Brindle Scarf
When I sit down to knit with Purl Soho’s new hand spun Shepherdess Alpaca, I am transported by memories of my favorite get-out-of-town escapes: sheep and wool festivals. Vats of freshly sheared wool, herds of fine-coated alpacas, sheep, goats and llamas, fresh air… Shepherdess Alpaca brings it all back!
Our Brindle Scarf captures all the charm and beauty of the alpacas who grew it. We combined two undyed colors, Heirloom White and brindled Wood Thrush, in a simple slip stitch pattern to create a texture with enough depth and fascination to excite your wooliest dreams.
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 haven’t tried knitting with an all natural, hand spun, undyed yarn, there is nothing quite like it. By leaving the fibers as nature intended, Shepherdess Alpaca is full of surprises and beauty. Prepare to be transported! -Jake
Update: New Yarns!
November 2021
We revisited this cozy winter scarf in two of our favorite 100% merino yarns: chunky classic Super Soft Merino, and our hand-dyed superwash Lovebird, made in collaboration with our friends at Manos Del Uruguay. To view our colorful update, and 13 gorgeous bundles, click here!
UPDATE: NEW COLORS OF LOVEBIRD!
NOVEMBER 2022
Still in our lovely Lovebird and dreamy Super Soft Merino, we’ve used our newest Lovebird colors to add more gorgeous Brindle Scarf Bundles to the collection. So, plump up your yarn and pump up the beauty, and cast on for this happy, chunky knit!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBrindleScarf. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color (MC): 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Shepherdess, 100% undyed, handspun alpaca. Approximately 369 yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- Contrast Color (CC): 2 skeins of Shepherdess. Approximately 246 yards required.We used Wood Thrush.
- US 13 (9mm), 20-inch (or longer) circular needles
Here’s what the Brindle Scarf looks like knit up in the other colors of Shepherdess Alpaca…
MC: Wood Thrush + CC: Heirloom White
MC: Heirloom White + CC: Bantam Hen
MC: Bantam Hen + CC: Heirloom White
MC: Heirloom White + CC: Starling
MC: Starling + CC: Heirloom White
Gauge
10 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished dimensions: 7 x 72 inches
Notes
Turn and Slide
Each row in this pattern ends with the instructions to either “turn” or “slide” the work:
To “turn the work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with a circular needle. That is to say, put the needle that is in your left hand into your right and the needle that is in your right hand into your left, then flip the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
To “slide the work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is magically there waiting for you!
Slip
Slip all stitches purlwise unless otherwise indictated.
Pattern
With the MC, cast on 17 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): With MC, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), knit to end of row, turn work.
Row 2 (right side): With CC, slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 wyif, slide work.
Row 3 (right side): With MC, slip 1 wyif, purl to last stitch, k1, turn work.
Row 4 (wrong side): With CC, slip 1 wyib, *slip 1 wyif, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyif, slip 1 wyib, slide work.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 71 ½ inches or desired length.
Cut CC.
Repeat Row 1.
Bind Off (right side): With MC, loosely bind off in knit stitch.
Weave in the ends and block, if desired. (I recommend lightly steaming your scarf to relax the yarn into the stitch pattern. A full wet blocking, however, might get a little unruly!)
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!
Very nice! It might help beginners to state the obvious for more experienced knitters with a picture of work in progress showing how you’ll have working yarn on both ends of the needle and that carrying the yarn up on alternate rows creates a nice edge.
Hi Anna!
Thank you for writing in with this great suggestion! I’ll pass it along!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Yes – I am a beginner knitter and am getting extremely frustrated with this – I have taken this apart several times and have finally got it (I think) but it appears to lack the lovely edging shown in the photo??
Is this not in the instructions??
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in. We slipped the edges of every row. Are you doing this too? Let me know.
-Adam
Yes – finally worked out that colour on pattern is not the same as shown here – the MC should be the white.
I do finally have this but found it an extremely hard pattern to follow, perhaps too advanced for me.
I have taken this apart many times.
Help…..I like the Brindle Scarf lots but live in San Francisco which is not as cold as NY so I do not want to spend over 150 dollars to make it.
Any suggestions for yarn that is less expensive than the suggested alpaca??
Thank you, anne Faye
Hi Anne Faye,
Thanks for writing in! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try our Super Soft Merino. Addtionally, this pattern is easily modifiable for different gauges! The pattern works over an odd number of stitches. So should you find a yarn with a different gauge that you like, you can knit a gauge swatch, figure out how many stitches you get per inch, multiply that by the width that you would like and cast-on the nearest odd number!
Thank you so much for asking. We’re sure that lots of other readers will thank you, too!
Cassy
I love that scarf and the lady I knit for will love it to I think. Where do I get the yarn .
Hi Helen,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! Our Shepherdess can be purchased with in our store in NYC or on our website. The link for this lovely yarn can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/yarn/shepherdess-alpaca.html
Best,
Cassy
This is absolutely gorgeous! Is there a specific multiple of stitches if I want to make it wider?
Hi Kat,
Thanks for writing in! You absolutely can make this lovely scarf wider. The stitch pattern will work over any odd number of stitches. Based on your gauge, you can cast on the number of stitches that will get you the width that you want so long as it is an odd number.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
This yarn looks amazing! Can you recommend a vest pattern that would work with it? I live in Texas and don’t have many days to wear such a lovely scarf but could do a best….
