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!

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho

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!

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho

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.

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho

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!

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho

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

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho

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

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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Yarn A:  Season Alpaca in Heirloom White
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Turmeric Yellow

Raw Sienna + Super Pink

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Raw Sienna
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Super Pink

Burnt Sienna + Wheat Flour

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Burnt Sienna
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Wheat Flour

Dove Gray + Heirloom White

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Dove Gray
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Heirloom White

Ebbtide Blue + Heirloom White

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Ebbtide Blue
Yarn B: Mulberry Merino in Heirloom White

Stillwater Blue + Oyster Gray

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho
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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.

Reversible Stripes Scarf in New Yarns | Purl Soho