Seafaring Scarf
Fisherman’s Rib was once named for the rustic seafaring men it warmed. But in Purl Soho’s newest yarn, the incredibly sumptuous wool-angora Lanecardate Feltro, Fisherman’s Rib is also suitable for the most sensitive of landlubbers.
Feltro’s magically lofty structure lends itself perfectly to this age-old stitch. Its simple cord-like spin captures beautiful nuances, well defining the important moments of Fisherman’s Rib: its steep crests, deep troughs and waves of crosscurrents.
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
If you’re weathering the elements on land or at sea these coming cold months, be safely wrapped in our big, gorgeous Seafaring Scarf! -Laura
Update: New Yarn
October 6, 2019
Our classic Seafaring Scarf In Big Good Wool is just the right vehicle for our gorgeous Big Good Wool (NOTE: This yarn is no longer available). One hundred percent Andean highland wool in the colors of the sheep themselves, our chunky weight Big Good Wool is always dynamic and beautiful! Choose from five natural, undyed colors, in a range from this soft and subtle Winter Grass to rustic Hickory Nut. And Big Good Wool comes in big skeins, so you’ll need just two for your own Seafaring Scarf!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoSeafaringScarf. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 7 skeins of Purl Soho’s Lanecardate Feltro, 75% superfine wool, 25% Caregora angora. Each skein is 98 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 650 yards required. This is the color Amur, Very Light Gray.
- US 13 (9 mm), straight or circular needles
Shop our wonderful collection of super bulky-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!
Gauge
8 stitches = 4 inches in Fisherman’s Rib
Size
Finished Dimensions: approximately 15 inches wide x 70 inches long
Notes
Stitch Multiple
The pattern is worked over a multiple of 2 + 1 stitches.
Special Instructions
K1B (Knit One Below)
Insert the tip of the right needle into the stitch below the next stitch, knit normally (wrapping the yarn around the needle and pulling it back through the stitch below) and let the stitch above fall from the left needle.
To see a “k1b” in action, check out this video tutorial…
Pattern
Cast on 31 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 1 (right side): K1, *k1b, p1, rep from * to last two stitches, k1b, k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): K1, *p1, k1b, rep from * to last two stitches, p1, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece is just shy of desired finished length, ending with Row 1.
With wrong side facing you, bind off in 1 x 1 rib. Here’s how…
Bind Off Row (wrong side): K1, *p1, pass first stitch over the second stitch and off right needle, k1, pass first stitch over the second stitch and off right needle, repeat from * to end of row.
Weave in the ends and gently block, if desired.
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!
Loving this pattern and yarn! Would love to start the project but I’m concerned at how large the scarf is… The way it is modeled it looks giant. Is it wrapped twice?
Hi Carrie.
Thanks for writing in. My apologies for the delayed response! The scarf wrapped once in the shots where the scarf ends show and is wrapped twice in the shots where there aren’t ends showing at all. In the shot from the side where a bit of the end is showing, the scarf is basically wrapped twice. I do hope this helps. Please write us back if you have any questions! -Laura
I made it on US #15 needles and i will say, it turned out massive. I used a super chunky yarn though, and my stitches were fairly loose. I’m okay with the size but I might have changed my tension if I had known that it would be so bulky.
I’m in love with the chunky texture the pattern gives to the scarf. This is my favourite place to obtain patterns from. Thanks so much for all of the patterns & tips – I’ve so far made the stripy baby hat and am currently working on the jasmine scarf. This one is for my son and I’m sure he’ll be utterly grateful once it’s completed.
I am amazed how tangibly soft a photo can be. That looks divine! I wish we weren’t going into summer here! Damn summer! In a truly wooly world, it would never happen. I’ll be saving this thought for six months. Thanks.
Will you be ordering more of the color Amur as seen here? If so, when will it be available.
Hi Joanne!
YES!! If you’d like to be notified as to when it’s back in stock, you could contact our customer service team (email: customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com / phone: 800.597.PURL) and let them know which product, color and quantity you are interested in!
Thank you so much for writing in. And for your interest in this product. We’re thrilled about how well received it’s been. It’s a pretty incredible yarn!
Thanks Again Joanne.
Laura
Hi! I have been planning to make this scarf since I saw the original post with this stitch. Just wondering how much of the purl soho worsted twist I should use if I wanted to make an equally large scarf as shown in this post? I am trying to figure it out but am not 100% sure. I was thinking 3 skeins with #9 needles? Any help is appreciated… thanks!
Hi Kate.
I’d love to help you figure this out!
Do you already have the worsted twist? Have you made a swatch yet? Do you know your gauge?
I used Worsted Twist for our Brioche Vest. It isn’t exactly the same stitch, but it’s extremely similar. I used a size US 8 needle and got 3 3/4 stitches per inch. Depending on your tension, I think it’d be great to work the scarf on a size US 9 so it has a bit more drape than my vest. In terms of skeins… For a similar sized scarf as the Seafaring Scarf, I think 4 skeins of Worsted Twist would be good.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Will you be getting more yarn? I want the soft orange and you only have 6 and the pattern calls for 7 so I was wondering if i waited if more would come in.
Hi Carolyn.
Yes!! We sure will. I am not certain of its arrival date, but I know we’re doing our best to get it as soon as possible. If you’d like to be notified as to when this product back in stock, you could contact our customer service team (email: customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com / phone: 800.597.PURL) and let them know which product, color and quantity you are interested in!
Thank you for writing in. Please let us know if you have any questions!
Laura
Beautiful scarf but I admit I’m a bit scared by the thought of spending quite that much for the yarn (though I’m sure it’s worth it!) Do you have another yarn suggestion for a similar look? And/or a suggestion to alter the pattern to make it a bit smaller (it looks like it might overwhelm my intended recipient, who is petite). Thank you!
Hello Meghan,
Totally understandable! The only other yarn that we have that would be a comparable gauge is our very own Super Soft Merino! At 15 inches across, this scarf is quite wide. You could buy 4 skeins rather than 7 and cast on just 17 stitches. Or if you wanted to make this with a thinner yarn, try any worsted weight yarn with a 10.5 or 11 needle for a similar squishy fabric!
Happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi Alyson,
In follow up to this suggestion, how many skeins of the merino would you recommend with 17 cast on stitches?
Thanks!
Rachel
Hello Rachel!
I would recommend that you get 4 skeins to be safe! Happy knitting! -Alyson
How many skeins of the super soft merino would I need to make the scarf as it is pictured? Thanks!
Hi Lynette,
Thanks for writing in! I think this scarf would be lovely in Super Soft Merino. We can’t calculate exactly but my best professional guess is that you’ll need six skeins. It is quite a large scarf. Thanks again for writing in and good luck!
-Adam
Why does my scarf curl
Hello Ann!
Knitting curls when the density of a stitch pattern isn’t evenly distributed. If you used a different size yarn and needles, make sure to check your gauge because the gauge of this pattern should be airy and spaced out enough to prevent any type of curling.
Best of luck and Happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi any tips on making this for a child? My nine year old has requested this for it’s wrapping nature so I don’t want to skimp on length?
Hey Lucy!
Sure!! I think you’d still have a lot of wrapping with 55 to 60 inches in length (rather than 70) on a 9 year old. Also, I would take the width down to about 7 inches, so maybe cast on 15 stitches. Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for writing in. -Laura
I’m confused are rows two and three correct in the pattern? I have never done this stitch before and mine looks wrong.
Hi Teresa.
I’m glad you wrote in. Do you mind explaining what looks wrong about it? May I ask if you’re working over an odd or even number of stitches. You should be working over an odd number. Also, sometimes it just take a few rows for the pattern to take shape and come into focus. It may look a bit chaotic for the first couple of rows.
Please let me know if you have any questions! I’d love to get you going on this scarf.
Laura
How do I TINK back when I make a mistake? I have no idea how repair a mistake with a K1b. I can’t keep starting over…it will ruin my yarn and drive me crazy. (Short trip!)
Hello Laurie,
While it is hard to take out this pattern since you are knitting in the row below to create the texture, it still can be done! I would recommend just taking out one stitch at a time and going slowly when you approach the stitches that were knit in the row below.
I can totally understand your frustration! Best of luck! -Alyson
Hi- I have a question- I am thinking of knitting this in super soft merino with the yarn doubled so I’d be doing 2 colours at once but I’m unsure of needle size and # of sts to cast on. I don’t have a huge variety of needles (really only up to size 15) but I was thinking something like a 17 would work? Any ideas?? Thanks!
Hi Suzy.
Thanks for writing in. We have done a couple of project with our Super Soft Merino doubled. For one we used a US 13 and for another we used a US 15. Neither were in the same stitch pattern as this scarf, so you may want to test out both needle sizes to see what works best for you!
Once you make a swatch in order to determine which needle to use, measure your swatch to get the gauge (or number of stitches there are per inch). The the stitches per inch and multiply that by your desired width. If that doesn’t equal an odd number, be sure to round up or down one… and you’ve got your cast on number!
Thanks for writing in Suzy and please let us know if you have any questions!
Laura
Hi! I’m so excited about this scarf–would it be possible to make it as a cowl in the round? How would you suggest going about this? Thanks in advance!
Hi Samantha.
Thanks so much for your request! I’m afraid at this time we only have this pattern written up for working flat. But we do have a Fishermans Rib Cowl in a worsted weight yarn! Once you figure out your gauge and your desired finished circumference, just be sure to cast on an even number, then you can work (and repeat) Rounds 1 and 2 of the Fishermans Rib Cowl pattern to produce this same fabric in the round.
Thanks again for writing in and please let us know if you have any questions!
Laura
Hi I want to make this as a wrap. I am confused about the count. I calculated 31 stitches + 52 (13*4) , so a total of 83 stitches. Does this make sense?
Thanks,
Max
Hi Max.
What a great idea! What is your desired width? This pattern works over any odd number (greater than 4). 31 stitches produced a 15-inch wide scarf. 83 stitches across will make a wrap that is approximately 41 to 42 inches wide. I’d love to help get you on your way. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Laura
Hi,
I was wondering if you could please tell me if this scarf could be knitted on a circular need…? To make a cowl instead of a scarf..? I am so in love with this design, but do prefer cowls if at all possible. If it is any alive regarding the ideal long of the needle would also be greatly appreciated,
thank you so much,
kind Regards,
Ailie
Hi Allie.
Thanks for writing in! I’m afraid at this time we only have this pattern written up for working flat. But we do have a Fishermans Rib Cowl in a worsted weight yarn! Once you know your gauge and your desired finished circumference, you can multiply the stitches per inch by the desired inches to get your cast on number (be sure to cast on an even number for this pattern to work in the round). Join for working in the round and then you can work (and repeat) Rounds 1 and 2 of the Fishermans Rib Cowl pattern to produce same fabric as this this scarf, but in the round.
Thanks again for writing in and please let us know if you have any questions!
Laura
Trying out this new stitch before I order to ensure I am able to manage it. I’m having difficulty on the first row I am to be executing the stitch below. Too much is slipping off, leaving me with massive gaps. Clearly I’m not doing this correctly. I can see how it is done when you are under way, but how do I get there from here?
Thank you for your tips. You can tell I am a timid novice.
Hello Ann,
Thanks for writing in and we’re glad you like our pattern! Knitting in the stitch below does give you a very loose and open stitch pattern that takes a couple rows in order to appear clearly. What exactly is slipping off? Are Stitches falling off your stitches? Let us know what’s going on exactly and we can work together to get you through this lovely pattern! Best of luck! -Alyson
I love the look of this scarf! Although I want to make one for myself at this point, I was thinking of making one for my dad, as he walks to the office every day, and winters can be pretty bitter where he lives. If I made this in a worsted weight using, say, size 10 needles and cast on fewer stitches, would this be less bulky? I’d knit it up as is for me, but for him, I want something a little more, I don’t know, “streamlined.”
Hello Kerry!
I think using worsted weight with size #10 needles would totally work for this pattern and it would be a little more dense and classically masculine. We’re so happy that you like this scarf! Enjoy the pattern! -Alyson
Hello I love this scarf thanks for sharing. Will this pattern work with merino script? Please advise
Thank you
Maggie
Hello again Maggie!
Since this scarf is intended to be super airy and squishy, you definitely could use this yarn! Remember again that the Merino Script has the slub quality that will give the texture another dimension! I think this is a great idea!
Happy knitting! -Alyson
Wow! What a gorgeous scarf! I’ve got to try it. The video makes a new technique very easy for me to understand.
I’ll be in NYC in a week or two and can’t wait to come see the shop in person… and take home some scrumptious yarn.
Hello Sharyn!
We’ll be happy to have you! Thanks for the kind words! -Alyson
thank you for sharing this wonderful pattern. I love it. My question is….. How do I join the yarn from skein to skein? Can I do a “spit” join? I am afraid that the yarn is too thick to overlap it. Thank you. And keep the Gorgeous patterns coming.
Hello Tricia!
The spit join method can be effective at times, but I am always hesitant to use it because if it isn’t done incredibly securely, you will run the risk of having a huge hole in your scarf! The weaving in of the ends is always more full proof since there is more of the end integrated into the body of the scarf. Since this stitch pattern is so dense and squishy anyway, you’ll have plenty of places to hide the ends! Best of luck! -Alyson
I received an email that more colors are in but there is still no soft red. Does that mean there will be no red or will it just be a wee wait?
Hello Carolyn!
We should have received the shipment today–and we have put you at the top of our list to be notified when its officially in stock and processed at our warehouse. Thanks for asking and we’re so glad you’re interested in this pattern! Enjoy! -Alyson
Hello Alyson: I love this scarf and would like to make it for a man. I feel it might be too wide as written. Can you suggest a cast on number more appropriate for a man and the corresponding number of skeins to purchase in the Lanecardate Feltro? Thank you for any help you can provide.
What a great idea, Lisa!
I would make it about 8″ wide and only purchase 4 skeins of the Feltro. The cast on should be 17 stitches for a scarf of that width. Best of luck! -Alyson
Would you still use the same gauge? I am trying to make this for my husband and have been trying to achieve the 8 stitches = 4 inches but I feel like it’s going to be a lot smaller. Right now I am using 6 mm/US 10 needles. Maybe I am misunderstanding gauge….
Hi Kerri,
Thanks for writing in! You would use the same gauge for a narrower scarf. Casting on 17 at the given gauge would give you a width of roughly 8 inches. This will be a lot smaller than the original but will be much more like a standard scarf than this generous original version!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Totally helped and I am well on my way! I love how squishy this scarf is!
Thank you for this beautiful scarf pattern. I’d like to make it with several colors. How can I knit this pattern in a way, that one color appears on side and the second color on the reverse side. I mean like in the bicolor Brioche-stich.
Thanks for your advice. Lexi
Hello Lexi!
What a fun idea! In order to achieve this effect, you would have to re-write the pattern. We’ll take this pattern idea to heart and consider it when planning our next designs! We do have a two color Brioche cowl available here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/10/16/ginas-brioche-hat-and-cowl/
Give the cowl a try! Best of luck! -Alyson
Since I had a day off yesterday, I had time to figure it out. It works like this: as soon as you use the second color you always work two rows on the right side and than two wrong side. Always alternating the color. The pattern has to be changed in this way: facing the right side you do the first row knitting in the stitch below, the second purling the stitch below. In the wrong side row you start purling in the stitch below and thhan you do a row with knitting in the stitch below.
It sounds more complicated when you read it than it really is.
I hope my English isn’t too worse. (I’m from Germamy)
Best regards
Lexi
How did you weave in your ends? Would you weave them in as though it were a ribbed pattern? The stitches seam so loose that the ends may just fall out.
Hi Jillian.
Thanks for writing in. I used a duplicate stitch method to weave in the ends for this scarf. By that I mean that I identified the closest strand to the tail, threaded it onto a tapestry needle and traced that strand’s path with the tapestry needle for around 6 or so stitches securing the tail. If you’re concerned the tail may come unraveled, you can leave yourself a longer tail and weave it farther into the knit fabric.
I hope this helps, Jillian. Please do not hesitate to write us back if you have any questions.
Laura
I bought 8 skeins of Feltro and love the fisher mans cable look. I would like to make more of a throw w/8 skeins using the same stitch.
Question, how many should I cast on to use all 8 and make it a bit more wide?
Thanks,
Lori
Hi Lori.
With seven skeins I was able to make a rectangle that measures about 15 inches wide x 70 inches long. I think if you cast on around 61 or 63 stitches, you should be able to make a blanket close to around 30 x 40 inches.
Enjoy knitting with the Feltro!
Best,
Laura
Hello. I’ve knit many simple projects from you in the past. I would like to take this one on, which would be more complicated for me. However, the k1b video tutorial is not included where it is referenced at the end of the instructions. Please advise.
Hi Janice.
Thanks for writing in. The video should be visible in the section titled NOTES, just before the PATTERN. If it isn’t showing up there, you can also see it in our Working into the Stitch Below Tutorial: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/08/20/working-into-the-stitch-below/
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Thanks.
Laura
I’m having a weird problem with this pattern. My edges are bumpy-looking and I can’t understand why.
I’d like to have a smoother edge. If I slip the first stitch of each row that might work. Just want to know if I have to change the amount of stitches cast on.
Thanks!
Hello, Ellen!
Thank you for writing in and sorry for the terribly late response! You are not doing anything wrong, this stitch pattern produces bumpy edges. Since you would prefer a neater edge you can definately slip the first stitch of each row and knit the last stitch of each row. This pattern works over any odd number (greater than 4), so you could casting on 33 so that you can slip the first stitch and knit the last and still follow the pattern as written. I recommend making a sample swatch to see if you like the look of the edge. If you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
So if you slip the first stitch would the pattern become:
Cast on 33 stitches
Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2: [Slip Stitch], K1, *k1b, p1, rep from * to last two stitches, k1b, k1.
Row 3: [Slip Stitch], K1, *p1, k1b, rep from * to last two stitches, p1, k1.
Hi Kari,
Thanks for writing in! You’ve almost got it! If you would like to slip the first stitch your rows would be:
Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2: Slip 1, *k1b, p1, rep from * to last two stitches, k1b, k1.
Row 3: Slip 1, *p1, k1b, rep from * to last two stitches, p1, k1.
You will treat the first stitch in the repeat as the slip 1 otherwise the pattern will not line up and be altered.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Can this be knit using Gentle Giant yarn? If so, how many skeins? Needle size? Number of stitches to cast on?
Hi Katie,
Excellent question! Our Color Dipped Scarf is worked in the same fisherman’s rib as the Seafaring Scarf and uses our Gentle Giant. The man differences are that the Color Dipped Scarf uses two colors (you can easily use one color) and the Color Dipped Scarf is narrower. To make a scarf as wide as the Seafaring Scarf, multiply the stitches per inch by the desired inches to get your cast on number (this pattern works over any odd number). In this case that would be roughly 21 stitches.
Happy knitting!
-Cassy
Hello
This is a nice scarf but the edges look like they might come out a bit untidy. I wondered if you can slip the first stitch of each row to make neater edges, or will that not work for this stitch?
Thanks for the nice pattern.
Alex
Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing in and sorry for the terribly delayed response! This stitch pattern does produce a bumpy edge. Since you would prefer a neater edge you can definately slip the first stitch of each row and knit the last stitch of each row. I recommend making a swatch to see if you like the look of the edge. If you have further questions please let us know!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I am currently making this scarf in your super soft merino on size 13 needles and it is just scrumptious! I’m already planning my second one.
This scarf is so pretty! I casted on 21 instead of 31. I like to have the exact amount of rows for patterns, so I wondered if you could tell me how long yours is. I might turn it into a cowl, so I didn’t know a good length for that either. Thanks!!
Hello, Coletta!
Thank you for writing in! Our scarf is 15 inches wide x 70 inches long. Turning this into cowl is a lovely idea. Most long cowls are about 60 inches long. If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I’m thinking I’d like to knit up a throw using this yarn and pattern. Could I get your opinion on the number of skeins needed… in terms of size, I’m thinking 50″w x 60″l or 50″w x 70″l.
Thanks,
Cher
Hello, Cher!
Thank you for your question! The dimensions for this scarf are 15-inches by 70-inches. To make a throw that is about 50-inches x 70-inches you’re pretty much making three scarves, so since we used 7 skeins for 1 scarf you’d need about 21 skeins. If you’re knitting at gauge then 21 skeins should yield a throw that would be about 45-inches x 70-inches. To get closer to 50-inches x 70-inches I recommend getting 23 skeins. If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
I’m thinking of using the circular knitting needles to knit this scarf. Could you advise me on which length to get? If it would be better to knit this on straight needles, please let me know. Thanks.
Hi Rita,
Great question! I prefer knitting all of my projects on circulars as you can knit both in the round and flat on them. When knitting flat on circular needles, you want to make sure that your cable length is longer than the finished width (in this case 15″) of your project so that the stitches do not slide off when you are not knitting. For this project I would suggest a 24″ or 32″ long cable.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
What is the actual number of rows and casting to get the gauge for this piece? It only mentions how many inches, not how to obtain it really.
Thank you.
HI Alpna,
Thanks for writing us! This pattern is worked on a multiple of 2 stitches + 1 extra. I would cast on 9 stitches and do your gauge from that. Also, you don’t really count rows in this scarf. All you do is knit until you run out of yarn or until you’ve reached your desired length. Hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
How would this turn out on smaller yarn? say worsted? I love the way it looks but don’t think the person I am making the scarf for will like it to be soo fluffy.
Hi Jourden,
Thank you for writing us! I think it’s a great idea to try this out in worsted. It will be much lighter but still warm. In order to get a wide enough scarf you will have to add on a few more stitches. I suggest doing a gauge swatch, getting your stitches per inch and then multiplying that number by the amount of width you desire. Best of luck on the project!
-Adam
I have just found your site and I am hooked! Starting this scarf today. Whoever wrote the introduction to the pattern and the yarn is a genius – you can sell anything 😉
Love your patterns, so I am going to come back many times looking for inspirations.
Hi Monkia,
Thank you so much for your kind words! They are so appreciated! Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Cassy
I absolutely love the look of this scarf! I am an average speed knitter and wondered if you had an idea about how many hours this scarf would take. I ask because I would be making it for a friend whose birthday is soon approaching,
Thank you!
Hi, Melissa!
Thank you for your question! It’s always difficult to gauge how long a project might take since everyone knits at different speeds and has varying amounts of time that they can devote to knitting each day! However, since this scarf is knit with a chunkier weight yarn it will knit quickly and depending on how much time you can spend on the scarf each day it might take you 1-3 weeks to complete. I am sorry we can’t be more specific!
Again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
OMG, the look of this scarf looks like single color Brioche. Beautiful, thanks for the pattern. :))
I made this for my daughter in law and she loved it. I had never knitted that particular stitch before, I was quiet impressed and am planning g on knitting one for myself
I would appreciate it if you could condense the free patterns. In printing them there is so much dark background that it uses up so much of my ink. Also one picture of the scarf would be sufficient for my knitting folder. Love your patterns and your yarn. Thank you
Hi Norma,
Thanks for writing in! We do have a way to print a more condensed and printer friendly version of all of our free patterms. If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Surely whoever knit this scarf had to unknit at least one 1kb or more. Can you please instruct on how to accomplish this? I am trying to destruct the stitch but am having brainfog! Thank you for your efforts.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the question. This is a bit harder to explain than to show. When you rip out the work you’ll see knit stitches and “yarn overs”. These are not really yarn overs though; they are the stitch “above”. Slip on the knits and yarn overs on to the needle, making sure the yarn over hangs over the knit stitch. This looks like a brioche knit. I’d look that up if you’ve never done it before because you will BK2tog (brioche knit 2 together) to re set your stitches for fisherman’s rib. When you are sure your yarn over is hanging over your knit stitch correctly, knit both these stitches together and then you should be set! I’m sorry that this is so difficult to explain! Please let me know if you need any more help and maybe we will come out with a tutorial in the future!
-Adam
What cast on stitch is recommended for this scarf?
Hi Mindy,
I suggest a long-tail cast on for this. Thanks for writing in!
-Adam
If I want to knit this scarf in bulky, not super bulky yarn, how many yards do you think I would need? I’m an advanced beginner knitter so knitting math is still not strong here!
Hi Susan,
Thank you for writing in! This is a bit tricky to answer without knowing what yarn you’re planning on using or what your gauge you’re knitting at. To be safe, I would recommend getting about 900 yards. I think it’s better to have more than you need, just to be safe. You can always make a hat with the leftovers or depending on the return policy at the store you buy your yarn from you might be able to return or exchange the unused yarn. Best of luck!
If you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
Hello, I have a small stash of feltro and am thinking of ordering more to make this stunning scarf! I do have a question though – the ends look a little knobby for my tastes. I know one could argue that it works with the seafaring aesthetic but I was wondering if the edges would be smoother if I slipped the first stitch of each row purl wise? Thanks so much!
Hi Pastille,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly slip the first stitch of each row. I would suggest trying this out on a swatch to be sure that you are getting the finish that you would like.
Best,
Cassy
Hello, I have a small stash of feltro and am thinking of ordering more skeins to make this stunning scarf! I do have a question though – the ends look a little knobby for my tastes. I know one could argue that it works with the seafaring aesthetic but I was wondering if the edges would be smoother if I slipped the first stitch of each row purl wise? (or knit wise?) Thanks so much!
Hello Pastille,
Thank you for writing in and my apologies for this late response! This is a great question. You are correct- because you are always starting and ending with a knit stitch slipping the first stitch of every row purlwise with your yarn in front will give you a smooth edge. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hello, I love this pattern and have made several last year as gifts.
I’m making another one this year but I dropped a stitch without realizing it and when I went back to fix it, there’s so many gaps and loops (it seems to me) that I kept messing it up. I don’t want to undo the entire thing as I’m more than half way finished, could you please suggest a fix?
Thank you,
Anabel
Hi Anabel,
Thanks for writing us! In order to fix fisherman’s rib, you need to know how to do Brioche stitch. Click here for a tutorial. When you rip out your fisherman’s rib you’ll notice that there is a normal stitch whose exiting thread of yarn floats past the next stitch and forms the stitch after that. You’ll want to pick up the “normal” stitch and then pick up the next stitch with the floating strand together. You’ll repeat this until you’ve picked up all the stitches. In order to get back to fisherman’s rib you’ll need to knit the “normal” stitch and then knit the next stitch together with the float. This will put you back on track.
I hope this helps!
Cassy
Such a great design! My son wants one in either dark brown or forest green. Will there be either color in lanecardate-feltro or your super soft merino? What is a good substitute?
Thanks!
Hi Jarvis,
Thank you for your kind words! We do not have dark brown or hunter gray in either Feltro or Super Soft Merino. We do have a number of lovely grays including Toasted Charcoal in Super Soft, which is a dark gray with brown undertones. We do have Magnum in a hunter green but it does knit up a bit bulkier than Feltro. You would certainly need to go up at least one needle size and knit a gauge swatch. Once you know your stitches per inch, you can cast on a multiple of 2 + 1 stitches that will yield you a 15″ wide scarf.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thanks so much for your “full-service” help, from offering super stylish patterns to matching yarns to them to follow-through with answers and solutions to problems. I’ve made 4 scarves and 6 hats over the past year–all from your patterns. Each one was a new challenge, and they all came out great!
I love this scarf and have just started it. The video tutorial seems clear, but my results look very different from yours–your ribs seem to be a tight chain of single knit stitches, whereas mine are not so tight, with double loops and big holes. I realize it’s hard to diagnose this by email, but I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. When you turn and knit the “other” side, what happens to those double purl bumps that you refer to in the video? I don’t see any evidence of them in the photos of this pattern, but in my version they turn into double loops. I’d be grateful for any thoughts and/or suggestions.
Hi Holly,
Thank you so much for your very kind words! The fisherman’s rib that we use here is a bit on the looser side. I find that as I knit fisherman’s rib, it helps to pull it down a bit to make the stitch pattern pop a bit more. Additionally, it does take a few rows for the pattern to start to emerge and look correct. I would say if you have knit about 10 rows and pulled down a bit on your knitting, you should see it look more like our scarf above. If this is not the case, we would be happy to look at images to try and help diagnose what could be going wrong. If you would like to send in images, please do so to [email protected] and we will do our best to help!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
I’m a huge beginner at the knitting practice. But I fell in love with this pattern, you’re really good at it by the way, congratulations.
So I’d love to do that type of scarf to my BF but I’d like to know…How do you start ? Do you have a video to show how to start the 2-3 first rows for a scarf like that ? It seems rather difficult but I’m really motivated.
Thank you so much for showing us your work.
Best,
Lillyth
Hello Lilyth,
Thank you for reaching out- I admire your ambition! There is a video above the pattern that goes into how to knit 1 below right above the pattern. It might be helpful to knit up a little practice swatch before jumping into the full scarf.
Let us know how it goes and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello! I have 6 skeins of super soft merino that I was thinking of using to make a colorblock version of this scarf. I love how bulky it is. Can I make it as written or do I need to adjust it?
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reaching out! Super Soft Merino would be a great yarn to substitute for this scarf; however, it does not have as much as yardage as Feltro, so for a scarf of the same dimensions, you would need 8 skeins of Super Soft Merino. To make it work with the 6 you have, you could make it a bit narrower by casting on fewer stitches. It will still probably turn out somewhat shorter than our scarf, but it should be lovely nonetheless!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
You no longer sell the Lanecardate Feltro yarn. Which of your yarn is a substitute for this yarn and what adjustments, if any, need to be made to the pattern?
Thanks
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for writing in! I would suggest using our new Big Good Wool held double to match the gauge of Lanecardate Feltro. It is always a good idea to knit a gauge swatch when substituting a different yarn, but it should knit up to the correct gauge for this scarf so you won’t have to make any adjustments!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi – the result looks like the brioche stitch. Is it? Thanks
Hello Nancy,
This is a great observation! This stitch is called a Fisherman’s Rib and is very similar to a Brioche stitch.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I am a bit confused-the original post says to use Size 8 needles, but when I view the pattern it says size 13. Is the size 13 only if you use the big wool that you sell?
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for reaching out! For the Big Good Wool version of our Seafaring Scarf, we used a single strand of Big Good Wool on a US 8 needle for a smaller gauge, but still cast on the same number of stitches and otherwise followed the pattern above, resulting in a narrower scarf.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I am still not clear. If I use a size 8 needles, what weight yarn do I use if I am not using the Big Good Wool, and do I follow the pattern as is or do I have to make some adjustments? Thank you!
Hi Phyllis,
I apologize for the confusion! Big Good Wool is a bulky or chunky weight yarn, and other than using US 8 needles, you do not have to make any adjustments to the pattern.
Best,
Julianna
what other yarn could be used in this scarf, it needs to be washable he will be wearing it for outdoor work in Colorado near Boulder
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing in! Madelinetosh Tosh Merino, Anzula For Better or Worsted, and Manos del Uruguay Serpentina are all wonderful washable wools that you could use for the Big Good Wool version of our Seafaring Scarf!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I would like to confirm when k1b, it’s always on a knit stitch and not a purl stitch, correct? The Seafaring Scarf instructions seem to start k1b on purl stitches.
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! k1b stands for “knit 1 below” so you will be knit the stitch below. In the Seafaring Scarf the stitch below that you are knitting into is also a knit stitch. The reverse of a knit stitch is a purl stitch so when you purl a stitch and then turn your work it will be a knit stitch on the other side.
I hope this clears things up for you, but if not just let us know!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
With the fisherman’s scarf. The second row starts the kib. This is confusing to me. Do you have any suggestions to enlighten me. When you are a few inches in it makes sense but on the second row it is confusing I must be missing something or perhaps I need sleep. .
Hello Liane,
Thank you for reaching out! For this project you will need to do a long tail cast on. You should be able to knit below with a long tail cast on. If your stitches are still causing you grief I would just knit one foundational row of K1, P1 rib before beginning your pattern.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Love the scarf and I’m almost done with mine! Would you kindly suggest a hat pattern to use the extra skein I bought in the store?
I couldn’t resist buying extra of the big WOOL ?
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m happy to hear that your scarf is such a success! I would try knitting our Snow Day Hat using Big Good Wool held double, or possibly triple. It is just a bit thinner than Super Soft Merino, so you will definitely need to check your gauge, but it should match the Seafaring Scarf nicely!
Best,
Julianna
I would like to knit Fisherman’s rib scarf , new to knitting ? I was advised to use 14 ply wool with 9 mm needles from my local wool shop , are these suitable ? I tried but my knitting is loose , hence holey appearance .
Would appreciate your help please
Look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Dunlop
Hi Sue!
Everyone’s gauge is a bit different, so sometimes you’ll need to adjust your needle size to work with your chosen yarn. The Fisherman’s Rib stitch is also a bit more open than some other stitch patterns, so if you’re finding your swatch to be too loose, try using a smaller needle to get a fabric that looks good to you!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
What type of cast on should I use to match the bind off?
Hi Clara,
Thanks for asking about this! We used a long-tail cast on for this scarf project.
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Hello,
I am in Scotland and have some shetland wool (the croft, west yorkshire spinners aran)
What size of cast on would you suggest for this aran weight wool with 5mm pins?
Thank you in advance
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds very similar to our Big Good Wool! Fortunately we adjusted this pattern to accommodate this yarn, you can find the pattern here! We use a US 8 (5mm) needle and cast on 31 stitches!
All the best,
Gianna
Fab! thanks Gianna 😊
Hi – I’m curious, was this the pattern used for the scarf in the Apple Mini Ad with Tierra Whack?
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for reaching out! This isn’t the scarf in the one in the ad but it definitely looks similar! I would assume that the scarf in the add is also a Fisherman’s Rib stitch or some variation of brioche!
All the best,
Gianna
Thanks for the reply and the great pattern!
I love this pattern, but I prefer how the Lanecardate Feltro made the scarf look a bit fuzzy and softer, rather than the neater look of the Big Good Wool. I’d also really like a yarn with more color options. Is there another yarn you might recommend to get a softer/chunkier look? And if so, what adjustments might I need to make in terms of pattern or needle size?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Sarala,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend using our Super Soft Merino, it is a wonderfully soft and fuzzy yarn and comes in a beautiful selection of colors! You can follow the original Seafaring Scarf pattern using a US 13 circular or straight needles! I do recommend working a gauge swatch prior to starting to insure you are consistent with the pattern!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you so much for your beautiful patterns! I made my entire family Snow Day hats from the super soft merino for Christmas this year and they all absolutely love them!! I’m hoping to make matching scarves for next Christmas. This pattern looks like it would work well! If I double the yarn as with the Snow Day hat pattern, would I need to change the needle gauge and then swatch? Also, how many skeins do you think I would need? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah-Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! You can absolutely use Super Soft Merino doubled for this scarf pattern. You’ll just need to change the number of stitches you cast on so that it comes to the correct dimensions.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern with the needles you’re planning to use. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width (15 inches) and cast on the nearest odd number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
And you would need the same yardage as listed in the pattern, so you would need 8 skeins of Super Soft Merino, since that yarn has less yardage per skein than the original yarn this pattern was designed in. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to getting started. To clarify, if I double the yarn, one strand each of two colors, would I need 4 skeins of each color? Or 8 of each color? Thanks again!
Hi Sarah-Anne,
Thanks for your question! You would need 4 skeins of each color of Super Soft Merino for a total of 8 skeins. This is because doubling Super Soft Merino for this pattern would create yarn that is thicker than the Lanecardate Feltro held single, and to adjust for that you would need to do a swatch and cast on less stitches.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate all of your help!
Bonjour où et comment peut-on se procurer cette magnifique laine ? j’habite en France. Et combien vaut-elle ?
Cordialement colette
Hi Colette,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, this yarn has been discontinued, but in its place, I would recommend using our Super Soft Merino yarn!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
How long does it take you to make this scarf?
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, it is hard to estimate how long it will take someone to knit since everyone is different and there are many variables that come into play, like the style of knitting you use, your personal knitting speed, and how long you spend working!
However, I can say that this is very chunky yarn and a pretty large needle so you can likely knit this up pretty quickly!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I’m interested in knitting this scarf. What yarn would you recommend since Big Good Wool has been discontinued? Also how many skeins of yarn would I need? Thank you.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out! Instead of Big Good Wool, I’d suggest using either our Super Soft Merino or Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry for this scarf! Both are similar in gauge to Big Good Wool, though I would recommend working up a gauge swatch before you begin your project to ensure that you’re using the appropriate needle size to get the gauge called for in the pattern! We have a great tutorial called All About Gauge that you can check out if you need some help with finding your gauge!
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
When using the Super Soft Merino, will the scarf still be 15″ wide? How many skeins of SSM do I need to make the scarf?
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for reaching out! For this scarf, 650 yards are required and each skein of Super Soft Merino is 87 yards, so you will need 8 skeins! You will want to start off by working a gauge swatch to ensure your gauge is consistent with the pattern or if you will need to make any adjustments to your cast on to maintain the 15″ wide width!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
I am totally flummoxed this doesn’t seem beginnerish to me and I used a dark bulky wool and can’t see the kb1 after row 1!
🙁
Hi Nora,
Ah, you’ve encountered the greatest struggle of knitting with a dark color of yarn! It is certainly difficult to see your stitches when using a yarn like this, and I would recommend moving to as well-lit a space as possible. The extra brightness should help illuminate each stitch and make it easier to see where to work the k1b. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I purchased some Good Wool, not Big Good Wool, a couple of years ago and now I would like to make the Seafarer’s scarf. Could I double the Good Wool to achieve the right gauge or would doubling it distort the k1b stitch? Thank you.
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your question! I’m afraid doubling Good Wool would not be thick enough to match with Big Good Wool, which was a bulky weight yarn. In place of Big Good Wool, I’d suggest either Super Soft Merino or Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry! Both are quite similar in gauge to Big Good Wool but I would recommend doing up a gauge swatch to make sure you’re consistent with the pattern! We have a tutorial called All About Gauge on that if you’re interested in more information.
I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Cat
Hi! I am hoping to knit this scarf using a non-wool-based material that is just as soft and luscious as the scarf is shown, since my mom is allergic to wool. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for your question! Unfortunately, at the moment, we don’t have a non-wool or animal fiber-based super bulky weight yarn. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience! I would suggest searching online for plant-based or hypoallergenic yarns, like cotton yarns. Separately, cashmere might also be worth looking into because it’s much softer than wool and lacks the lanolin component that’s present in wool yarns, which most people who experience wool allergies find to be irritating to the skin. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Don’t see any video?
Hi Joyce!
Thank you for your question, and thank you for bringing this to our attention! While we edit this post to reflect the video tutorial, you can find our working into the stitch below tutorial here! You can also take a look at the Fisherman’s Rib Scarf pattern for a photo tutorial of how to knit into the stitch below.
I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you again for pointing this out to us!
All the best,
Margaret
I lost track of if I’m on an even number row or an odd and I don’t have a park stitch until loop #4! Any suggestions on which row (odd or even) I should knit to help fix this?
Hi Alexandra!
Thank you for your question, though I’m sorry to hear you aren’t sure which row comes next! The easiest way to tell whether you are on a right or wrong side row is if your second column of stitches looks like V-shaped stitches, then you are on an even row! This row should be the row of stitches in which you are knitting into the stitch below, too. In addition, adding a removable stitch marker anywhere on the right side of your project will help you keep track of your work, so that you know when the marker is facing you, you’re on a right-side, even-numbered row!
If you would like some extra help with this, please feel free to send a photo of your work so far to [email protected]!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi! I have a lot of the Big good wool and want to make this scarf. I like the chunky look in the picture with the Lanecardate Feltro. Any suggestions on how to achieve this look with the Big Good Wool?
Hi Dorothy,
Thanks for writing in! That’s a great question! I would recommend holding two strands of your Big Good Wool together and knitting a gauge swatch to see how you like the fabric! This will allow you to achieve the chunky thickness of the original pattern using the size US 13 needles. I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello,
I am beginning this scarf and was just a little confused with the wording for the set up row.
“Set-Up Row (wrong side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.”
Is this simply doing knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1 and make sure that the last stitch is a knit stitch?
I also read above that you are supposed to “k1b on the knit stitches and purl on the purl.” However, if I am doing the set up row as mentioned above, isn’t that the opposite of what I would be doing?
Thank you!
Hi Eliana,
Thank you for writing in! You are correct, you will just k1, p1 until the last stitch and then knit 1! The knit 1 below stitches don’t start until row 2. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella