Mini Herringbone Scarf in Understory
As its name so plainly suggests, a herringbone pattern mimics the bones of a fish such as, well, a herring. We’re not so sure that a fish skeleton was our inspiration here, so much as a parqueted French oak floor or an English tweed suit, but whatever herringbone makes you think of, it is undoubtedly a beautiful stitch!
This Mini Herringbone Scarf in Understory is based on a version we made years ago that we called the Men’s Mini Herringbone Scarf. What were we thinking? A scarf is a scarf is a scarf is a scarf, and this scarf certainly suits everyone.
A little bit bigger than our original version, this one also gets a yarn update. We knit it up in our unspeakably soft Understory, a baby alpaca, baby yak and silk blend, here in the rich and juicy color Ripe Plum. It also has new selvage stitches, as well as an accompanying all-new Mini Herringbone video tutorial that shows you how it’s done!
Seeing how the herringbone pattern take shape, unfold, and blossom is a great knitting thrill. It’s a super interesting stitch that is rather easy to learn and fun to knit forever. It’s a bit like the Mini Herringbone Scarf itself: a classic that will never, ever go out of style.
This project designed for Purl Soho by Laura Ferguson.
Materials
- 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Understory, 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. We used the color Ripe Plum.
- US 10 straight or circular needles
Gauge
28 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: 8 inches wide x 68 inches long
Notes
Slip all slip stitches purlwise.
You can work this stitch pattern over any odd number greater than 5.
For some extra help figuring out how to work this stitch, check out our video tutorial right here…
Pattern
Cast on 57 stitches.
Row 1 (wrong side): K1, p1, *p2tog and leave stitches on needle, purl the first stitch again and drop both stitches together from left-hand needle, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (right side): K2, * slip 1 with yarn in back, k1, then with left-hand needle raise up the slipped stitch as if to bind off but before dropping off right-hand needle, knit it and then drop from needle, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 68 inches from the cast-on row, ending with a wrong-side row.
Bind Off Row (right side): K2, bind the first stitch off by pulling it up and over the second stitch, *k2tog, bind off one, repeat from * to last stitch, k1, bind one off, cut tail and pull through remaining stitch.
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
PRINT
Hi – I can’t wait to try this for a present I want to give! If I use the Mulberry Merino, how many skeins do I need, and should I use size 9 needles? Also, what is the difference between this pattern and the Men’s Mini Herringbone pattern? Can I use the Mulberry Merino for that pattern since I like the edge of that pattern?
Thank you!
Lauren
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out! The two herringbone scarves are very similar. The edging is slightly different, as you have noticed, as is the size of the scarf, and the original scarf used a slightly heavier weight yarn and a US 10 needle instead of a US 9. The main stitch is the same in both patterns, and since Mulberry Merino is a good bit thinner than the yarn used in either version, you can knit whichever version you prefer, but will have to knit a gauge swatch to determine how many stitches to cast on. I would suggest knitting your gauge swatch in pattern on a US 8 needle. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by however wide you would like your scarf to be and round to the nearest odd number.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I love this pattern! I wonder if there is a way to make it in the round, on a circular needle?
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for reaching out! Although the stitch is slightly different, our Big Herringbone Cowl is knit in the round and should turn out very similar to this scarf!
Best,
Julianna
I hope you can help me. I love this pattern but find that I am gaining a stitch for every row I knit. Or, to be more clear: I cast on 57 as per instructions, knitted row one and row two. Counting the stitches on my needles, I now have 61 for row three. Any idea what I might be doing that would increase a stitch? Thanks, tearing my hair and many starts out.
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out! This sounds very mysterious. Are you remembering to begin and end with your knit stitches? It could be possible that both stitches didn’t fall off your needle at some point?
How are your stitches lining up, do you see a pattern forming? Is there a spot that disrupts the pattern? This could give us a clue as to what could be happening.
I hope I can help!
Warmly,
Marilla
Thank you so much for your troubleshooting suggestions. I did take another skein of yarn—a plain cotton one—and practiced the stitch over and over until I finally “got it.” Yes, I do think it was the issue of both stitches *not* falling off the needle that was the culprit. Easy to add one to that second stitch.
My husband hopes I figure this out before spring. 🙂 Thanks again and have a happy holiday season.
I am left-handed. I’m trying to follow your video, but it doesn’t seem to work the same. I’ve knitted for many years, so experience shouldn’t be an issue.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are knitting from left to right because you are left handed, I would recommend following the written instructions for the Mini Herringbone Stitch instead – it should be a bit easier than reversing the video as you watch!
Best,
Julianna
Hi. I’m wondering if you have a tinking video for this stitch. I see that there are several ways to do herringbone stitch and have seen videos for tinking those but none for this particular method. Stuck with a dropped stitch and pulling the needle from an entire row is a NIGHTmare. Thanks.
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out! Sadly, we do not have a video for fixing mistakes in this stitch, I know that its a pain. As for picking up in this stitch, the best advice I can give here, is to slowing rip out a few rows, carefully watching how the loops and stitches interact with one another. That way, by the time you pull out your knitting down to the error, you’ll know what the stitches should look like and how to pick them back up.
I hope this is helpful and good luck!
-Marilla
That does help; thank you. I also received advice to add a lifeline every now and again so that the knitting is saved at that point. I’m counting, counting, counting. 🙂
Hi
Love the scarf, can you suggest a yarn without wool content please that would be suitable. Thanks
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing in! Although it is slightly heavier weight than Understory, I think this scarf would be lovely in Blue Sky Worsted Cotton! To adjust the pattern, I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch in pattern on a US 11 needle. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 8 inches and round to the nearest odd number to determine how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
What is that fabric in one of the photos? A skein of yarn is on it and both are a dark red color.Is it a fabric you carry?
Hi Gail,
Great question! Sadly we do not carry this fabric. It is a vintage piece of linen that our lovely photographer used as a prop as it so perfectly matched out lovely yarn. I believe that it is a plain weave with distressed edges that may be due to age and use!
Best,
Cassy
Hiya,
If I want to make a wider scarf, do I increase the number of stitches in multiples of 2?
Hi Teddy,
Great question! This lovely stitch pattern works over any odd number greater than 5.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Scarf looks beautiful and am trying it out but I don’t actually have a st left to do the K1 at the end of the 2nd row. Have tried with 15 and 19 sts (swatch) and the same thing happens! The pattern still seems to work but my selvedge edges don’t look the same. Nobody else seems to have this problem (ravelry projects) so I wonder what I’m doing wrong?!
Hi Lea,
Thanks for writing in! Hmm, it’s really hard to say what might be going wrong without seeing your work. Are you sure you are working two stitches at the beginning of each row before starting the herringbone pattern, and have you tried following along with our Mini Herringbone Video? If you are still having trouble with this pattern, please let me know!
Best,
Julianna
Hi,
Somehow my edges aren’t turning out the same as in the photos. I have been slipping the first stitch of every row instead of knitting. Could that possibly be the problem?
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for writing in! Slipping the first stitch does create a different appearance than knitting the first stitch, so I think that’s likely the culprit! I would suggest knitting a swatch without slipping the first stitch to see if you prefer how it looks!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
For the row right after I cast on, I’m following the directions in the pattern but I’m ending up with really loose loops, I can’t get it to tighten up like I think it should. I’ve taken it apart and started over 10 times always with this same result. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Danielle,
I think there is a good chance you aren’t doing anything wrong! We used Understory, a light worsted weight yarn, with needles a couple sizes larger than you would normally use with it, US size 10, for this pattern. While loose stitches can be frustrating, they can be expected to happen in the first row with the Mini Herrinbone stitch in a light worsted weight yarn with size 10 needles. This looseness will work itself out as you continue on to other rows. If you haven’t already, I recommend knitting a small gauge swatch. This way you can see if the loose stitches even out as you work more rows. If you are finding that the stitches are still too loose, then you may need to go down in needle size.
I hope this helps – let me know how it turns out!
Oscar
I’m interested in using this yarn and pattern as a queen bed throw. Any recommendations for number of cast on stitches and number of yarn? Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
What a magnificent coverlet that will be! An average queen size comforter that hangs over the sides of the bed measures 90 inches square, so you will need to cast on 631 stitches and you will need 36 skeins of Understory.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi,
I seem to be losing a stitch every time I knit a new row. The second row says Knit2 which I think is causing the issue but I’m
not sure how to rectify it and keep the same number of stitches. Any help is most welcome!
Hi Vaishna,
Thanks for writing in! Knitting 2 at the beginning of row 2 shouldn’t cause any problems with the overall stitch count. Due to the nature of this stitch pattern the number of stitches will vary from row to row with the increases and dropping stitches. If your stitches are looking consistent with the pattern and the width is 8″ wide you should be alright!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Beautiful! I am going to make this scarf as a Christmas present and as someone still fairly new to knitting I have a couple of questions:
1) is a long tail cast on technique appropriate or do you suggest another one?
2) I notice the elegant edges of the scarf are a little different to the rest of the pattern. What is this called please and where can I find a tutorial on how to do it?
Many thanks!
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for reaching out! Long tail cast on is fine to use for this pattern! The edge of the scarf is just the effect you get when starting and ending each of the rows with the knit stitches as we have written in the pattern! On the pattern page we also have a lovely tutorial showing exactly how to work the Herringbone stitch!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
hello! the pattern calls for US 10 needles, but the yarn you point to (understory) calls for US 5-7 needles — which is it?
the yarn i have calls for US 7 needles — how could i scale the pattern for this yarn?
thanks!
Hi Sinduja,
Thanks for reaching out! Even though Understory is a light worsted weight yarn and calls for a US 5-7 needle, we used a size 10 for this pattern due to the herringbone stitch! If you were to use a 5-7 needle on the stitch pattern it would come out far too tight. If your yarn calls for a 7 needle I would recommend sticking to the pattern and using a US 10! I also suggest working a gauge swatch whenever using a yarn different from the pattern to insure that you are consistent before beginning!
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna