Jumbo Garter Scarf
Snow tomorrow, scarf today. So much drama with so little effort… You can knit our Jumbo Andean Scarf in about the time it takes to unearth the winter coats and boots, and before you know it, you’ve made a very big statement!
Credit goes to our new Jumbo Andean Handspun, a ginormous mix of baby alpaca and merino wool. Handspun in the Andes mountains of Peru by an organization of indigenous women who learned their craft from the women before them, who learned their craft from the women before them, Jumbo Andean Handspun keeps valuable traditions alive… with remarkable modernity.
It also happens to be incredibly beautiful yarn, as sculptural as rope and as soft as anything. But pay attention here: We are issuing Jumbo Andean Homespun in a limited edition, available exclusively in Heirloom White, and once we sell out, we sell out! So if adventurous knitting is on your itinerary, grab some while you can!
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!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoJumboGarterScarf. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Jumbo Andean Handspun, 60% baby alpaca and 40% merino wool. Each skein is 16 yards/ 125 grams; approximately 96 yards required.
- US 50 (25mm), 60-inch circular needles
PLEASE NOTE: Our Jumbo Andean Handspun was a limited-release yarn and is unfortunately no longer available. For a similar gauge for this project, we recommend using 5 skeins of Gentle Giant held double, equally Jumbo, and in a wide range of color choices!
Gauge
3 1/4 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 7 inches wide x 74 inches long
Note
1 skein of Jumbo Andean Handpsun makes about 2 rows of garter stitch at this cast-on number.
Pattern
Using Long Tail Cast On, cast on 60 stitches.
Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 nine more times, or until piece measures 6 1/2 inches from cast-on edge.
Loosely bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and you’re done!
NOTE: This yarn does not easily wet splice, so use your fingers to weave in the ends as usual for garter stitch. Check out the Garter Stitch section of our Weaving in Your Ends Tutorial for some extra tips!
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 hope that it is okay to provide constructive criticism in the reply thread, but this is a $168 scarf project! I have used at least a dozen of your patterns for sewing and knitting, but projects like these I find unrealistic and not helpful. In my personal opinion this type of yarn looks extremely odd/comical on the model, but works well in bedding and such. Thank you for posting my feedback.
Hello Piroska,
We hear you! 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 Cascade’s Mondo. You can make this scarf with two skeins of Mondo, or if you don’t mind this scarf being slightly shorter or thinner, one skien.
Thank you for your feedback and Happy Knitting!
-Marilla
Totally agree with Piroska. Maybe this would also look good as a cowl “in the round” so it’s not a long scarf but just a really “tall” scarf around my neck.
If I wanted to make a baby blanket with this yarn, how many skeins would you recommend??
Hi Marissa,
Thanks for writing in! To make a 30 x 30 inch baby blanket, you will need about 11 skeins!
Best,
Cassy
You didn’t give size (with and length)
HI Roberta,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely scarf is 7 inches wide x 74 inches long. The size, gauge and materials can be found above, just above where the pattern begins!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
This is lovely and slightly unpredictable!
Just wondering what cast on and cast off methods you use for such a thick yarn?
Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Pastille,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly use the long tail cast on here (I did on another project) but you could also try the standard backwards loop cast on. For the cast off, I would recommend doing a standard pass over cast off as this uses the least amount of yarn while making a clean cast off!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks 🙂
Can you crotchet a purl stitch?
Hi Jacqueline,
Thanks for writing in! I am not sure if one can crochet this look. However, if you have made a mistake in garter and need to know how to fix it, we can help. If you make a mistake in the garter, you certainly can fix it using a crochet hook. To do so, insert the hook in the back of the dropped stitch, with the bar of the dropped stitch in front, pull the bar through and place it back on the left hand needle.
Please let me know if I have misunderstood your question! I am happy to help further!
Cassy
Thank you, which cast-on method was used for the scarf? Long tail or backwards loop?
Thank!
Hi Pastille,
Thanks for writing in! We did use the long tail cast on for the sample but you can certainly use either!
Best,
Cassy
I am just starting this project, and I have to say it feels a bit more like wrestling rather than knitting! With such big needles and ropey yarn, what is your preferred method for adding a new skein? Ah! I made it to the end of the row. Is that the trick? Just add a new skein at the beginning of a row?
Thanks for any tips!
Hello Julia,
Thank you for writing us! We recommend using your fingers to weave in the ends as usual for garter stitch. Check out the Garter Stitch section of our Weaving in Your Ends Tutorial for some extra tips!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Sadly, I am 12″ short of yarn, which won’t get me to the end of the cast off. My choices are to order another skein of yarn or to frog it and knit it again, this time keeping much shorter ends when I am adding a new skein of yarn. So if any of you reading this are thinking of starting this project, keep my mistake in mind.
When I asked earlier about which method of adding a skein you (PurlSoho) preferred, you sent me the link to your weaving in methods, but I do think that the style of adding a skein on in a pattern like this with this thick of yarn also matters. I am a relatively new knitter, so I apologize if those two issues are generally conflated – they aren’t in my novice mind yet.
Thanks for generally offering such great patterns and yarns and knitting tips. I remain a devoted fan.
Hi Julia,
Thanks for getting in touch! I am so sorry to hear that you are 12″ short. Is you cast on tail long enough that frogging and reknitting will help? We did use the entirety of each skein here using shorter tails (a few inches). Gauge can also play a factor in coming up a bit short, so be especially sure to get the correct gauge!
I also apologize for not fully answering your earlier question! To join a new ball of yarn stop knitting with the old ball when there are a few inches of yarn remaining. To begin the new ball, put the right needle into the next stitch. Leaving a few inch tail of the new yarn, begin knitting with the new yarn as usual. Do not tie a knot.
This leaves two tails. It also leaves stitches that seem loose and a small hole in your knitting, but never fear! You will fix this at the end of the project when you weave in the ends. At that point, you will cross the tails so that you weave the right tail to the left of the hole and the left tail to the right.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Am just about to start skein #5 and I had to write to say, I LOVE THIS YARN!! What a special project and love that this pattern was left so basic to showcase the yarn’s truly sculptural form best. Thanks!
Hello Rachel,
I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you for letting us know.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
This yarn was lovely to work with. What a treat. The finished project is beautiful. My daughters are discussing who gets to keep the scarf. Incredible yarn, great looking scarf.
Hi Rita,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are so glad that you loved the yarn and the project!
Best,
Cassy
Will wetting and drying this scarf help cut down on the amount of link that comes off of it?
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! This loosely spun yarn can tend to shed a bit. We do find that over time, it calms down. We have not wet blocked the yarn but steam blocking will compact the fibers a bit. Just a note if you would like to try wet blocking this yarn; due to the spin and heft of the yarn, it may take several days or more (depending on the humidity) to dry out. I’d give steam blocking a go first and see if it helps!
Best,
Cassy
Hi What is the finished measurements of this scarf?
Thanks
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! This scarf measures 7 inches wide by 74 inches long, and you can find that information in the pattern above in the information section titled “Size.”
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Can I use Bulky yarn instead? How many stitches should I cast on with a smaller needle?
Hi Cindy,
You can absolutely use a bulky yarn for this project! To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the length of the scarf (74 inches) and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili