edges.
Besides personal preference, do you think the original would work a little better for a cis man with more of a refined masculine style – or either would be fine?
Thanks!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for writing in! Although I think both versions are totally gender neutral classics that could work for anyone using either edge treatment, you may want to take his height and build into account when deciding on the width. A narrower scarf can look a bit underwhelming on someone who is very tall or broadly built – but some might find a skinnier scarf more of a fashion statement, so there is definitely an element of personal preference! I am sure that either version will result in a cherished and cozy accessory!
Best,
Julianna
Hi! I’m looking to knit this with DK(weight #3) 100% Baby Alpaca Yarn . For that yarn it said US size 5-7, but I saw on the below post that the scarf is knitted with DK weighted yarn and a size 10 needled. Just wanted to be sure I’m using the correct needle size! (also side note my first knitting project :))
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/mini-herringbone/
Thanks,
Janis
Hi Janis,
Thanks for reaching out! Although most DK yarns recommend a US 5-7 on their label, due to the dense nature of the herringbone stitch, we find it works up best on a US 10 needle using a DK weight yarn. If you aren’t sure, you could always knit up a gauge swatch to see how it turns out!
Best of luck, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi – if i want to knit this scarf using the Cashmere Bloom yarn, how many skeins would I need? Thanks!
Hi Lauren,
You will need 3 skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom to knit this scarf!
Best,
Julianna
If the Swan Island Worsted is no longer carried… what are the best substitute yarns to achieve the same gauge? Would Purl Soho Worsted Twist work?
Hi Anjuli,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, Worsted Twist would be a great yarn to substitute for this scarf! Our newest version of the Herringbone scarf is knit up in Understory which also just as lovely as the original!
Best,
Julianna
Would Super Soft Merino yarn work with this pattern? If so, would I still need 2 skeins or more?
Thank you:-)
Hello Stormie,
Thanks for reaching out! Super Soft Merino is a much thicker yarn than what we used for this project so you would need to go up in needle size and down in cast on. I would recommend trying a US 17 needle for SuperSoft in Herringbone stitch. You would then knit up a little knit a gauge swatch in the stitch pattern to find out how many stitches per inch you are getting. Once you have this number you can figure out how many stitches to cast on to achieve your desired width. You will want to be sure to cast on an odd number. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hello!
I’m about a quarter of the way through my scarf and have realised that that skeins of yarn I’m using are not as lengthy as the Swan Island yarn used in this pattern. The skeins I’m using are 192 meters per skein as opposed to 229 meters per Swan Island skein. I am using 2 skeins which means I’m 66 metres short. I’m wondering if I’ll have enough yarn for my scarf to reach 60 metres?
Thank you!
Hi Maria,
Thanks for reaching out! How does your gauge compare to that of the pattern? We used approximately 500 yards for this scarf so I think you may need an additional skein to get to the 68 inches!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi,
I love these stitches and was wondering if there is a sweater pattern with these stitches. Thank you.
Hi Sylvie,
Thanks for reaching out! We don’t currently offer a sweater pattern with this stitch but thank you for expressing you interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi – I’m hoping to use a bulky yarn, Woolfolk Luft (https://woolfolkyarn.com/shop/luft-yarn/) for this scarf, which calls for US 9-11 needles. Given the density of this pattern, what size needles do you suggest I use? And should I still cast on 55 stitches or do I need to reduce the number to get the same dimensions as the original pattern? Thanks!
Hi Colby,
Thanks for reaching out! It looks like Luft is a Bulky weight yarn and the original yarn we used for this scarf is a worsted weight so you would need to make some adjustments to the pattern. Typically a US 8 is standard for a worsted weight yarn, so we sized up to a US 10 for this pattern! I would recommend sizing up to a US 13 for this stitch pattern and working a gauge swatch to calculate your cast on! I suggest checking out our tutorial All About Gauge, it is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps and feel free to reach out with any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial. After failing with another pattern a zillion times, I think I can do this! Can you please help me how to change up the yarn to 4ply (UK) using 3.25mm (US 3) needles? I would like to make the scarf for my boyfriend.
Salma
Hi Salma,
Thanks for reaching out! You can certainly use a different yarn and needle size! You will just need to start out by working a gauge swatch to determine your cast on amount, just be sure to know that this stitch pattern works over any odd number greater than 5.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you so much, that makes sense. I will try this, I’m terrible at maths.
Salma x
Hello! Can you please help a bit to explai the Slip Stitch Rib edge. I am new to knitting and I am trying to understand which part of your pattern is makes up the edges on both sides. Thank you! Hipe my questios makes sense but I really like how the edges look like and hope to use it for other knitting patterns as well.
Hi Alina,
Thanks for writing in. The first and last four stitches notated in each row will become the edges of the scarf! It’s essentially basic 1×1 ribbing, except you slip the first stitch. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there, thank you for this pattern and I love to try knitting this scarf. I have a question about something weird happened after I tried making a swatch to see my gauge.
I casted on 35 stitches using long tail cast on with a circular needles. After the cast on, the stitches on the first row became 33 instead of 35. And if noticed that one of the edges of the swatch doesn’t look the same as the other edge, so it’s not parallel in terms of the edge of the scarf.
Do you know why is that? Will I cast on 37 stitches instead of 35 for my swatch?
Hi Hilda,
Thanks for reaching out. Are you noticing that your stitch count has decreased after working Row 1? If so, then it’s likely that you might have worked some of the p2tog’s without purling the first stitch again. That would definitely result in your stitch count being too low! I’d recommend casting on again, counting your stitches beforehand, and then working through Row 1 again. If you’re still encountering these issues, it would be great if you can email us a photo of your swatch at customerservice@purlsoho.com. That way, we can better visualize what’s going on and give you more specific advice!
All the best,
Lili
Hello! Love this scarf. I’m allergic to wools, though — can you recommend a good plant-based yarn for this project? TY!
Hi CF,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d recommend choosing another worsted weight yarn, since that’s what this pattern was designed for. In particular, I think that Tulip Cotton would be a great choice! This yarn has really good stitch definition, so it will allow the herringbone pattern to really shine.
All the best,
Lili
I was having a hard time with the piece tilting and pattern looking a little off. After watching the video, and discovering the issue, I have a suggestion. I see others are having the same issue. I think that when the pattern says to knit into the slipped stitch before dropping it off, it should say to “knit it through the back loop”. I was knitting it through the front and that was where all the issues stemmed from! Thank you for this beautiful pattern and for sharing it for free
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out, and I can totally see where the confusion is coming from! It sounds like you may have lifted the slipped stitch up with your left needle and then completely removed it from the right needle before knitting it. This creates ambiguity, because you now have two different legs to choose from. However, if you just lift it up slightly (like what’s shown in the video), and knit it before removing it from and dropping it off the right needle, then there’s only one possible leg to knit into! I hope this explanation helps clarify things going forward!
All the best,
Lili
Beautiful stitch! I’m using the newer pattern – a bit sorry I hadn’t seen that I could have used the other pattern with the cool edge, but I love this anyway.
I’m using your Nigh DK cashmere – light as a feather!
I want to make a second scarf with a worsted self-striping cashmere I have. I think size 10 ½ works up well.
Big question, however! To highlight the long self-striping, I’d love to work lengthwise. Would you have any suggestions about how many stitches to cast on for that?
I realize the stitches will be going a different direction, but I think I might like that!
Thanks so much.
Hi Jenny,
That’s such a fun direction to take this design in! To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the total length you would like the scarf to be and cast on the nearest odd number of stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili