No-Purl Ribbed Scarf, Now in Lavender Opal
Our No-Purl Ribbed Scarf has always resonated with us because it combines two of our favorite things: A super-high-quality alpaca yarn and, of course, all knit stitches!
And now with a fresh palette of Alpaca Pure colors to choose from, there is yet another reason the No-Purl Ribbed Scarf is one of our go-to patterns. From the quiet of our Heathered colors to the boldness of our Helixes, Alpaca Pure’s new colors come straight from nature, dipping into its calm and wild complexities.
For this new version, we chose the classic beauty of Lavender Opal. Its pretty purple tones bring the feeling of spring to the middle of January… Another reason to love our No-Purl Ribbed Scarf!
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!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoNoPurlRibbedScarf, and #PurlSohoWorstedTwist. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 4 (5) skeins of Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, 100% finest alpaca. Approximately 436 (545) yards required. We used the color Lavender Opal.
- US 8 (5mm), straight or circular needles
Gauge
22 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished dimensions: 8 ½ inches wide x 64 (80) inches long
Pattern
For the free pattern, please visit our original No-Purl Ribbed Scarf story.
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!
In your finished dimensions you state 8.5 wide by 64 (80) long. What does the 80 mean? Thanks for the help.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely pattern, we offer two lengths of this scarf. You can knit either a 64 inch long scarf with 4 skeins of our Alpaca Pure or an 80 inch long scarf with 5 skeins of Alpaca Pure.
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
Gorgeous as always!
Do you think it would be pretty in one of your Alpaca Pure Helix yarns?
Hi Maura,
Thanks for writing in! This could look nice in one of the Helix yarns. You will lose the look of the texture a bit due to the marled color. I generally find that the helix yarns sing best in flatter textures like garter and stockinette!
If you do make one, we would love to see it!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you for reminding us again about this lovely pattern and this yarn is perfect for it! this is one of my favorite patterns ever. I put a small removable marker on the right side and let it practically knit itself!
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the wonderful comment! Glad you love the pattern!
-Adam
Hi. I really love this idea for a scarf and would love to give it a go. When it says slip stitch is this done as to knit the stitch or to purl the stitch? Thanks.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing in! For this lovely scarf, all stitches are slipped purlwise!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
One hundred and four dollars for a scarf?
Hi Jan,
Though the materials are expensive, you are paying for high quality alpaca and a curated color palette. This pattern is easily adaptable for any worsted weight yarn of your choosing. Thanks!
-Adam
This fast pattern has saved me countless hours & are all always a finished delight. They can be made any width, any length, any size yarn, even leftovers! Be sure to use the “Russian yarn join” (on other any other joins, so easy!) when you use scraps Just snip off the ends when it is complete! Be sure to use the same weight pieces!
Everyone loves this scarf, so soft pretty! You can make hats to match, just use your imagination!
For kids, I sit & join yards of colorful lengths together & then, knit, knit, knit!! Run out, join some more!! So easy to teach children how, too! ( “The Russian join” is on the net)
cannot find pattern for NO PURL RIBBED SCARF SCARF . Would like to print it.
Hi Barb,
Thanks for writing in! We linked the original pattern for this scarf under the Pattern section. I am including the link here for your convenience: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/09/12/no-purl-ribbed-scarf/
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi,
I’ve made the mistake rib scarf (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2016/10/10/mistake-rib-scarf-in-cashmere-merino-bloom/) before and loved it!
How is this pattern different in terms of how it looks?
Thanks,
Teri
Hi Teri,
Thanks for writing in! While similar, these two scarves do have a different texture. I would say that the no-purl rib is a bit more textural with higher peaks and lower valleys and that the mistake rib is a bit flatter of a texture. Both a quite lovely and easily achievable! I think that knitting on the no-purl rib goes a bit faster as there are no purls!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
In the original pattern of this lovely scarf someone asked about knitting it in the round for a cowl. A reply suggested seaming the ends, but that does not preserve the rib in the circumference. I had the same idea, so worked out the pattern in the round. Unfortunately it requires purl stitches, so can’t be called “no-purl” but it does maintain the pattern and makes a very nice hat or cowl.
Use a multiple of 4 stitches and alternate the following two rounds:
Round 1: *slip 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to end of round
Round 2: p2 *slip 1 wyib (as though to knit), p3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyib, p1
Thanks so much for making your great patterns available!
very soft , stretchy, and comfy in any length or width; try it!
Hello, What do you think about knitting a cowl with this pattern in the round? The ribs would then go vertical. Do you think that would work well?
Thank you
Sandra
Hello Sandra,
Thank you for writing in! Unfortunately, this pattern would not be “purl-less” if worked in the round. You could knit it as written and then seam the ends together. Also, we do have a ton of other fantastic cowl patterns. Hopefully we will have something that will catch your eye. The Fluted Cowl is worked up in a thicker yarn but it is a very similar fabric to our No-Purl Ribbed Scarf.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Are you slipping as if to knit but with yarn in front
Hi Kirsti,
Thanks for the question! You will be slipping the stitches purlwise while holding the yarn in the back of the work for this lovely scarf!
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
I would like to substitute your “Far” yarn – will this work without changes ?
Thank you!
Hi Joy!
Using “Far” could work well as a substitute but I would recommend doing a gauge swatch to make sure you are getting the right dimensions.
Happy knitting!
Carly
Would Woolfolk yarn work with this pattern? My husband likes the colors available in this yarn. How many skeins would I need? Thanks!
Hi Dorothy,
Thanks for writing in! This scarf would be lovely in Woolfolk Far! You will need 4 skeins and then you can follow the pattern as written!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
would you mind to also measurements in cm please
Hi Dhyani,
Thanks for writing in! We totally hear you regarding including metric sizes and measurements. This is something that is currently under consideration so we really appreciate your input!
When I need to translate a pattern from metric to US imperial, I like to use Google’s conversion tools. I type “convert cm to inches” into Google and a purpose built calculator will appear. You can certainly do the same thing in reverse to convert all of the measurements you seek into metric!
This scarf is 8 1/2 inches wide x 64 (80) inches long or approximately 21.5 cm wide and 162.5 or 203 cm long.
Best,
Cassy
Hi, I would like to use your worsted twist for the no purl ribbed scarf. Would the pattern be the same and how many skeins of yarn?
Hello Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! This scarf would be beautiful in Worsted Twist and it will require the same amount of skeins.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I have a bunch of your Feltro yarn that I would love to use on this scarf. What needle size would you recommend and how many cast on stitches to achieve a comparable width?
Hi Stef,
Thanks for writing in! I am happy to help! I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch in pattern on US 15 needles. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch you can multiply that number by 8 1/2 inches. This stitch pattern is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches so the number that comes closest to this and works with this formula will be your cast on number. For example, if you are getting 3 stitches per inch in pattern, 3 x 8.5 = 25.5. The nearest number that will work that is a multiple of 4 + 3 is either 23 stitches or 27 stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
What a great pattern! If you want to produce perfect-looking ribbing, this is the way to go.
I love this pattern and have made it several times. I made it for myself in your Cashmere Merino Bloom, Salt & Pepper Helix, and just love it. I also made it for my son in Cashmere Merino Bloom, Charcoal Onyx Helix and while the scarf it beautiful, the pattern doesn’t show up as well in the super dark color. I have also made this scarf in much cheaper yarns for charity. I see the instructions for knitting this pattern in the round and will use them. Do you have a hat pattern that would go with this scarf?
Preferably knitted in the round but flat is also OK.
Hi Priscilla,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out – I’m so glad you have made so many wonderful scarves from this pattern! Unfortunately we do not have a hat pattern in the No-Purl Rib stitch pattern, but you might consider our Fluffy Brioche Hat. It is also written for Cashmere Merino Bloom, and although it’s not the same texture, it does have a lovely texture that should coordinate well with this scarf.
Best of luck and I hope that helps!
Julianna
Is this yarn no longer available? And if so, what yarn would you suggest to substitute? Thanks!
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, unfortunately, Alpaca Pure has been discontinued – I’m so sorry about that! However, both Cashmere Tend and Worsted Twist are lovely substitutes that knit up to the same gauge!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, how many skeins of Worsted Twist is needed for this beautiful scarf in 9”x 80” measurement? Thanks.
Hi Ranjana,
Thanks for reaching out! For the 9 x 80 inch scarf, you will need approximately 545 yards. Each skein of Worsted Twist has 164 yards, so you will need 4 skeins total to complete this scarf!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hello…Would like to make this lovely pattern – wondering how much yardage I’d need for a DK weight super wash wool I was gifted and have 612 yards. I’d like the scarf to be about 60 “ max and 8” wide. Yarn label says needle size can be US 5-7, 21-24 stitches /4 inches. Thanks kindly if you have any recommendations.
Heather.
Hi Heather,
That’s a great question! Since we haven’t released a DK weight yarn version of this scarf, I’d recommend knitting a gauge swatch with your yarn to see if you can get the same gauge as the pattern! Based on the information on the yarn label, it looks like you should be able to get gauge and a swatch is the best way to determine what needle size you’ll need to do so. Here’s our guide on swatching in case you’d like any additional information: All About Gauge! If you’re getting the same gauge as the pattern, the yardage you have sounds like it should be enough for a scarf in the dimensions that you mentioned. To make your scarf 8″ wide, you can cast on the same amount as the original pattern. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat