In the world of mosaic knitting, the stitch pattern we chose for our Speckled Scarf is typically used as a calming background to offset more elaborate motifs. But we think, all by itself, this pattern has its own grace and beauty.
And it’s easy, too! Without ever having to handle more than one strand of yarn at a time, a simple combination of slip stitches emerges as a striking and textured fabric. In our beautiful Linen Quill, it is as warm, light, and gorgeous as a speckled feather!
If you’re new to color work or if you’d just like to take a fresh look at slip stitch patterns, start with our Speckled Scarf. It’s a super fun, and seriously beautiful, knit! –Kristy
Materials
- Color A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. We used Kettle Black.
- Color B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill. We used Pale Oats.
- US 3 knitting needles, straight or circular
We think this color combination looks nice, too!
- Color A: Heirloom White
- Color B: Stillwater Blue
Gauge
30 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished Measurements: 8 inches wide x 70 inches long
Notes
On all right side rows, slip all of the slipped stitches with yarn in back.
On all wrong side rows, slip all of the slipped stitches with yarn in front.
Pattern
With Color A, cast on 59 stitches.
Row 1 (wrong side): With Color A, knit.
Row 2 (right side): With Color B, k1, *slip 1, k1, repeat from * to end of row. [See Notes, above, for slipping instructions.]
Row 3 (wrong side): With Color B, k1, *slip 1, knit 1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4 (right side): With Color A, knit.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until your scarf measures 70 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 4.
With Color A, bind off all stitches knitwise.
Weave in the ends, block as desired, and you’re done!
PRINT
Thanks so much for the pdf version…very helpful. This is a beautiful scarf.
How did you get the PDF version?
Where’s the PDF version?
Hi Kristine and Kenn,
When you click on the “print” link (on the top right corner of the pattern just under the “Save to Favorites” tab) it will give you the option to “print,” “pdf” or “email” the pattern. If you click on “pdf” you will be able to download the file. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Best,
Kristy
present for mum sorted – any advise on other colour combos? I really like that lavender opal, but not sure on a contrast colour.
Hello, Sarah!
Thank you for writing in! The Lavender Opal would be beautiful in this scarf! For some drama you could pair it with the Kettle Black or for something more subdued you can pair it with the Heirloom White. The Lavender Opal paired with Pale Oats is also a lovely combination! What do you think? Please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
Hi Sarah,
The Lavender Opal would be a beautiful choice and, depending on whether you wanted to go lighter or darker with your second color, Trout Brown, Heirloom White or Stillwater Blue would also be lovely choices. I hope this helps! Thanks for writing in!
Kristy
The kiln red, with the yellow would be great too.
I’m working on this scarf right now, using the lavender opal, I paired it with the stillwater blue. One skein of the lavender opal, two of the stillwater blue. Looks really nice together.
Beautiful scarf, willl make this one. thank you for the pattern
Would you please give me your opinion on the colour combination of Kettle Black and Tumeric? Beautiful scarf. Thanks.
Hi Sylvia,
The combination would be striking! The Tumeric is a vibrant, rich shade and would pair beautifully with the Kettle Black! I hope this helps and thanks for writing!
Kristy
I’m new to knitting; how do you switch colors easily between rows?
Hi Dolores,
It’s a great question! When joining the second color of yarn for this scarf (Color B), you will begin at the start of a row, leaving Color A hanging in place, and will simply pick up and attach Color B (leaving a tail that’s at least 6 inches long) and begin knitting with Color B. You will work 2 rows with Color B and will then be ready to work again with Color A, which you will pick up and use to work the next two rows. A video clip that might provide a useful visual in how to attach a new color can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjMcVXXf9ss. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions, and thanks for writing!
Kristy
Gorgeous scarf! One question: are we slipping stitches knitwise or purlwise?
Hi Victoria!
The stitches are slipped purlwise! Thanks for asking!
Kristy
Do you slip the stitches knit wise or purl wise?
Hi Kerri,
You’ll slip the stitches purlwise! Thanks for writing and for the chance it gives us to clarify!
Kristy
Im new to knitting. Do you purlwise on both the right side and wrong side? The scarf is beautiful!!
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for writing! On all right side rows, you will slip all of the slipped stitches with your yarn held in back. On all wrong side rows, you’ll slip all of the slipped stitches with yarn in front. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Lovely, lovely, lovely scarf! Could it be adapted to knit in the round for a cowl?
Hi Ellen,
The pattern would not be hard to use for a cowl! You would just cast an even number of stitches onto your circular or double pointed needles and, making sure to always hold your working yarn in back when slipping your stitches, work as follows:
Round 1: With Color A, purl.
Round 2: With Color B, *k1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: With Color B, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: With Color A, knit.
You could work until your desired length and then bind off on Round 1. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Thank you Kristy!
Thanks for asking my question for me, and for the answer! I am making this as a scarf, with your line weight yarn and it’s gorgeous (pale grey and pale green, which is very subtle and reminds me of lichen on stone). But I was thinking as I worked that a cowl would be lovely, and I’m glad I’m not alone! Thanks for the pattern adaptation.
I am allergic to wool. Is there a comparable yarn that would work with this pattern?
Hi Linda,
Karin Oberg’s Kalinka Linen (https://www.purlsoho.com/yarn/knitting-crochet/kalinka.html) is 100% linen and would be a beautiful non-wool alternative for this scarf, also using the same needle size 3. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Thanks!
Hi
How do I download the pdf please? Vijeya
Hello, Vijeya!
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.
Best,
Kumeko
How would the denim grey (main) look with the kiln red (contrast)?
Hi Megan,
That color combination sounds great! The Kiln Red would be beautiful with the Denim Gray!
Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Simply gorgeous! I can’t wait to try some sophisticated greys and neutrals for a man friend. Thanks also for the you tube video…I was also wondering how to carry up the yarns neatly and this really explains it well. 🙂
What a beautiful scarf! Would the pattern easily scale up for more stitches, so long as one kept an odd number (as with the pattern’s original 59 stitches)? Thanks!
Hi Lindsay,
Yes! That’s exactly right, the pattern is very easy to adjust and to add width, you would just need to add more stitches, keeping an odd number.
Thanks for writing!
Kristy
I would like to do this scarf in Baylor Gold and Baylor Green. I do see tumeric which will work for the gold, what would you suggest for the green? I don’t see a green choice in this yarn. Thanks
Hi Ruth!
The Tumeric would be beautiful for the Baylor Gold! For the Green, although there is no green shade in the Linen Quill, you might try using our Line Weight (https://www.purlsoho.com/line-weight.html) in Moody Green. The yarn is of course a different type (100% Merino wool) but it pairs really well with the Linen Quill and would provide the colors you need. Just a thought! Good luck and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Best,
Kristy
How much of the second skein of color a did you end up using for the entire project?
Hi Amy,
We used 23 grams (100 yards) of Color A to make our sample. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Best,
Kristy
Maybe this is a silly question, but do the different yarn colours get carried along the side or did you cut the yarn each time for every colour change? It’s a beautiful pattern but weaving in all those ends sounds like a nightmare.
Hi Anneke,
It’s not a silly question! You will carry the yarn along the side of the scarf and will not have to weave in all of those ends! There will only be a few ends to weave in when you’re finished. I hope this helps clarify! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Thank you for this beautiful slip stitch classic scarf!. Once again you have provided a stunning pattern that will be a joy to knit many times!
Julie
There are two different color ways mentioned in the pattern – black with oats and denim grey with vintage white. Which combination is reflected in the photos?
Thanks,
Diana
Apologies! I see that the 2 black/1 oat combo is reflected in the finished scarf photos, while the 2 white/ 1 blue combo is shown as a small sample. Thank you for both, as the decision to emphasize the dark over the light or vice versa makes a big difference.
Diana
I’m wondering if the kiln red and numeric would go well together. Opinions? Also, how many skeins would I need of each color to make a 12″ width scarf?
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for writing! The unique color combinations with Linen Quill are somewhat endless and the Kiln Red and Turmeric would be particularly vibrant! For a 12″ width you will likely still only need 2 skeins of Color A and 1 skein of Color B. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
when you carry the yarn up the side, what do you do with it when you are through the scarf?
Hi Carolyn,
You will be binding off your stitches in Color A, and will simply cut both Colors A & B when you are done with the scarf and weave the ends of both in to finish. I know it can be confusing, but I hope that this helps clarify. Please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing with this one!
Kristy
Beautiful scarf! I would like to use the Kalinka yarn. Would the Hostanemon work with the Syren or should I use the Vit? It’s hard to tell from the photos of the yarn. Also would I need to purchase an extra skein of Color A?
Thanks,
Margene
Hi Margene,
It’s truly a matter of your personal preference, but the Vit might work slightly better with the Hostanemon than the Syren in this particular stitch pattern only because a higher contrast in the colors seems to read a bit better. But both combinations would definitely work! And two skeins of Color A and one skein of Color B should be all that you need. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions and thanks for writing with this one!
Kristy
I love the classic look of this scarf and simple style – even a novice knitter like myself could tackle, thank you for sharing this! Love the yarn used as well, I bet it is soooo soft to your skin!
This is a beautiful project. Thank you for the inspiration. I have only ever purchased yarn in a yarn shop and am wondering if you provide yarn in hanks or wind the yarn into a ball before shipping it.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing! When ordering our yarn, we would be glad to send it to you either in the skein or wound (you would just make a note when placing your order that you would like it wound!). If you choose to have the yarn wound, the only difference is that the sale would be final & wound yarn can’t be returned or exchanged. I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Best,
Kristy
Just to clarify–when you are knitting row 3, you will be slipping the same stitches that you slipped on row 2?
Hi Diana,
That’s exactly right! When knitting Row 3, you’ll slip the same stitches that were slipped in Row 2, holding your working yarn in front as you slip the stitches. Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Beautiful scarf-would a man wear this? if so what color-thinking of making it for my doctor-also would the yarn be manly enough? On enough question by Kristina on changing colors you mentioned dropping first color and leaving a 6″ piece of yarn and continue-I am at loss what that meant-I know how to carry yarn up the side so this threw me off-thank you-CD
Hi Carol,
We think that the scarf would be great for a man, and the yarn is definitely manly enough (a beautiful highland wool, linen and alpaca blend). The Kettle Black and Pale Oats would be a lovely combination! Pale Mushroom, Gray Denim, Stillwater Blue and Trout Brown are also beautiful paired with Pale Oats. We would love to hear what you end up choosing!
To clarify the response to an earlier comment, when first joining Color B on your first Row 2, you will join your yarn and typically have a six inch or so tail of Color B when joining the yarn to start. You’ll carry the yarn up the side of your work in subsequent rows as you mention, and the 6″ piece of yarn refers only to your first Row 2. I hope this helps clarify! Please let us know if you have further questions! Thanks for writing!
Best,
Kristy
This scarf looks beautiful and will be my first attempt at using 2 colors.
I have two queries:
I’d prefer to use a thicker wool, say Aran weight – using larger needles. Please can you advise me on how many stitches to cast-on, to achieve an 8 inch width?
Also, can you explain why the scarf uses 2 skeins of color A & only 1 skein of color B, if the 4 row pattern is 2 of A & 2 of B?
Many thanks in advance.
Best wishes,
Ros
Hi Ros,
The best way to figure out how many stitches you’ll need to cast on to achieve an 8-inch width in the yarn you’ll be using is to work up a small swatch of the pattern and see how many stitches you are getting per inch. You can cast on, say 13 stitches, and work the pattern for a few inches and then measure the swatch. You’ll then multiply the number of stitches you are getting per inch by 8 (the width you’d like) and adjust that number to make sure that it is an odd one. For our sample, we found that we needed more of Color A than Color B to work the pattern. Although intuitively it may seem that you’d use equal amounts of Color A and B, we found that this was not the case. I hope that this helps clarify! Please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing in!
Kristy
Many thanks, Kristy, for your helpful reply. I’ll get started!
Best wishes, Ros
I have a friend who loves brown & tan colors. What yarn colors would you combine to make a mostly tan/brown scarf?
Thanks so much for your expertise & judgment here.
Hi Jacquie,
Thanks for writing us! We do not have any true brown options in Purl Soho yarn, but Anzula Squishy has a few options. I recommend the colors Shiitake and Seaside. They will be beautiful in this scarf.
Best,
Adam
Thank you for a lovely pattern! Can I used worsted? If so, how do I adjust the stitch number? Thanks.
Anne
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing in. You can certainly use a worsted weight wool. To adjust the cast on amount you will need to do a small swatch of the stitch pattern with the yarn you intend to use. Get the stitches per inch and multiply that by 8 since the finished width should equal about 8″. It only takes a bit of planning ahead, but it’s worth it!
Best,
Adam
Can I ask, how much in yards did you use for each colour?
Thanks
Hi Momina,
You’ll need approximately 539 yards of Color A and 277 yards of Color B. I hope this helps! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Hi there I want to knit this scarf but the yarn has sold out. Can you advise another yarn please?
Thanks
Caroline
Hello Caroline,
Thanks for writing us! I’ve seen a few customers making this scarf in some different yarns and it looks great! Purl Soho Line Weight is a great option for this pattern, but I’ve also seen Kalinka 21 used which is a blend of linen and wool. The latter is textural, yet soft and it’s one of my favorites! Best of luck knitting this lovely pattern!
-Adam
Hi,
I would like to make this scarf approx. 10 inch wide. What would be the number of stitches that I need to cast on?
Thanks,
Hui Li
Hi Hui Li,
With a gauge of 7.5 stitches to the inch, you should be able to cast on 75 stitches in order to make the scarf 10 inches wide.
I hope that this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions! Good luck and thanks for writing in!
Kristy
What would you say would be an average knit time on this? I’d like to make it for a friend as a present, but I’m afraid of not having it done by her birthday.
Hi April,
It took us about 40 hours to make the sample, if that helps at all! Good luck and thanks for writing in!
Kristy
Hi- Is there a particular type of cast-on that you recommend for this scarf? Thanks!
Hello Stephanie,
Thanks for writing us! A long tail cast on will do just fine!
Best,
Adam
Confused about slip stitches.
Row 2 slip wyib,
Row 3 slip wyif?
Is this right?
Hi Jane!
You’ve got it absolutely right! On all right side rows, you will slip all of the slipped stitches with your yarn in back. On all wrong side rows, you will slip all of the slipped stitches with your yarn in front. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions! Good luck with the scarf and thanks for writing!
Kristy
I don’t know if I’m just not understanding this correctly, but do you ever slide all of the stitches over to the other side of the needle? If not, why is the circular or straight needle necessary? I think I’m getting confused about the right side versus the wrong side and if I’m sliding all of the stitches or not. Help!
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for writing! For this project, you can choose to use either circular needles or straight ones (both will work!). You will be working back and forth in rows, and will not have to slide your stitches to the other side. You will simply turn your work for each row. One way to help keep track of your right and wrong sides would be to attach a small stitch marker to the right side (which will begin on Row 2). Once you work an inch or so in the pattern it’ll be easier for you to tell right and wrong, but at the beginning especially, a stitch marker can help! Please let us know if you have any other questions or if any of this is unclear!
Kristy
Thank you! One more question. I’ve seen it written that all slipped stitches are slipped purlwise. So the only thing that switches from row to row is where my yarn is located (back vs. front) as I’m slipping? Sorry if that phrasing is confusing!
Hi Jessica!
Not at all confusing and you’re entirely correct: On all right side rows, you will slip all of the slipped stitches with your yarn held in back, and on all of the wrong side rows, you will slip all of the slipped stitches with your yarn held in front. Best of luck with the scarf and please let us know if you have any further questions along the way! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
hello!
i love the pattern and have knit 40 rows so far but i have one edge that looks pretty sloppy. do you have any advice on how to knit this pattern and keep the row edges neat and tidy?
thank you!
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for writing in and sorry to hear of the difficulty that you are having! I find that the best way to keep tidy edges on this lovely scarf is to be sure to pull even tension at the beginning of each row. I think that you will find that after you do this for a couple of rows, it will start to become second nature and you should get a tidier edge.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I’m thinking of making this for my brother (who is a musician) in the kettle black and pale oats colors.
Is this yarn good for winter months and us it washable?
Thank you for such a pretty scarf!
Hi Annette,
Thanks for writing in! This is a great scarf for winter! It is physically light while being warm and stylish at the same time. The washing instructions for our Linen Quill are to hand wash the item. We would not suggest machine washing for this yarn. To hand wash the item, fill a basin with tepid water and a squirt of a leave in wool wash like Soak. Submerge the item fully and leave it for at leave for at least 15 minutes. Remove the item from the basin and gently squeeze out the water being careful not to wring or twist the item. Then lay the item on a dry towel to dry.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I’m mid-way through this scarf right now, using Pale Oats and Stillwater Blue. Thought it would be for me but my adult son loves it so it may be a sneaky Christmas present for him. It’s a beautiful pattern and has a wonderful, soft drape. I’m sure I’ll make another. Love the Linen Quill!
I also want to thank Purl Soho for the lovely personal touches they add when shipping……my orders feel like personal gifts!
Hi Shelia,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are so glad that the pattern is coming out well. We appreciate your words more than you know!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Can I use size 4 needle instead? Will that make a big difference?
Thank you.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for the question! I think you could use a size 4 for this pattern. However, if you find that your gauge is a little loose, it might be best to go down to a size 3. I’d do a small swatch on a size 4 and see how you like the stitch definition. Best of luck!
-Adam
I am planning this project soon and before I buy yarn I have one question. It seems that color B is worked more than color A: 2 rows of B to one row of A. However, the yarn shows 2 kettle black and one of oat. Yet you also mention that the scarf looks nice in color A: Heirloom White and Color B: Stillwater Blue. This calls for two of the white (color A) and one of the blue (color B) which is the opposite of kettle black and oat. Not being an exceptional knitter (more for fun and relaxation) could you clarify. Thank you!
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely scarf is worked over a 4 row repeat and 2 of those rows use color A and 2 rows use color B. The rows that use color B utilize slipped stitches and therefore take up far less yarn than the color A rows that are all knit. I hope that this clarifies this!
The alternate color way is reversed. We just liked the look of it! You can certainly use the Stillwater Blue as the color A if you like the look better or make up an alternate color combination that works for you with any of the lovely colors of Linen Quill!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I would like to make this scarf with the linen, https://www.purlsoho.com/yarn/knitting-crochet/kalinka.html – how many skeins do I need to order of each color? Beautiful pattern, I have just made it in alpaca wool and it is fantastic! Thank you.
Hi Gillian,
Thanks for writing in! Kalinka would be a lovely choice. You will need 2 skeins of color A and 1 skein of color B to make this lovely scarf.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you! I received the linen in record time and am half way through the scarf and it looks wonderful.
Thank you for such a simple yet sophisticated pattern! I’d like to knit this with Rose Granite, and am wondering if Trout Brown would go well with that? While I’d love a combination of the hushed, dusty pink with an earthy brown, I’m hesitating because on my screen the Trout Brown comes across as a very cool color, almost bluish in places. Hopefully that’s just my screen, and it is indeed a true grey-brown?
Or, I suppose I could go with Line Weight in Rose Granite with Grey Fig, which seems like a warmer brown? Would you recommend one (Trout Brown or Grey Fig) over the other? Thank you!
Hi Anjor,
Thanks for writing in! For what you are going for, I would recommend the Gray Fig with the Rose Granite. These colors look lovely together. The Trout Brown does have a cool cast and I think that Rose Granite and Gray Fig are a lovely combination!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
This question is for Kristina.
Kristina, You commented in an earlier post that one might use linen quill yarn with line weight yarn to make a speckled scarf. This was in your April 15,2016 post re: a Baylor green and gold scarf. I am considering kettle black linen quill with line weight ginger orange as secondary speckle. Will the difference in yarn type and/or weight (gauge) between these 2 yarns be a problem? Thanks so much.
Hi Jacquie,
Thanks for writing in! Both Linen Quill and Line Weight knit up in similar gauges. We have used them together in a project before (the Tiny Stripes Hat) and they work perfectly together! Using them both in the scarf will require no alterations to the pattern and should be lovely!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi! I’m thinking about knitting this scarf using Alpaca Pure (needle size #7-8). Would it be too bulky?
And how many skeins of each color will I need, if I can use Alpaca Pure?
Hi Izumi,
Thanks for writing back! Once you figure out your cast on number, you will probably need 4 skeins of color A and 2 skeins of color B. Please note that this is an estimate and you may need more. As we have not knit this in such a bulky yarn, I cannot be more precise.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Izumi,
Thanks for writing in! Alpaca Pure is quite a bit heavier than the Linen Quill we used here. Linen Quill is a fingering weight and Alpaca Pure is worsted weight. You can alter the pattern to work with Alpaca Pure. The pattern is worked over an odd number of stitches so any odd number cast on will work. To determine your cast on number, you will need to knit a gauge swatch in pattern to determine how many stitches you are getting per inch. Once you know the number of stitches per inch, you will multiply it by 8 inches wide to get your cast on number. So long as your number is odd, you will be good to go.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you so much!! I have 4 Alpaca Pure skeins of black green and 3 skeins of light grey (hopefully they will just be enough), so have been looking for a pattern that I can knit a bi-colored scarf! This pattern seems perfect (except for the yarn weight). Hopefully the worsted yarn won’t make the finished scarf too thick.
Is there any way to convert into a blanket pattern?
Hi Heather,
Yes! The pattern is very easy to adjust and to add width, you would just need to add more stitches, keeping an odd number. Just keep in mind the gauge (30 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern), decide on a width and cast on the nearest number of stitches that is an odd number and you will be good to go. For instance, if you wanted to knit a 30 x 30 inch blanket, you would cast on 225 stitches (7.5 stitches per inch x 30 inches = 225 stitches). For a blanket of this size, you would need roughly 3 skeins of color A and 2 skeins of color B.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I was just given two skeins of Linen Quill – one skein of Oatmeal Gray and one of Lavender Opal. Could I use these two shades with this pattern? While I know a lot of it may be personal preference, I’d appreciate your guidance. Also, if these two shades do work together, which would you suggest as color A and B? I’ll need to order a second skein. Many thanks. Eileen
Hello Eileen,
Thanks for writing us! I think you should use the Lavender Opal for Color A and the Oatmeal for Color B. This would be the best in my opinion because the Lavender is a solid color. I think it’ll look very delicate and tasteful so you should definitely go for this color combo!
Best of luck,
Adam