Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns
We take the “opposites attract” axiom to heart with our Reversible Stripe Scarf. Distinctly fluted vertical stripes on one side and smooth-as-stone horizontal pinstripes on the other, it features two subtly different surfaces. When wrapped snugly around your neck, you get to enjoy the beauty of both!
Making this somewhat magical scarf is so simple: an easy slip stitch pattern that uses only one yarn in each row. If this sounds like gibberish to you, we have a video tutorial that explains it all!
In this opposites-attract spirit, we used two very different Purl Soho yarns for this new version of an old favorite pattern. Our gorgeous new Season Alpaca (below) gives this scarf the kind of coziness that feels so good against your neck, while our classic Mulberry Merino brings understated luster and smooth warmth.
Get both yarns together and once you cast on, the realization that you can so easily knit something that appears so complex is perhaps the ultimate example of opposites at work!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoRiversibleStripesScarf, and #PurlSohoSeasonAlpaca. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Reversible Stripes Scarf, you will need…
- Yarn A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Season Alpaca, 100% baby alpaca. Each skein is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 290 yards required.
- Yarn B: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% mulberry silk. Each skein is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 250 yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns, or use another color of Season Alpaca!)
- US 7 (4.5mm), 16-, 20-, or 24-inch circular needles
Choose from these lovely palettes…
(NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, and some colors of Season Alpaca may no longer be available. We still love these palettes for inspiration!)
Honey Pink
We used the Honey Pink palette, shown above. It includes…
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Honey Pink
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Heirloom White
Heirloom White + Turmeric Yellow
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Heirloom White
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Turmeric Yellow
Raw Sienna + Super Pink
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Raw Sienna
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Super Pink
Burnt Sienna + Wheat Flour
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Burnt Sienna
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Wheat Flour
Dove Gray + Heirloom White
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Dove Gray
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Heirloom White
Ebbtide Blue + Heirloom White
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Ebbtide Blue
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Heirloom White
Stillwater Blue + Oyster Gray
Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Stillwater Blue
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Oyster Gray
Gauge
24 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: approximately 8¼ inches wide x 70¼ inches long
Notes
STITCH MULTIPLE
If you would like to adjust this pattern for a different width, simply cast on any odd number of stitches.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip stitches purlwise.
TURN + SLIDE
Each row in this pattern starts with the instructions to either “Turn” or “Slide” the work:
- “Turning the work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with a circular needle. That is to say, put the needle in your left hand into your right and the needle in your right hand into your left, and flip the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
- “Sliding 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 needle. 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! For extra help, check out our Reversible Stripes Stitch video tutorial!
Swatch Instructions
With Yarn A, cast on 25 stitches.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 4 inches.
Repeat Rows 1-3.
In Yarn A, bind off knitwise.
Pattern
With Yarn A, cast on 49 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Turn, and slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif). With Yarn B, *p1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to end.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slide, and with Yarn A, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 3 (right side): Turn, and slip 1 wyib. With Yarn B, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to end.
Row 4 (right side): Slide, and with Yarn A, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures approximately 70 inches.
Repeat Rows 1-3.
FINISHING
In Yarn A, bind off knitwise.
Weave in ends and gently wet block your finished piece.
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!
I love this pattern
can’t wait to make this beautiful scarf/pattern . . .
I love the beauty of its simplicity! A true classic!
i really do love this; wish I could afford the kit! However, I do Appreciate the great Pattern, you guys are my absolute fave group to follow, you make the most simple things so Wonderful!! Thank you, Elizabeth Diamond (FL)
Could you please suggest a combination using burnt sienna as one of the color ways?
Hi Amy,
I’m wondering if you are using burnt sienna in the Mulberry Merino or the Season Alpaca?
I think that the Season alpaca in burnt sienna pairs beautifully with the Mulberry merino in Apricot tea. Another option that I think is gorgeous but a little more neutral is to pair it with Wheat flour or heirloom white!
I hope this helps!
Carly
Hi!
How would pink mauve and wheat flour look together?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Alice,
Thanks for writing in! I think that Pink Taupe and Wheat Flour would look stunning together. What a great combination!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
This pattern is great with one solid color and one gradient yarn too.
I adore this pattern but was thinking about knitting it in Cotton Pure for a vegan friend (2 skeins each of 2 different colors). The yarn weight/yardage seems like it would work. What do you think? Thank you so much!
Hi Megan!
Thanks for writing in! Cotton Pure would be a great substitute for the Season Alpaca with this scarf! I would recommend doing a quick swatch before starting to be sure that your gauge is correct and that you like the finished fabric.
Best,
Carly
I am working on this right now! Simple enough to watch movies by, but complex enough to keep it interesting. The Season Alpaca is cozy soft and the Mulberry Merino (my fav!) just glows next to it! Highly recommend if anyone is looking for a relaxing next project.
Thinking about using toasted charcoal and dove gray. Think that would work?
Thanks!
Hello Carol,
Thank you for reaching out! This color combination would be beautiful with nice contrast, I say go for it!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
It looks as if the right and left edges of the scarf in the above picture and the video are completely different and I’m getting a third version. What’s up?
Hello Ann,
Thank you for reaching out- I hope I can help! I knit up a little swatch to see if I could figure out what could be going wrong and I found that if I do not bring Yarn B around for the first slipped stitch on row 1 and on row making sure that yarn be goes under yarn A when beginning your first knit stitch after the slipped stitch.
I hope this makes sense, I would recommend watching the video and pay extra attention when she begins row 1 and row 3.
It has a huge effect on my edges, so that could be why you edges do not look the same as the ones pictured.
I hope this helps and let me know If I can clarify anything for you!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I have some Jade Sapphire 6-ply cashmere Zageo yarn. How many skeins would I need to knit this fabulous scarf? And does it curl or remain flat?
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for reaching out! I am happy to help! We have knit this lovely scarf using Jade Sapphire 6 ply and you will need 2 skeins of each color! Additionally, we find that the nature of this stitch means that the scarf lays quite flat! It is always helpful to be sure that you are getting the correct gauge and to give it a good blocking when done to ensure that it does lay flat!
Best,
Cassy
hello some time ago I made the speckled scarf with linen quill, could I do this scarf with linen quill as well and if yes, how many skeins would be needed? or you would not recommend it?
Hi Beatrice,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly use Linen Quill for this pattern, however it is a fingering weight yarn and this pattern is designed for a sport weight so you will need to make a few adjustments. We used approximately 436 yards of each color, Linen Quill has 439 yards per skein so it is possible you could get away with one skein of each color but I would recommend buying a second of each to insure you have enough! If you don’t end up using the extra skeins, and as long as they are in original condition you can return them fro store credit within 6 months!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I’m interested in this scarf for myself and my daughters. Do you have a suggested yarn to replace the Mulberry Merino?
Thank you,
Dee
Hi Dee,
Thanks for reaching out! I recommend using our lovely new yarn Wigeon! It is a sport weight yarn like Mulberry Merino so it should work perfectly with this pattern! I do also suggest starting off by working a gauge swatch to ensure you are consistent with the pattern!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
I made this scarf in River Pink Season Alpaca (Yarn A) and Wheat Flour Mulberry (Yarn B) — it’s beautiful! Now, my 21-year-old and highly fashionable daughter wants one. I’m thinking of using Heirloom White Alpaca (Yarn A) and Green Willow Wigeon (Yarn B). Is there any reason not to “flip” which yarn is used for the lighter color? Also, will I need just one skein of Wigeon if I use it for Yarn B? I think the color combo will be fresh and bright, a whole different vibe than the more muted colors I used. I appreciate your expertise before I place the order. Your patterns, yarn and advice are always amazing! She was going to stop by the Broome Street store to look in person, but I see it’s closed.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your questions! We’re so excited that you’re knitting this scarf for your daughter. I think your color choices are absolutely wonderful. A scarf in Green Willow and Heirloom White will look great, and you can definitely use either color as Yarn A and Yarn B. The only difference that makes is that the color of the cast-on and bind-off edge will be in Color A, so in this case it would be Heirloom White! And yes, if you use Wigeon as Yarn B, you would only need 1 skein. For Yarn A, you would need 2 skeins of the Season Alpaca.
Thank you for your very kind words! We’re still assessing when we’ll reopen and as we continue to do so, please feel free to check out this page for any updates: https://www.purlsoho.com/covid-19-updates
Have a great rest of your day!
All the best,
Cat
Ohh G, I have oodles of light weight worsted yarn tht is so soft
Anytime I see the scarfs created, I see blankets. Its an awful problem. I have one request, plleassse might you start videos from the cast on? I know cast ons are usually long tail but many times I hve found tht a row has to be knit first aftr cast on. Its frustrating and I find myself scolding the videos. Why start on a second row of a 4 row repeat in a video? Wld you all discuss this at your next round table meeting?I mean, Come onnn Soho’s, it wld only help!!! Happy Tails To You..
Hi Uma,
Thanks so much for writing in! I’ll be sure to pass along your feedback for our video tutorials to our team. We really appreciate your input and are always looking for ways to better help our awesome community. And I can definitely relate; what better way to enjoy the coziness of a scarf than turn it into a blanket? If only there were more hours in the day for knitting!
Thanks again for reaching out!
All the best,
Cat