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.
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!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMiniHarringboneScarf, and #PurlSohoUnderstory. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Understory, 50% baby alpaca, 25% baby yak, and 25% silk. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 650 yards required. We used the color Ripe Plum.
- US 10 (6mm), 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
STITCH MULTIPLE
You can work this stitch pattern over any odd number greater than 5.
SLIPPED STITCHES
Slip all slip stitches purlwise.
STITCH PATTERN
For some extra help figuring out how to work this stitch, check out our Mini Herringbone video tutorial.
Pattern
Using Long Tail Cast On, 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.
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 scarf. I am traveling in a motor home right now so don’t have access to a printer. I have tried every way I know how to save this pattern as a pdf, and cannot see how to do it. Every save I try is an htm file, so I can’t necessarily access it as reliably as if I save it as a pdf. If you can email me the pdf for it, I’d be obliged. I have my needles and some yarn with me and this looks like a great vacation project. I also appreciate the tutorial on how to do the stitch 🙂
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I can help! If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials.
Best,
Cassy
Hi Cindy,
I use this URL https://www.printfriendly.com/
To make PDF s from web pages. Simply copy the link of the pattern and paste into the text box at print friendly. https://www.printfriendly.com/
Hit the search or button and it will create a PDF for you. Then in the upper left corner there is an option to save the file. I save to my google drive but can also save to kindle or documents on an iPad or import into knit companion app.
Use it all the time as I don’t have a printer either, it’s completely free.
Take care, happy travels.
Hi SC,
Thanks for writing in! Using our print feature, you can choose to print or download a PDF. No need for another website!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
In the video, on the right side row, you show knitting through the back loop. Why is that. It doesn’t state to knit thru back loop in the instructions.
Thanks, Ann
HI Ann,
Thanks for writing in! I watched the video in detail and Laura is knitting the k1 through the front loop. The picking up of the slipped stitch and knitting into it does look a bit like it may be through the back loop but I suspect that that is due to multiple stitches being engaged at once. I find it helpful to sometimes open the video in YouTube so that I can make it full screen and see the fullness of the technique. You can even slow down the speed of the video! Here is the direct link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=128&v=A0RJX_BWVlk
I hope that this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Cassy
Hi,
This direct link (right below) that you suggested to Ann does not take you to the mini herringbone video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=128&v=A0RJX_BWVlk
I found the herringbone video on the link directly below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=A0RJX_BWVlk
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for writing in! I have tried both links on a few different computers and both take me to the same place. Must be a glitch!
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
I am reading this pattern and while doing so I also checked out the Mens pattern.
In the mens pattern it calls for a slip st at the beginning of each row. This one does not.
Confusing.
Thank you,
Marion
Hi Marion,
Sharp eye! The patterns are slightly different, and on the new one we do not slip the first stitch. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Kindly,
Anna
In the 3rd picture down, a skein of yarn is shown sitting on a piece of woven fabric. Is that something woven w/ Purl Soho yarn (placemats? scarf?) and if so, what type of yarn was used and is there a pattern?
Thank you,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in and for your question! The fabric that you are referring to 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
Hi. Beautiful stitch/yarn combo, and helpful video! Does this stitch use more yarn than stockinette? Is it thicker? Does it curl (minus the selvedge)? I was thinking about using yarn/stitch for the body of this poncho:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-folded-poncho
Think that would work?
Thanks for a lovely and inspiring site!
J
Hi Juliane,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely stitch does tend to eat up more yarn than stockinette and results in a bit thicker fabric. We have used a similar stitch in a cowl and the edges can tend to roll if you do not add a border. For the poncho that you are hoping to make, you could certainly add an applied i-cord after the fact or add a decorative border as you knit to curb this!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Cassy
Do you have a comparable yarn for this scarf in black? Would like to make for our beloved parish priest for Christmas. thanks
Hi Claudia,
What a thoughtful gift! I would suggest using our Worsted Twist in Soft Blank. You will need 4-5 skeins of the Worsted Twist. I would suggest swatching and you may need to go up to a US 11 needle as Worsted Twist is a bit fluffier than the yarn that we used here.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Is there a way to make this as a cowl knit in the round? I love how this pattern looks, but I prefer the shape of something like your Lovely Ribbed Cowl.
Thanks!
Hi Kirstie,
Thanks for writing in! We do have a cowl using a very similar stitch! The Big Herringbone Cowl uses slightly heavier yarn but with a stitch. To use the yarn we use here, you may need to go down a needle size to a US 15.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I love this stitch and would like use it for a cushion cover but if it’s soft enough for a scarf, would it be firm enough for a cushion cover? Perhaps I should just knit a tighter version of it or would that interfere with the stitch definition? Maybe I should just give it a try!
Hi Sherrill,
I think that this would be lovely for a cushion cover! I would suggest knitting up a small section of this scarf to see how you feel about the pattern for your use! The stitch pattern itself is quite dense. This is why we used quite a large needle for the yarn that we are using. I would be a bit careful about going down too many needle sizes as the fabric will be harder to achieve as it will be quite tight and have very little drape!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Love this pattern. I have much better luck with herringbone flat than in the round. Would it be the same for the knit row, to knit the 2nd stitch on the left needle, knit the first stitch through the back then drop both stitches? I think this would be more efficient. Thanks for the pattern.
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for writing in! I knit up a little swatch using both our method and yours. While the look is similar, it is not quite the same. I would say that the slant, using your method, is a bit more gentle, resulting in the herringbone being a bit less defined. That said, I always say that we are the bosses of our own knitting and if it works better for you, go for it!
Best,
Cassy
Hi – why did you change the selvedge? Do you find one better than the other?
Hi Dale,
Thanks for writing in! When we revisited this pattern, we thought that it was a good opportunity to try something a little different. Both are lovely but we feel like this one is a bit more straight forward. You can use either and get a lovely result!
Best,
Cassy
I’m a beginning knitter . How does one know the wrong or right side ? I assume the row after casting on is the wrong side since that’s where the pattern begins .
Thank you
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing in! The right side of this lovely pattern will show the stitch pattern whereas the wrong side will look quite a bit like garter. Row 1 is a wrong side row and row 2 is a right side row. For the first few rows, it can sometimes be helpful to place a removable stitch marker on the right side so that you can pick it out easily until the stitch pattern is established.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Could I make this as a cowl? If so, do you have any suggestions, tips or tricks? I love your yarns, patterns and website. Thanks!
Hi Alicia,
Thanks for writing in! We have used a similar stitch in a cowl, the Big Herringbone Cowl! The yarn that we used for the cowl is a bit thicker, so if you would like to use the yarn that we used here, you may need to go down a needle size or two!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Beautiful pattern and yarn. Do you think this could be done in the round for a cowl instead of scarf?
Thank you,
Lisa F.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in! We do have a cowl using a very similar stitch! The Big Herringbone Cowl uses slightly heavier yarn but with a stitch. To use the yarn we use here, you may need to go down a needle size to a US 15.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hello-
Alpaca makes me sneeze….do you have a recommendation for a Purl Soho yarn that I can substitute?
Eryn
Hi Eryn,
Thanks for writing in! We totally understand that some folks do have sensitivities and are happy to make alternate suggestions. Although a little plumper than Understory, our Cashmere Merino Bloom would work well here. You could also try Mulberry Merino, which is a bit skinnier. With either of these options, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in pattern as you may need to change needle size to get a pleasing fabric.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi … using the Cashmere Merino Bloom for this pattern, what needle size should I use?
thank you,
Divina
Hi Divina,
Thanks for the question! Using Cashmere Merino Bloom for this lovely scarf, I would suggest using US 9 needles. I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch to see how you like the fabric. This is a very dense stitch pattern and as such, sometimes it helps to play around with your needles size.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Thanks for the info on the print button! Never knew it was there, and, like the original poster, I don’t have handy access to a printer on the road. PDFs are easy to read on the phone or tablet. You guys rock!
Could I use the Purl soho line weight yarn for this pattern? I have two skiens of it would that be enough for a scarf using this pattern?
Hi Leya,
Thanks for writing in! Our Line Weight is quite a bit thinner than Understory which we used here. Understory comes in at a DK/Light Worsted and Line Weight is a lighter Fingering Weight yarn. If you would like to use an alternate yarn, be on the look out for a yarn with a gauge of 4.75 – 5.25 stitches per inch.
We do have a scarf that uses 2 skeins of Line Weight! I’d suggest checking out our Brioche Scarf!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would this work in your Worsted Twist yarn?
thank you
Hello,
I would recommend doing a gauge swatch first, Understory is a light worsted. If you use worsted twist, it will be larger then the pattern.
I hope this helps,
Melissa
Hi! I’ve been working on the recent pattern offer mistake rib scarf and i’m not pleased. I’d love to try this one, but once again color choices are getting in the way. Nothing in Understory meets my color requirements.
My issues are i want it to be supersoft and cozy. It’s for an adult male. It has to be in blue. The recent mistake rib blues were simply too subtle in cashmere merino bloom. I’ve looked closely at Far and think it might work. How much would i need and would it indeed work? Jade 6-ply cashmere looks like another great choice but i’d want to know how much to buy for this more expensive yarn and would it work up nicely in this herringbone.
Sorry my question is a bit scattered but i really need some advice. It’s an important gift and i’d like to get cracking on it having lost a lot of time already with the mistake rib. Thank you very much.
Hi Helene,
Thanks for writing in! I think that Far or Jade Sapphire 6 ply would work well here! Both are very soft indeed! You will need 600 yards of whichever of the two yarns that you choose. For Far, you would need 5 skeins. For the 6 ply cashmere, you would need 4 skeins. Both offer a pretty good range of blues and I think that the recipient would be quite pleased with the feel of either!
Best,
Cassy
Hi, I’m all set to start on this project and wondered if you have a recommended cast on for this scarf. Thank you.
Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in! For most of our patterns (including this one), we like to use the long tail cast on. We think that it makes a neat and flexible cast on edge!
Best,
Cassy
I love this stitch, but I’m left-handed and my stitches look odd. any tips for lefties to make this look like the herringbone stitch?
secondly, I don’t understand the bind-off ‘k2tog, bind off one.” is the k2tog stitch placed back onto the dpn and used for the next k2tog? thank you for any help. and thank you for the pattern.
Hi Juju,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! When referring to knitting “left-handed”, do you mean knitting while holding the yarn in your left hand? If so, that’s usually referred to as Continental style knitting and you can follow the same instructions in our tutorial but keep in mind that your yarn in just held in a different hand. Your stitches should look the same (I knit Continental as well). If you are finding that you stitches are not looking quite right, it may be that you are purling tighter than you knit or vice versa. This can sometimes happen, especially in this stitch pattern. You may also need to go up or down a needle size as this very compact stitch pattern can vary dramatically at the different gauges.
For the bind off, when you k2tog, bind off one, you will k2tog and then bind the stitch off by pulling the first stitch up and over the k2tog stitch. This will maintain the pattern and make a tidy bind off!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hey Juju,
I’m a left handed knitter as well. (And no this does not mean continental where you hold the yarn with your left hand.) 😉 it’s a tough world out there for us.
I knit continental left handed (holding the yarn in my right hand) and English left handed.
This stitch can be done left handed as can any stitch. It just takes us a minute to flip flop all of the “right needle” words to “left needle” and vice versa.
As Cassy said it’s probably your tension or your needle size. I’d keep trying because it’s a great stitch and very rhythmic and easy to see where you are in it.
But it’s definitley not because you’re left handed.
Xoxo!
What is the total yardage needed for this scarf?
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for writing in! You will need approximately 600 yards of Understory for this lovely scarf!
Best,
Cassy
Hi, I tried knitting a small mat with this pattern, but my finished piece seems to be slanted like a parallelogram instead of a nice rectangle. Any suggestions how to fix it?
Hi Anhstein,
I’m sorry to hear your finished piece is biasing! Blocking the piece should help a lot. Herringbone is a stitch that tends to have a natural bias.
I hope this helps!
Carly
I love this herringbone scarf. I am going to make this for my son. He requested the color red. He selected Cascade 220 Superwash Aran yarn. How many skeins would you recommend I purchase to complete the scarf?
I just finished the mistake rib scarf for my husband with the mulberry merino. It was wonderful to work with. I love your yarn and patterns. I can’t wait to try Understory. That will be my next project.
Thank you and happy holidays……
Hello Jill,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! Cascade 220 Aran weight is a bit thicker than our Understory, So I would recommend knitting up a gauge swatch before jumping in to make sure you are happy with the texture. It is likely that you will need to go up in needle size to achieve the correct tension. You will need four skeins of Cascade’s 220 Aran weight to complete this project.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I’m going to sizing this up into a queen size blanket, as the sturdiness of the finished fabric seems like it would lend itself well to a blanket.
Would you suggest going up a yarn thickness and needle size, or going down and making a backing for it?
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make in the yarn suggested due to budgetary constraints (can’t spend upwards of $500 for yarn at the moment), but would you suggest a Blue Faced Leicester or a Merino/Poly blend?
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for writing in! Great idea! You can certainly alter the yarn and needle size to make the blanket go more quickly. Just do note that we use a much larger needle than the yarn calls for as this stitch pattern is quite dense. I generally do not like making backings for knit blankets as woven fabrics and knit fabrics move and stretch differently. If you would like to add a backing, I would suggest looking into knit fabrics that would move more organically with the top.
As for yarn choice, I think either would work well! It really depends on what you like best and which looks good with the pattern!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Purl,
Just wrapped up this scarf and I love it. The cast off however is coming out VERY loose and I am getting some spreading on the end. Any advice?
Hi Erin,
Thanks for writing in! My favorite trick for a correcting a loose bind off it to bind off using a smaller needle. Just be sure that you are not binding off too tightly as it will create an inelastic end.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Could Cattail Silk be used instead of Understory with this pattern?
I’m also wondering if Woolfolk Far would be a good substitute for Understory?
My objective is finding a color similar to Understory’s Plum, which is sold out.
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! Our Cattail Silk is a good deal thinner than our Understory. If you were to use it for this pattern, you would need to rework the pattern quite a bit. Woolfolk Far is quite a bit closer although still a bit different. Here you may be able to go down a needle size and work the pattern as written for a slightly narrower scarf!
We will be getting Understory in Plum back in stock! In fact it is being made at our mill as we speak! To sign up to be notified when it comes back in stock, you can go to the product page, select the color and enter your email. We will then email you as soon as we get it back in!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi there, I have 3 skeins of leftover Blue Sky Techno to use up, would it be a good weight for this project?
Thank you!
Hi Jo,
The Blue Sky Techno is a little bit lighter than our Understory. It is possible to make this scarf with Techno but the finished product will look very different. I would recommend doing a gauge swatch to make sure you like the look and feel of the yarn in combination with this stitch.
I hope this helps,
Carly
Will the mini herringbone scarf look the same as the big herringbone cowl. Sorry for the confusion. Pat
Hi Pat,
Thanks for writing in! These two projects will have slightly different looks due to knitting the stitch pattern flat versus in the round. Additionally, if you are using a variegated yarn, the pooling will differ significantly between the two pieces. However, the general look of the stitch pattern will be almost the same for both the cowl and the scarf!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thanks for your help. I will let you know. Pat
Hi –
I am a beginner knitter. I have figured out this stitch and done a number of samplers before starting on the project. It’s looking quite nice. However, my cast on row is loose. Is there any way to correct that now that I am in about 12 rows? Or should I begin again, in which case, how do I avoid this next time? Thanks!
Hello Sondra,
Thank you for reaching out! Depending on how loose your cast on is, the looseness could go away when you Block your scarf. If you think it is beyond that you might need to start over. The key to a nice cast on is consistent tension- not to tight and not to loose. Which cast on method did you use?
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hello,
Is there a particular reason why you used size 10 needles for this pattern? Does the pattern come out better to upsize the needle size from the recommended size for the Understory yarn (5-7)?
Hello Morgan,
Thank you for reaching out! Yes- because this is a very dense stitch you will always need to go up from the recommend needle size.
I hope this clears things up and happy knitting!
-Marilla
My son would like me to make him this scarf but he’d like it in red. I’m wondering which yarn you’d recommend and how many hanks I’d need. If possible I’d also like to keep it to under $100.00.
Thanks
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this scarf would be lovely in Brookly Tweed’s Arbor. If using Arbor you will need 4 skeins.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I have been working this pattern and I noticed it is angled. It looks like it is angling downward, not like straight lines. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Kimberly
I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble! It is very hard to diagnose what might be going wrong through the comments, but we do have a video tutorial on the Mini Herringbone Stitch which may be helpful.
I hope that clears things up, but please let us know if you have any further questions after reviewing the tutorial!
Best,
Julianna
Hi Cassy,
Is there any modification i could do such that i could use this pattern in an even number of stitches? I like it but using it for the front of a vest – which needs even number of stitches. Thank you so much in advance!
Hi and thanks for writing in! The Mini Herringbone stitch works on any odd number of stitches greater than 5. One extra stitch shouldn’t change the sizing of a garment significantly so it may be possible to add or subtract one stitch to the front of the vest to accommodate this stitch pattern, but I would suggest knitting and measuring a gauge swatch of the Mini Herringbone before beginning as it does knit to a very different gauge than stockinette, which could potentially impact the finished fit of your vest!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi!
I’m wondering if season aplaca would be an appropriate yarn to use for this pattern and how many skeins I would need to do so. Thank you!
Isabel
Hello Isabel,
Thank you for reaching out! Season Alpaca has a smaller gauge than Understory so you might want to go down in needle size and up on your cast on. I would knit up a little gauge swatch to find a texture that you’re happy with before jumping in. You will need 4 skeins of Season Alpaca to knit up this scarf.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
The edge of my herribone scarf is bumpy. Do you know how I can fix this?
Hello Stella,
Thank you for reaching out! There are subtle unified bumps on the side of this project. If you would like to add a slip stitch selvedge to your scarf. Our Men’s Mini Herringbone scarf has this slip stitch written into the pattern so I would try this pattern out and see what you think!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I wish I could share my pic of my scarf I made using your pattern. Its beautiful and your herringbone technique is way easier than what I have seen on other websites. I actually made my scarf the size of your gauge swatch lol. I did cast on 29 stitches instead of 28. I used red heart Icelandic US 11 needles and its the width I wanted and the pattern makes the colorway look like ocean waves I love it. Thank you for an easy way to stitch this herringbone pattern. Its a thick fabric but not stiff and the edges are nice and neat. Thank you again.
I’m loving this pattern but would like my scarf to be a little narrower. What multiple is this worked in? Thanks!
Hello Susan,
Thank you for reaching out! You can work this stitch pattern over any odd number greater than 5.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I’ve attempted this pattern and the Men’s Mini Herringbone several time so far, and have noticed that around the 3rd or 4th row I’m gaining a stitch. Any tips as to what I may be doing? This has occurred in both patterns, even with the Men’s Mini Herringbone including the slip stitches. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties here. The main thing that I can think of is that perhaps you are adding a stitch on right side rows by perhaps placing the slipped stitch and the stitch that you knit using it on the needle and in this way maybe adding an extra stitch. You also want to keep your eyes out for any accidental yarn overs which can happen when you are getting used to a pattern that contains slip stitches!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I figured it out! I was having the same problem as Sarah, gaining a stitch somehow. For me, so likely for Sarah too, it was the transition from knit to purl in the first row. I would knit 1, then the yarn was in back and I would purl 1 that way. The way the yarn must move over the needle creates 2 stitches instead of 1 on your right needle. So I just started moving the yarn after the knit stitch to be in front, then purl, and it nicely creates 1 stitch on the right needle. Moving the yarn is a bit awkward. But perhaps I can find a position/movement that makes it feel more natural. I’m fairly new to knitting, so it doesn’t surprise me that this nuance escaped me for a while.
I’m going to give this a try, but with Mulberry Merino, since I have that in my stash! 😀 What needle size would you recommend, since the Mulberry Merino is sportweight, and Understory is DK/light worsted?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Kelly,
Great question! Here we went up about 3 needle sizes. With that in mind, I would try a US 8 or 9 to work with Mulberry Merino. I would definitely suggest knitting a gauge swatch and this will both help with figuring out a cast on and it will give you an idea of which needle size will give you a pleasing fabric. If you like the fabric on US 8, that would be the best option but if the fabric on US 9 looks nicer, go with that!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you so much for the video tutorial.
Hi! I’m interested in making this scarf into an infinity scarf, by any chance to you have any tips or advice for joining the two ends of the scarf together?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rowan,
Thanks for reaching out! Since it isn’t really possible to replicate the herringbone stitch while grafting stitches, I would recommend knitting the scarf as is, and joining the two ends using mattress stitch. You can see how to work this technique in our tutorial for Seaming Stockinette Stitch Horizontally. There will be a seam that is visible from the wrong side, but it should be unobtrusive and blend fairly well into the texture on the wrong side of the cowl.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I just finished knitting this scarf and I am in love with the look of it, especially in the plum color. Thank you so much for the pattern!
Hi! I made this for my boyfriend for Christmas and he LOVES it. It turned out so well and the pattern was easy to follow, especially with the tutorial video. I’d love to knit him a matching beanie. I have gauge from the scarf and feel like it’d be fine to knit flat. Has anyone at Purl Soho given it a try?
Hi Lulu,
I’m so happy to hear your gift knitting was a success! Although we haven’t used this particular stitch in a hat, I think it’s a great idea! I agree that knitting it flat and seaming the hat is the best way to go so you don’t have to modify the stitch pattern. Please do let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Julianna
I am working a variation of this stich where the wrong side is the same but the right side is simple knit. It creates a lovely texture and thickness but so much faster than the stitch here…I just wish I knew what to cal it!?!
Hi, when joining in a new ball of yarn to this scarf is it best to join at the very beginning of row or a few stitches in, and will it be very noticeable when end of yarn tail is woven in? This is a beautiful scarf, I have never knit the Herringbone stitch before but eager to give this scarf a go.
Kindly
Helen :^)
Hello Helen,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! I would recommend adding your new ball of yarn a few stitches in.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Could you recommend other soft yarns suitable for this pattern?
Thank you!
Hello Euny,
Thank you for reaching out! This scarf would be very soft and warm in our Cashmere Merino Bloom.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love the looks of this pattern, but do you have any tips on how to best fix a mistake? I’ve started the same scarf four times because I can’t “unknit” these stitches. There must be a way to somehow go back and fix without giving up. Help, please!
Thank you,
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately, as you have found, it can be tricky to fix mistakes in this stitch pattern! My best advice would be to go stitch by stitch, and when taking out a knit row, uncross the slipped stitch before attempting to take it out.
I hope this is helpful and good luck!
Best,
Marilla
I am having trouble with the selvage–when looking at the right side of my knit, I see the selvage row on the left but none on the right hand side. Perhaps I am not slipping my knit stitch correctly? Such a beautiful knit otherwise. Thanks for any help!
Hello Elly,
Thank you for reaching out! Interesting, I’m not sure what exactly could be causing this, but you do want to be sure that you are slipping all stitches purlwise.
I hope this helps, but let us know if you continue to have an issue!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I see that it says size 10 needles but the yarn indicates 5-7 recommended, so I just wanted to confirm 10 is what you used.
Thanks
Hi Nick,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, that is correct! The Mini Herringbone stitch creates a very dense, thick fabric, so we moved up several needle sizes to create a drapier, more comfortable scarf.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
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
Will you be getting more Mulberry Merino yarn in soon? I have started this Minni Herringbone Scarf in Blue Inlet Heather in the lovely Mulberry Merino yarn. It is coming along beautifully. However, I am still in need of one more skein to complete the scarf. I am hoping that you are not discontinuing this yarn. Please help.
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately Mulberry Merino is being discontinued so what we have on the site is all we have left in our stock. You can email us at [email protected] and we can see if its possible to locate a skein for you!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello! I want to make this scarf a bit wider. I have 4 skeins of Understory. How many stitches do you recommend I cast on? Thanks! 🙂
Hi SS,
Thanks for reaching out! Depending on how wide you would like the scarf, and if your gauge is consistent with the pattern you can easily adjust the width from there! For example, if you would like a 12″ wide scarf you would cast on 85 stitches (calculated based on the gauges stitches per inch) just be sure to keep in mind that this pattern works over any odd number of stitches!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I want to knit this scarf on straight needles—which length do you recommend? Thank you
Caroline Tierney
Hi Caroline,
The finished width of the scarf is 8 inches, so I’d recommend using straight needles that are at least that long! Hope this helps.
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I would like to make the Mini Herringbone Scarf in your Simply Camel yarn. I would like to know how to adjust the pattern, especially needle size and any additional pattern changes needed.
Thanks in advance for your kind assistance,
Jeanine
Hi Jeanine,
Thanks for reaching out. Since Simply Camel is a fingering weight yarn, whereas Understory is DK, you will need to adjust your needle size and cast-on number to make the design work for the smaller yarn. I would suggest using size US 2 or 3 needles, as those are what we find work best with Simply Camel!
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern (if you need help with this step please visit our tutorial All About Gauge). Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like, and then cast on the closest odd number.
Hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
I love this pattern. Unfortunately have started in 5 times (at least) and cannot make the numbers work. It seems there is a decrease in stitches …. and the edging isn’t working. I am certain I have the stitch correct and it works throughout …. until I reach the end.
I have read through some of the comments and others have had the same issues. Should I use markers for the ending stitches.
Should I use 59 stitches and put markers on the first two on each row – knitting first two stitches?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for writing in! You only need an odd number of stitches greater than 5 to make this pattern, so I’m afraid changing to 59 stitches won’t really help you in the long term and we should try to narrow down where the extra two are being added in.
After browsing through some older comments, a common trouble spot seemed to be the transition from knit to purl in the first row. Someone would knit 1, then the yarn was in back and they would then purl 1 that way. The way the yarn must move over the needle creates 2 stitches instead of 1 on your right needle. They were able to fix this by moving the yarn after the knit stitch to be in front, then purl, which nicely creates 1 stitch on the right needle instead. Some other ideas that could be throwing things off are if you are perhaps adding a stitch on right side rows by placing the slipped stitch and the stitch that you knit using it on the needle. You also want to keep your eyes out for any accidental yarn overs which can happen when you are getting used to a pattern that contains slip stitches like in the first example!
Adding some stitch markers in should help you in general though. I’d recommend the first marker on the wrong side after the first two stitches, and the second marker before your last stitch on that row. If this doesn’t help I’d recommend sending some photos of your work to our [email protected] address so we can get a better look!
All the best,
Zha Zha
Is there a tutorial for how to remove stitches on the correct and wrong side so you don’t have to start over if you make a mistake?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in! We don’t have a tutorial for this, but if you would like to send a clear photo of your work along with the information above to our customer service team at [email protected] they can take a look and asses how to resolve the issues!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Please advise me on where I can find the PATTERN instructions for the small version of the big herringbone cowl.
Thank you!
Hi Rose!
Thank you for your question. You can find our free pattern for the Big Herringbone Cowl right here! We only offer the pattern in one size, however if you would like to adjust the circumference of the cowl, you can cast on any number of stitches to create a shorter or longer cowl. If you have a specific size in mind, you can make a gauge swatch of the herringbone stitch and measure how many stitches you are getting per inch, then multiply that number by your desired circumference in inches to determine your cast-on amount!
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi! This scarf is just so lovely! I would love to knit it with your Linen Quill Worsted and was wondering what size needle you’d recommend (I was thinking US 11). Also, I may knit it with multiple colors. When changing colors on this knit, what stitch pattern would I use? Just a basic knit stitch to swap the colors? I appreciate your insight!
Hi Jill,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that size US 11 or 13 needles would be perfect for this pattern in Linen Quill Worsted. You can even make a small swatch with each needle size to determine which fabric you like the density and texture of best!
Regarding color changes, I’d actually recommend staying in pattern completely. That will ensure that there is no gap in the herringbone pattern between the colors!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you, Lili! ☺️
I wonder if this pattern would work as blanket. I have 12 skeins of linen quill and planned to knit with 10.5 needles. My gauge is about 7 stitches to an inch. If the blanket is 60 inches wide I would cast on 420 stitches? With 12 skeins about how long would the blanket be? Can you suggest another pattern that may knit up a blanket 54-60″ x 54-60″ using 12 skeins of linen worsted. As always I appreciate your help.
Kay
Hi Kay,
This pattern would definitely work as a blanket, but you may need to make it smaller than you had planned with 12 skeins of Linen Quill Worsted. You will probably only be able to make an approximately 40.5 by 40.5 inch blanket (or other dimensions with the same area) with the yarn you have in this stitch pattern, since it naturally takes up a lot of yarn compared to other stitch patterns.
If you’re interested in considering some other patterns, I’d recommend our new Diamond + Dot Blanket. You’ll be able to make a blanket that’s slightly larger than the Throw size with 12 skeins of Linen Quill Worsted!
All the best,
Lili
Hello!
I ordered your Nogh DK cashmere to make this scarf. I see that the pattern calls for size 10 needles, yet the yarn itself calls for size 4-6.
Is it the stitch, then, that calls for larger needles?
The photos don’t show it as being a “loopy” stitch, but it wasn’t made with Nigh… You said that the yarns used are no longer available. Do you think that using Nigh will give me something that looks like the scarf pictured?
Thanks so much!
Hi Jenny,
The mini herringbone stitch is naturally very tight, so it’s always recommended to use larger needles to achieve a good density to the knit fabric! Larger needles also makes it easier to knit the stitches themselves, since they’ll be loose enough to get the needle through. And I think Nigh DK would be lovely choice for this pattern, and the stitch pattern will look the same!
All the best,
Lili
The scarf turned out absolutely gorgeous! (And thank you for the IG compliment on my knitting, @_slow_knitting_)
A question, however: As I knit, I noticed how beautifully even and flat the mini herringbone stitch laid.
Now that my husband is wearing the scarf, we’re finding that it keeps wanting to curl! I’ve carefully blocked it (first dry, then wet), but it still…wants to curl. I’m grateful for any advice you might have.
Hi Jenny,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing so much curling in your scarf! Blocking once more using a different method may help minimize that. In particular, steam blocking might do the trick! If you’re still experiencing significant curling though, then I’d recommend adding more of a border to the wrap! You can pick up the stitches all the way around and use a symmetrical stitch (like garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, etc.). This will help prevent the edges from curling at all!
All the best,
Gavriella
Gavriella, I think the idea of adding a simple border will probably be what works best. At the end of my previous blocking, I actually used steam over damp cloths, going over and over it. I’ll
Try this out. Thank you!
You are very welcome and please feel free to let us know how it goes!
I came across this pattern while searching for a project to work with a stash of Morning. What needle size would you recommend?
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for writing in! You could definitely use Morning for this pattern with the same size needles. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi,
For “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.” —
i casted on 67 stitches but when i get to the wrong side for Row 3, i seem to be missing a stitch — there is not last stitch to k1…
Hi dd,
Thanks for writing in, though I’m sorry to hear that you’ve hit a stopping point in your project! It’s pretty easy in a pattern like this to get off pattern. I would recommend unknitting this row (and even the row before it to be safe), and then reknitting it, paying very close attention to each stitch. That should get you back on track!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I love this pattern, but would like to knit it in Season Alpaca…. What size needles would you recommend?
Thanks very much!
Hi Earecka,
We recommend using size US 3, 4, or 5 for Season Alpaca! Just a heads up that Season Alpaca is a bit thinner than Understory, so you may need to modify your cast-on number if you end up knitting at a smaller gauge. Any odd number will work for the stitch pattern!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I have Purl Soho Flax Down yarn and want to make the mini herringbone scarf. what needle should I use and how many stitches would be needed?
Hi Donna,
Like Understory, Flax Down was a DK weight yarn, so you should be able to use the same stitch count as long as you achieve the same gauge as the pattern! To figure out the best needle size to use, just knit up a gauge swatch. You may need to size your needles up or down in order to match the gauge of the pattern! Or, you could use the gauge swatch to calculate a new stitch count if you decide to knit up the pattern at a larger or smaller gauge. This pattern is super easy to modify, so there are a lot of paths you could take!
All the best,
Lili
Hola Lili!!
Me encanta este punto y el borde lateral. Me podrías decir cómo lo has hecho?
No sé si no he sabido verlo pero sería bueno que nos enseñaras bordes laterales decorativos para bufandas, mantas… Si ya hay algún vídeo tutorial, me podrías decir dónde?
Mil gracias por todo.
Saludos.
Hi Carmen,
Thank you for writing in! I’m afraid we don’t have decorative side borders for this pattern but you could definitely add stitches to add one to the ends!
All the best,
Gavriella