Mistake Rib Scarf in Cashmere Merino Bloom
If your relationship with handcrafting is all about embracing imperfections, then the name Mistake Rib may call your name! But really, although the discovery of this stitch may have come from a mistaken number of cast on stitches, its lovely texture and lofty warmth couldn’t be more perfect!
Our Mistake Rib Scarf in Cashmere Merino Bloom takes this stitch to new levels of beauty. Our Cashmere Merino Bloom is downy soft, cuddly warm, and just plain gorgeous. And in Dove Gray, we love the timelessness and simplicity of this scarf that basically only asks you to work a 2 x 2 rib.
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!
For mom and grandpa, best friend and niece, and even for yourself, the Mistake Rib Scarf in Cashmere Merino Bloom is an easy knit and a special gift. Even if you have a few mistakes in there! -Joelle
UPDATE: IN TWO COLORS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Our Two-Tone Mistake Rib Scarf uses single-row striping to add a whole new dimension to this super simple stitch! Already a fairly magical outcome for such easy knitting, but when you alternate colors each row, subtly perceptible shifts of tone seem to create a patina over the underlying ribbed fabric… Beautiful!
Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMistakeRibScarf, and #PurlSohoCashmereMerinoBloom. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino wool and 25% cashmere. Each skein of this light worsted/DK yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 654 yards required. We used Dove Gray.
- US 6 (4 mm) straight or circular needles
Gauge
27 stitches = 4 inches in pattern, unstretched
Size
Finished Dimensions: 10 inches wide x 60 inches long (Note: Each skein yields approximately 20 inches of scarf, so with 4 skeins you could make an 80-inch scarf.)
Pattern
For the free pattern, please visit our original Mistake Rib Scarf story.
Learn About Cashmere Merino Bloom + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Soft, supple, and toasty warm, Cashmere Merino Bloom is an absolute knitting joy! A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, it is made with 25% of the most exquisite cashmere in the world and 75% extra fine merino wool and benefits from both fibers: cashmere for over-the-top softness and beautiful bloom and merino for resilience, durability, and even more softness. Cashmere Merino Bloom has an incredible hand feel with a gentle halo that illuminates your knitting… A gorgeous choice!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Cashmere Merino Bloom patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/ DK Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cashmere yarn (What makes cashmere so special? Learn all about this amazing fiber in our guide to cashmere yarn!)
- Shop merino wool yarn
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!
Hi,
I’d like to make the Mistake Rib Scarf in Alpaca pure. Would this work and how many stitches would I need to cast on/ needle size and skeins required??
Thanks!
Hi Gillian,
Thanks for writing us! We’ve never knit up the Alpaca Pure in this stitch, so I’m going to take an educated guess and say that casting on about 10 less stitches will give you a similar width. Alpaca Pure knits best on US 8-9 and sometimes US 10 depending on the knitter. And finally, I think you’ll need about 6-7 skeins to get a scarf of this length. Thanks again!
Best of luck,
Adam
Would you cast on the same number using Cashmere Merino Bloom as you would using Mulberry Merino?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! You will be using the same cast-on number and the same needles as you would for the Mulberry Merino version of this lovely scarf! The Cashmere Merino Bloom is slightly thicker and will result in a 10 inch wide scarf whereas the Mulberry Merino will yield a 7 inch wide scarf.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I am just about complete with an amazing cabled scarf using Dove Grey Cashmere Bloom. The yarn was a dream, felt so wonderful while knitting. There is enough definition that the cables are gorgeous and a bit a wonderful cashmere fuzziness!!Love, love, love it. Now for my question – what is the best method to use for blocking?
Hello, Sandy!
Thank you so much for your question. Your scarf sounds dreamy! We have an excellent Blocking tutorial right here!
please let us know if you have further questions and again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
Hi! I’m thinking about making this scarf in Zageo Cashmere. Do you think that substitution would work out well? How many skeins of Zane would you suggest buying – four or five? Thanks!
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for writing in! I think that this scarf would be great in Jade Sapphire’s 6-Ply Cashmere. To get correct amount of yardage, I would suggest purchasing 4 skeins.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Is the Mistake Rib Scarf very bulky? Hard to tell in the pics. Since I’m only 5’5” my frame does not take well to big bulky wrapped scarves. However, the wool sounds yummy.
Also I have a beige coat I would like to wear it with. My hair is medium dark with fine silver highlights, do you think the Honey Pink or Heather would be flattering. Please feel free to suggest any colours that would compliment the coat as well as my hair color.
Thanks @ bunch….
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for writing in! The Mistake Rib Scarf in Cashmere Merino Bloom is not a bulky scarf. The yarn itself comes in around a heavy sport weight. I will say that the scarf is lofty and squishy. I think that it is a good weight for a scarf for the winter and not too heavy.
Based on your description, I think that good color options for you would be either the Rose Granite, Dove Gray or Honey Pink. Any color your pick should be quite flattering!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi,
This pattern is unisex, correct? I am thinking of making the scarf for a male friend. Also, my friend is 6’4.” Should I make the scarf a bit longer with 4 skeins instead of 3?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! This scarf looks great on everyone and is super versatile! I do think that for your friend, 4 skeins would work better than 3 and would great a luxurious and cozy scarf!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you!
Hi! I love the pattern of this scarf and am thinking about making it. What’s the difference between making the scarf using Mulberry Merino and Cashmere Merino Bloom in terms of fabric softness and scarf thickness?
Thanks so much!
Hi Celine,
Thanks for your question! Mulberry Merino and Cashmere Merino Bloom are very different yarns. Mulberry Merino is a smoother yarn, due to the silk content, with a slightly smaller gauge than the Cashmere Merino Bloom. Cashmere Merino Bloom is softer, blooms up quite a bit and has a bit larger gauge. I think that both are great options depending on what qualities you are looking for!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi,
I love this scarf but I am a little scared by the thin needles. I am not the most experienced (or patient :-)) of knitters and all my past projects have involved chunkier needles and wool. Do you think this pattern would work with a slightly larger needles and yarn?
Thanks very much,
Katie
Hi Katie!
Thank you for writing in! You can totally use chunkier needles and wool with this pattern! You will need to adjust the number of cast-on stitches, but we are happy to help you figure that out. The Mistake Rib is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. To determine your cast on number you would multiply the number of stitches you are getting per inch by how wide you would like the scarf. Then make sure that that number is a multiple of 4 + 3. Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hi,
I’m planning to make this for my aunt. I love the pattern, but the suggested yarn is quite beyond my budget. If my substitute yarn is acrylic, how does that change the pattern? Thanks!
Hi Shaznin,
Thanks for writing us. Acrylic won’t change the pattern as long as you are knitting with a yarn that’s similar to the gauge. Try to get a yarn that is DK weight (in synthetic yarn that is a #3 weight yarn). Best of luck and I hope you’ll like the pattern!
-Adam
If I wanted to make this pattern wider or narrower, how many stitches would I need to add or subtract from the original 67?
Hi Patricia!
Thank you for writing in! The Mistake Rib is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. So, to make the pattern wider or narrower you’ll want to make sure that your cast on number is a multiple of 4 + 3. Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hi,
I am wanting to make this scarf using Woolfolk Sno, do you have a suggestion on needle size and number of cast-on stitches?
Thank You,
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for the question! I suggest using either a US 3 or 4 needle for the Woolfolk Sno. You’ll want to do a gauge swatch and multiply your stitches per inch by your desired scarf width. This will get you a rough cast on number. Mistake Rib is worked over multiples of 4 stitches + 3, so make sure you adjust your final cast on to a number that fits this equation.
All the best,
Adam
I would like to make this scarf for my son who is 6’4″ . What is your recommendation for the length of the scarf or would 60″ be less no enough? Thank you
Hi Deb,
Thanks for writing in! The traditional wisdom has been that a scarf should be roughly the length of the wear’s height. In the case of your tall son. I would suggest somewhere in the 70″ to 80″ range. However, you could also measure a scarf that he has now that works for him and use that as the basis for the length! Either way, I think that you will have a good size scarf for him!
Best,
Cassy
What colors do you use to get the grey scarf in the photo?
Hello Gordana,
Thank you for reaching out! We used the color Dove Gray in Cashmere Merino Bloom.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi, I knitted this for my aunt and she absolutely lovely, now I’d like to try and knit a cowl for myself, will the same pattern work? Many thanks, Serene
Hi Serene,
Thanks for writing in! I am so glad that you aunt loved the scarf! We do have a pattern for a Mistake Rib Cowl! If you would like to use the Cashmere Merino Bloom for it, you may need to change to a US 6 needle but I would be sure to swatch with the US 7 to see if you can get gauge!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am making this for a male friend who is 5’11. Is 3 skeins enough or should I use 4?
Hello Fareeha,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m tempted to say go for four skeins. You can always keep your fourth skein unwound and return it for store credit with it’s receipt within 6 months if you decide to keep it on the shorter side.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I made this scarf for my nephew and would like to make a hat to go with it. Can you suggest a pattern that would go well with it? Thank you!
Hello Gail,
Thank you for reaching out! I think that either our Lovely Ribbed Hat or our Four Spokes Hat would both be lovely companions to the Mistake Rib Scarf.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Everything look beautiful, I would like to make a scarf, but no idea where I could get a knitting machine. Anybody has a suggestion?
Thanks.
Hi Julia,
Thanks for reaching out and for the kind words! All of our patterns are written for hand knitting so no machine needed!
Best,
Cassy
Would this work well in super soft merino?
Thank you!
Frances
Hi Frances,
Thanks for writing in! We haven’t tried it, but I think that a Mistake Rib Scarf in Super Soft Merino sounds fantastic! o figure out how many stitches to cast on, you will need to knit a gauge swatch in pattern on US 11 needles and multiply your stitches per inch by 10 inches. You can then round that number to the nearest multiple of 4 plus 3 stitches and follow the rest of the pattern as written!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
The scarf turned out beautifully! Thank you for your help.
Hi Frances,
We’re so glad to hear it! We bet it’s incredibly cozy in Super Soft Merino… You had a wonderful idea, and we hope you enjoy your scarf!
Best,
Whitney
It is VERY cozy. Now I would like to make this scarf for my nephew who is in college in Maine. So, I need a washable yarn.
I’m thinking of Anzula’s For Better or Worsted. What do you think? How much yarn would I need, assuming a size 8 needle?
Would it be warm and cozy? Also, I’m guessing it could not go in the dryer? Thinking of a college student here…
Thank you!
Frances
Hi Frances,
For Better of Worsted would be a lovely choice for this scarf! This yarn is indeed very warm, cozy, and soft. It should be able to go in the dryer as well, but I’d recommend washing and drying your gauge swatch just to be sure!
And this yarn is actually relatively thin for a worsted weight (whereas Cashmere Merino Bloom is pretty thick for a DK weight), so you should be able to follow this pattern exactly as written! I’d recommend getting 4 skeins, based on the yardage.
All the best,
Lili
What a beautiful scarf! And I love the color. I always find myself wanting to knit your patterns in the exact yarn and shade that I see in the sample….is it that you always pick the best colors, or maybe it’s my lack of imagination and creativity in making my own personal selection?
Much appreciation!
Hi Natalie,
Great question! I think our yarns come in many beautiful colors, but you’re not alone – the color we choose for our sample is almost always the most popular! I think it has a lot to do with how talented our photography department is. They really make sure our projects look their best, and many people find the images in our newsletters so appealing that they have to have the exact same item for themselves, right down to the color! You are always welcome and encouraged to choose any color you like, but we’re so happy to hear that you enjoy our selections so much!
Best,
Julianna
So I’m not alone! Good to know.
Yes, you make the items look very desirable- that I have to make the exact thing!
Thank you Julianna.
Can I try this pattern using Woolfolk Yarn’s Far?
Please offer me any guidance in making this substitution. Will I use about 6 hanks?
(Or if Woolfolk Yarn has a more suitable yarn for this pattern….)
Thank you!!
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! I think Woolfolk Far would be absolutely divine in this stitch pattern! It is slightly heavier weight than Cashmere Merino Bloom, but I don’t think it’s enough to warrant any pattern changes. It would still be wise to knit a quick gauge swatch to make sure! You will need 5 skeins for a scarf the same size as ours, but you could add a bit of width or length if you have 6!
Best,
Julianna
Do you have a pattern to Crochet this beautiful scarf?
Hi Johanna,
Thanks for writing in! We do not have a crocheted version of this scarf but we will certainly keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Julianna
How long is the scarf pictured here in this post? Does it use 4 skeins for 80 in?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! Our scarf in the images above measures 60 inches long and used 3 skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom.
Best,
Julianna
Purl Soho, my goodness you are knitting heaven, how I wish you were in the UK.
Do you think this scarf would work in Big Good Wool? If so how much would I need and which needles to get the same effect?
Hi Tania
Thanks for reaching out! This scarf would look great in Big Good Wool but the cast on number would need to be adjusted, in a multiple of 4 sts + 3sts. I think 2 skeins would be sufficient, and a US 8-9 needle, depending on your gauge. Another option would be the Seafaring Scarf which is a similar size and takes 2 skeins. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting
Jessica
Hello,
I made this scarf for my husband (exactly as pictured) and it turned out beautifully! I love “borrowing” it from him. I’m hoping to make him a hat in the same rib pattern and bought another skein of the cashmere merino bloom. Do you have a suggestion for a pattern for a coordinating hat?
Thank you!
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for writing in, and what a nice idea! While we don’t have a hat pattern with this stich, we do have a cowl pattern, and I think you could alter that to work as a hat. Take a look at our Mistake Rib Cowl. What I would do is first cast on as many stitches as you need for a circumference that’s a few inches less than your husband’s head circumference. Then, just work the mistake rib pattern for the cowl! Once the hat is long enough to cover his ears, then I would work decreases to form the crown of the hat. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I’ve knit the body of the hat but am now having trouble working out how to decrease the crown while maintaining the pattern. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!
Hi Amanda,
For the decreases in the crown of the hat, I’d mainly recommend making sure they always line up on each round, so that you get nice and neat “seams.” You can use stitch markers to make sure you’re always decreasing at the same point on each round and so that your decreases are evenly spread apart! Other than that, I would just keep in mind that the other stitches should still follow the basic stitch pattern, as in the stitches should still go k2, p2 and be offset by one stitch each round. Let me know how it goes!
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
I would like to make the mistake scarf but with 100% cashmere yarn. Do I need to double the yarn? Thank you.
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out. You can make this pattern with any yarn! While this particular pattern was designed with a DK weight yarn in mind, you can certainly knit it up with a different weight at a different gauge. All you’d need to do is adjust how many stitches you cast on so that your scarf comes out to the correct width.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern (if this is daunting, we have a wonderful tutorial called All About Gauge). Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Help! I bought three skeins of Cashmere Merino Blend to make your Nightfall Cowl (in 1581 heather, Night Blue, Lot 323831). I’ve now changed my mind and want to join the “Italian Lesson” KAL and make your Mistake Rib Scarf which requires four skeins of yarn. Question: how variable are the color lots in Night Blue? Would you advise that I buy one more skein of Night Blue OR choose two skeins of a complimentary color and make the two tone Mistake Rib Scarf? And is there any chance, if it’s two tone, that I can get another color before June 9 (two weeks from today)? Many thanks!
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry to say that we no longer have any skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom in Night Blue from dye lot 323831. We know just how important matching dye lots for a project is, and we apologize for the inconvenience!
If you decide to order skeins from the dye lot we have on hand, then I’d recommend alternating skeins as you work to minimize any color discrepancy between the skeins. If you’re unfamiliar with that technique, you can check out the following tutorial for good advice on how to work with slightly irregular yarns. Alternatively, choosing a complimentary color is a great idea!
In answer to your question about shipping, I’d recommend taking a glance at our Shipping page to decide which method is best for your project timeline. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I am planning to make this scarf using the Cashmere Merino Bloom. I’d like to make it a little more narrow. The person I’m making it for is petite and I don’t want it to overpower her! How many stitches do you suggest I cast on rather than the 67 in the pattern? And, please confirm I should still use size 6 needles? Thank you for your advice! I look forward to knitting this as I think it will be gorgeous in the light blue.
Hi Carol,
Every 6 or 7 stitches you subtract from the cast on should narrow your scarf about 1 inch. Remember to make sure that, whatever number you cast on, it is a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. For example, 16 x 4 = 64 + 3 = 67 cast on stitches.
Now, about the needles… Knitters knit at different tensions (some tight, some loose, some in between), and the needles we recommend are only a recommendation. To determine the ones you should use, it’s always a good idea to test your needles with your yarn and stitch pattern before you actually begin. Our All About Gauge Tutorial explains this concept in depth, but the Cliff notes are to work up a little swatch: Cast on 27 stitches, work in the mistake rib pattern for about 4 inches, bind off, then wet your little swatch, squeeze it, and lay it flat to dry. Does it measure 4 inches? Great, stick with those needles! But if it’s narrower, try bigger needles, and if it’s wider, try smaller ones. We know this sound like a lot of work, but it helps ensure that your finished scarf is, not only the right width, but also the right feeling, neither too dense nor too loose.
Please let us know if we can help you sort all this out. It’s a lot of information and some extra work, but it’ll be worth it, because, we agree, this scarf in light blue will be gorgeous!
Best,
Whitney
Hi there! I’d like to make this pattern using the Nigh DK yarn. Are there any adjustments that I should make for the pattern? Thanks in advance!
Hi Connie,
You can definitely use Nigh DK for this pattern!
Happy making,
Gavriella