Thanks! I love all your patterns!
Hi Patty,
Thanks for writing in! You are in luck! We also released our Drift Vest pattern using Shepherdess!
Best,
Cassy
Love this scarf! I just ordered some of the yarn and plan to just look at it and not be in too much of a hurry to knit bit up! It is so magnificent! Thank you.
Julie
I bought the Wood Thrush to make this scarf–I already had some undyed wool to use as the MC.
This yarn is so soft and scrumptious–I really would have liked to use all shepherdess–but my pocketbook couldn’t take it.
I want to thank you for your beautiful patterns. I haven’t make a single thing from you that I don’t love and receive tons of complements on. I’m sure this will be no exception. Just hope I can knit it up so it looks as nice as yours!
Would it be possible to knit this pattern on straight needles rather than circular? Is there a way to adapt it in order to do so?
Thanks!
Hi Vicki,
Tanks for your question! The pattern asks that you use circular needles because of the “slide the work” rows. The use of circular needles is a lot easier but you could also slip all your stitches to the other needle if you want to use straight needles.
I hope this helps!
Carly
I am preparing to make this for my husband and have a question about how to add in the CC…(Note, i havent yet started, so maybe it is something that becomes obvious in the doing, but is not in the instructions).
How exactly do i add in the CC? The instructions state:
– With the MC, cast on 17 stitches.
– Row 1 (wrong side): With MC, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), knit to end of row, turn work.
– Row 2 (right side): With CC, slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 wyif, slide work.
So i cast on MC, knit Row 1 with MC, and then suddenly am on CC. How does CC come to be a part of the second row? Do i make the initial slipknot with both colors and then only proceed with the cast-on with MC, leaving CC at the start? Do i somehow add in CC at the end of Row 1 when i turn the work so that I can use CC for Row 2?
I am anxious to start the project, i have everything in order, but obviously can’t make it past Row 1 until i get how to incorporate CC, so i appreciate any speedy response that can be given.
Hello Amber,
Thank you for reaching out! You are in luck- the answer is actually quite simple. To begin knitting with your CC you do not have to do anything but leave a tail, to be woven in at the end, and simply begin. The stitches themselves will secure you yarn so there is no need to do anything extra. It is no deferent than if you were adding in a new ball of yarn. I hope this makes sense and please let me know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Thank you, that helps greatly! Here’s hoping it goes well when i start tomorrow. 🙂
Hello,
1) COULD A BEGINNER KNIT THIS
2) THIS SCARF SUITABLE FOR A MAN?
3) RE THE SUPER SOFT MERINO, HOW MANY SKEINS NEEDED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY COLOUR SUGGESTIONS?
Many thanks, MaryO
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! If you have mastered the knit stitch and the purl stitch, I think that you could knit this lovely scarf. I always recommend reading through the whole pattern and making sure that the techniques make sense to you! You could also use scarf yarn that you have at home to try it out before committing to the whole project!
If you are using Super Soft Merino, you will need 3 skeins of the main color and 2 skeins of the contrast. You will have left overs but perhaps you can knit a bit wider of a scarf (add 2 stitches to the cast on for a total of 19 stitches). I would suggest using Heirloom White as your main color and Salt and Pepper or Lucky Magpie as your contrast color. This will give you a similar look to the sample above and look great and men and women alike!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
These Shepherdess yarns are the most exciting fibers I’ve seen: the many comments are evidence. My husband received a holiday scarf of Bantam Hen in simple stockinette stitch.The yarn speaks for itself. Today I began the Brindle scarf in Bantam Hen with Heirloom White; every row is an adventure !
This is one of the most confusing, and I think, poorly written instructions I have come across. I have torn it out so many times, I have lost count. In one inquiry about the edge, the reply was that each row should end with a slipped stitch. Well, put this in the instructions! Rows 1 and 3 do not say this. Please rewrite this and make it clear on how to add the CC yarn. A video would help and considering the price of this yarn, you should provide one.
Hello Joann,
Thank you for reaching out and giving us this feedback! I hope I can clarify for you. I believe I know which comment you are referencing which states We slipped the edges of every row” This does not refer to the last stitch of every row, if you did this you wouldn’t have a stitch to slip. You are slipping the last stitch in rows 2 and 3 as the pattern states.
Fortunately adding the CC color is very simple. To begin knitting with your CC you do not have to do anything but leave a tail, to be woven in at the end, and simply begin. The stitches themselves will secure you yarn so there is no need to do anything extra. It is no deferent than if you were adding in a new ball of yarn.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi! Is it ok if I use thinner yarn for this pattern? I am planning to do this scarf with yarns meant for 3mm needles, would the pattern be ok with that? and approximately how much yarn do I need? Thanks!
Hi Natalie,
This is a great question! This pattern calls for a super bulky yarn. Thinner yarn and smaller needles will make the overall pattern effect much smaller than the original. I would definitely suggest swatching with it to see if you like the fabric with the thinner yarn. The stitch pattern will work over any odd number of stitches. Based on your gauge, you can cast on the number of stitches that will get you the width that you want so long as it is an odd number. The Speckled scarf might be a better option for the yarn you have. Hope this helps!
Best,
Jessica