Dovetail Scarf
Everyone loves a one-skein project! It’s intrinsically fast, inexpensive, and most importantly, clever. So thank you, Karin, who works in our store, for designing this lovely, little one-skein Dovetail Scarf… just in time for the holidays!
Inspired by our original Dovetail Wrap, Karin’s miniature version is in our beautiful Mulberry Merino, and in one color or another, it can be seen draped stylishly over Karin’s shoulders any day she’s helping customers at Purl Soho! Whip up your own with our free pattern and one skein of Mulberry Merino. It’s a no-brainer one-skeiner!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Gina Rockenwagner. Click here to see even more of Gina’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoDovetailScarf. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% merino wool, 20% Mulberry silk. Each skein is 247 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 247 yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
- US 6 (4 mm), 20, 24, or 32-inch circular needle
- 1 stitch marker
Gauge
18 stitches and 36 rows (18 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
- Finished Length of Wingspan: 35½ inches
- Finished Length of Each Short Side: 22 inches
- Finished Length from Cast-On Point to Middle of Bind-Off Edge: 14 inches
Pattern
PatternBegin
Cast on 8 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: K7, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif).
Repeat Row 1.
Shape Scarf
Row 1: K2, [yarn over (yo), k1] 2 times, place marker, [k1, yo] 2 times, k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif. [12 stitches]
Row 2: Knit to last stitch, slipping the marker when you come to it, slip 1 purlwise wyif.
Row 3: K2, yo, knit to 1 stitch before marker, yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, knit to last 2 stitches, yo, k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif. [4 stitches increased]
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until there are 204 total stitches.
Bind off loosely.
Finish
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
Hello!
This is a lovely pattern! I am planning on making it to go with my 1850’s reenacting costume. Could I keep increasing and make it just a bit bigger? I don’t want something as large as the wrap, just something in between.
Thanks!
Hi Grace,
Thanks for your question! Yes, you can keep increasing to make this pattern into more of a shawl it you wanted.
Happy knitting!
Carly
Exactly the model I’m looking for, thank you very much.
Is your yarn available for purchase in the UK. The cost of buying it in the US is prohibitive! Love the look of the yarn!
Hello Christine,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! Unfortunately, we do not sell our yarn in the UK, but we do ship internationally! For rates, check out our shipping page.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can this scarf be made with Berrocco Vintage, Cascade 220 Superwash, Universal yarns deluxe worsted superwash? Thanks.
Hello Bill,
Thank you for reaching out! This pattern calls for a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches in garter stitch with a US6 suggested needle size. I believe that the Cascade 220 superwash is a DK weight, which would make it a great fit for this pattern. Berrocco Vintage and Universal yarns deluxe worsted superwash would both be to thick for this pattern, however if you wanted to do some experimenting you could go up in needle size and create a larger version of the scarf.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I plan on making the dovetail scarf, is there a pattern for fingerless mitts that would complement the scarf in the same yarn? I have 3 skeins total.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Cyndy
Hi Cyndy,
Thanks for writing in! We have quite a few fingerless glove patterns written for Mulberry Merino! Our Travelling Cable Hand Warmers are my favorite, but you could also consider our Fisherman’s Rib Hand Warmers or Stockinette Hand Warmers.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
When will you bring back the Purl Soho Paprika Red yarn ? You have had it out of circulation for a very long time. Thank you
Hi Myrna,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, Mulberry Merino in Paprika Red has been discontinued and will not be returning to our line. I’m so sorry about that! However, I do think that Anzula Cricket in the color 1 Red Shoe is quite similar and would be a good substitute for the Dovetail Scarf.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I had a question about the beginning of the pattern.
Am I repeating the k2 or am I repeating k2,[yo,k1]?
Thank you!
Hi Jillanne,
Thanks for reaching out! Whenever a pattern has a repeated section, it will be indicated by enclosing the repeat in either parentheses or brackets. In this case, you will be repeating just the bracketed stitches, which are [yo, k1].
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi there! I’ve recently discovered your patterns and I’m in love with the style. I’m trying to knit the dovetail scarf and I’m having no issues following the instructions but as I look at it the beginning point is not a point. It’s where I knit the 8 cast ons, knit 7 the p,sl. The first two rows do not make this a point. Did I do something wrong? I’d appreciate any feedback. Thank you!!
Hello Alice,
Thank you for writing us and for your words! The point doesn’t start to appear until you are a few rows in. As you increase out the point will become more pronounced.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is there another yarn that works up similarly? This color is no longer available and I’m not to fond of those still available in this product.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for writing in! You could easily substitute either Season Alpaca or Anzula Cricket if you prefer any of those colors! Season Alpaca has slightly less yardage than Mulberry Merino so I would recommend getting two skeins, but Anzula Cricket has the exact same yardage as the original yarn, so you will still only need one.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I am making this with a skein of mulberry merino I purchased last year. The color is no longer available. I am approaching the end and running out of yarn. Eeek. Can I use the crochet cast off? Also. Can the patterns specify which type of cast on and cast off the pattern used. Thank you
Hello Joanna,
Thank you for reaching out! We used a basic bind off, but you can certainly use a crochet cast off.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Please could you tell me what type of cast on you suggest using?
Hello Jai,
Thank you for reaching out! I would suggest a long tail cast on for this project.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello again,
Would it be possible to use blue sky fibres metalico sport weight yarn for this ? It requires 3.75 /5 needles. With a gauge of 5/6 stitches per inch. If so could you advice how many stitches to cast on? Should it be just an even number in order to follow your delightful pattern? . I’m still quite new to knitting. Smiles…jj
Hello Jai,
Thanks for reaching out! I would keep your 8 stitch cast on and just continue your repeat of rows 2 and 3 until it is your desired size!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I want to purchase the paprika red wool & silk yarn plus the pattern for the dove tail scarf.
I’ll give you the number of my VISA card and my address for mailing it to me.
I can NOT download the pattern or anything else.
Please contact me directly so I can purchase the paprika red yarn and pattern of the dove tail wrap scarf A.S.A.P. and I will give you my VISA card and anything else I can give you. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
Hello Barbara,
Thank you for reaching out! To purchase our yarn you can simply put it in your shopping basket and proceed from there. You can find our Mulberry Merino through this link; .
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can I knit dovetail scarf in sport weight yarn? I have 440 yards
Hi Janet,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, your yarn sounds just right for this pattern! We only used 247 yards of sport weight yarn for our scarf, so you can even make yours a little bigger if you would like!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I am knitting the Dovetail Scarf, and as seen in a previous comment in 2018, I am not seeing the “point” at the beginning where you cast on 8, Knit 7.
The reply was that the “point” will be more noticeable when you knit in a few rows. I have knitted in approx 18 rows, and still not seeing a “point”. I’m hesitant to continue. Can you please clarify.
I love the appearance of this scarf.
Thank you.
Hi May,
Thanks for writing in! This scarf begins at the center of the top straight edge, so it does take a while to see the triangle shape emerge! If you slide your work to the cable portion of your circular needle, the cable will be able to curve around the point of the triangle so you can see it a little better. However, as long as your stitches are increasing appropriately, I’m sure your scarf will turn out to the correct shape!
Best,
Julianna
Thank you so much for response. I think I understand the pattern better now and looking forward to finishing one. I’m sure I’ll want to make more!
Appreciate the help, Julianna. Take care.
Hi There
Is this suitable for fingering weight yarn? The skein says 20 st =4″.
Would I go down a needle size? If I wanted to make it a bit bigger should I keep needle size the same?
Thanks
Caron
Hi Caron,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern is written for a sport weight yarn which is a bit heavier than a fingering weight. I would suggest working a gauge swatch with the yarn you want to use and an appropriate needles size (typically a US 2 – 5 for fingering weight yarns) and you can adjust the pattern from there! If you want more open knit you could follow the pattern as written with the recommended US 6 needle. I recommend checking out our All About Gauge tutorial, it is an excellent resource to use!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello!
I want to knit this beautiful dovetail scarf for my one year old. Can you give me instructions for baby size, please.
Hi Denise,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer this pattern in other sizes but thank you for expressing your interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna