Lovely Ribbed Scarf
When it came time to name this classic, go-with-anything, go-everywhere, denim to diamonds Lovely Ribbed Scarf, well, lovely seemed to us precisely the word to describe it. It’s attractive without begging for attention, beautiful without being boastful. It’s lovely!
This scarf’s sibling, our Lovely Ribbed Cowl, is also a 2 x 2 rib, and so, you see, that to us, the simplicity is the beauty. There are no quirks or genius behind these patterns, nor video tutorial for clarifying the instructions. And that ease is why we also chose this pattern to be the first to represent our brand new Good Wool.
An undyed Andean highland treasure, this pared-down traditional yarn is the perfect complement to one of knitting’s most classic stitch patterns. Good Wool also happens to be our most affordable yarn yet. So there’s every reason to make a Lovely Ribbed Scarf for yourself… and everyone you know!
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!
Update: March 2018
A Lovely Ribbed Hat to match! Our Hat retains the soul of the ones worn on docks and decks since who-knows-when, but it has certainly dispensed with the itch. Knit up in our incredibly soft Season Alpaca, this simple hat is sumptuous and warm and wonderful on the head!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoLovelyRibbedScarf, and #PurlSohoGoodWool. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 or 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Good Wool, 100% undyed Andean highland wool yarn. Each skein of this sport weight yarn is 383 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 890 yards required. We used the color Walking Stick. (We used just 12 grams of our third skein, so if you want to buy two instead, you can expect your scarf to be about 67 inches long.)
- US 6 (4mm) straight or circular needles
Gauge
32 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in 2 x 2 rib stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 10¾ inches wide x 71 inches.
Pattern
Using Long Tail Cast On, cast on 86 stitches.
Row 1: *K2, p2, repeat from the * to last 2 stitches, k2.
Row 2: *P2, k2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 71 inches from cast-on edge.
Loosely bind off in stitch pattern.
Weave in your ends and block as desired!
LEARN ABOUT GOOD WOOL + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Good Wool adds loads of character, beauty, and integrity to this knit! A sport-weight yarn whose lofty 2-ply spin can also bloom into a light worsted/DK-weight yarn, Good Wool is made from 100% Andean highland wool, a toothy fiber with a deeply natural appeal. This yarn has a spectacular palette of complex and subtly varied colors, including 5 undyed shades. Very close to the hearts of our customers, Good Wool is a true knitter’s yarn!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Good Wool knitting patterns and cast on!
More Sport-Weight Yarns + Light Worsted/DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of sport-weight yarn
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop wool yarn
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!
wow! the beautiful scarf!
Is this wool soft enough for against-the-skin wear? How does it compare to, say, your regular Merinos?
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing in! Good Wool is made from an Andean Highland wool which is a bit more rustic than our fine merino. We love it for accessories! I, myself, am knitting a sweater from it now and find that I like it quite close to skin. While not as soft as super fine merino, it is still soft and very lovely to work with!
Best,
Cassy
Perfection! Lovely classic pattern, perfect wool! Those sheep know what they are doing!
Thank you.
Julie
1. How could you make this in a cowl?
2. Is there a matching hat pattern?
3. How is this different than the mistake rib scarf?
Thanks! Lynne
Hi Lynne,
Thanks for writing in! I am happy to answer your questions!
1. You can certainly make this into a cowl! We do have a version of this as a cowl with a slightly thicker yarn. You will want to use the Lovely Ribbed Cowl Pattern using US 6 needles and then follow the pattern as written! You could also knit this scarf pattern as written and then sew the two ends together!
2. We do not have a matching hat pattern at present but we will certainly keep your request in mind!
3. This is a standard 2 x 2 rib whereas the mistake rib is an offset rib pattern!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
You could also begin with a provisional cast-on and graft the two ends together to avoid the sewn seam.
This scarf with this yarn is lovely. How many stitches would I need to cast on to make it a shawl? How much more yarn? I can’t wait to start!
Hi Beverly,
Great question! For a wrap or shawl of about 20 inches wide, you will need 5 skeins of Good Wool and you will want to cast on 158 stitches.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Would this yarn work for the Olson cardigan?
Hi Bette,
Thanks for writing in! The Olson could work with Good Wool. The yarn that we used for Olson is a bit thicker than Good Wool but they should knit at a similar gauge. As with any yarn substitution, you will want to knit a gauge swatch first to determine if you like the fabric at the required gauge!
Best,
Cassy
Fantastic looking. LOVE. But any foreseeable problem with rolling on the edges, even if blocked? I often find that non-garter-stitched edges don’t lie flat.
Hi Ann,
Thanks for writing in! With ribbing, the edges tend to sit quite flat even though the edges are technically stockinette! The sample that you see above sits quite flat in the shop even after quite a bit of handling! Blocking when finishing always helps but the edges should not really roll!
Best,
Cassy
I have 3 skeins of Understory Yarn. Can you suggest a scarf pattern?
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for reaching out! We used 3 skeins of Understory for our lovely Mini Herringbone Scarf! You could also make a thinner version of the Braided Rib Scarf, using a cast on of 77 stitches. Or a thinner version of the Elementary Wrap, using a cast on of 67 stitches!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Would this scarf pattern also work with the Super Soft Merino? I am in love with the Ballet Pink color.
Hi Cinzia,
The super soft is a thicker yarn, it uses a larger needle a size 11. The pattern could work, the scarf is just going to be larger and more chunkier then the original.
I hope this helps,
Melissa
Exactly what I was looking for! thank you.
Is this yarn pretty warm?
Hello Su,
Thank you for reaching out. Yes- this yarn is cozy and warm.
Enjoy!
-Marilla
my daughter will have to wait have to wait until next month and I will buy the yarn….it looks soooo soft. jo
Nice scarf! I’d like to make one for my 7 year old son. How many stitches would you recommend I cast on for a child size and what cast on and cast off do you recommend?
Hello Lorrie,
Thank you for reaching out! I would recommend casting on 66 stitches to get a scarf that is approximately 8″ wide. I would use a long tail cast on and finish with a basic bind off in pattern.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Beautiful scarf. Just ordered yarn.
My question is, how would I go about making the scarf narrower?
Thank you
Hello Marion,
Thank you for reaching out! To make this scarf narrower you will simply cast on a fewer number of stitches. You just want to make sure that it is an even number of stitches starting with and ending with two knit stitches.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I have 4 skeins of understory and would love to make a wrap. I would like it about 20″ wide, so would a cast on of 123 be about right and would I have enough yarn?
Thank you!!
Hello Donna,
Thank you for reaching out! For a wrap about 20 inches wide, you will need approximately 5 skeins of Understory and you will want to cast on 158 stitches. If you do a cast on of 123 I think 4 skeins will be a comfortable amount.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I like the Scarf and would like it on my wife
I ordered the yarn and needles to make the ribbed scarf but cannot locate the pattern. I am fairly new to knitting and your site but was very pleased with my purchases so far
Hi Judie,
Thanks for reaching out and for the kind words! If you scroll up to the blog post and look for the section labeled “Materials,” you will see the pattern just below that. If you would prefer to print or save a PDF and 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. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
I hope that helps! Happy knitting!
Julianna
I live in England and the wool is sold in grams. Can you tell me how much is one skein in grams as I like your Scarf pattern very interesting and would like to knit one. Thanks
Hello Irene,
Thank you for reaching out! Each Goodwool skein is 100 grams and 350 Meters. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I am learning about the gauge of yarns…and wondering if Understory would work well for this beautiful scarf? It has the same gauge as the Good Wool, correct?
Thanks…I recommend your site and tutorials to everyone…Purl Soho videos are clear and concise!
Hello Kay,
Thank you for reaching out and for your enthusiasm for us- we so appreciate it! You are correct, Understory would be a lovely alternative for this scarf.
Lets us know how it goes and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Do you think it would be possible to knit this scarf on size 4?
Hi Louise,
Thanks for writing in! If you are using the yarn that we are here and you have a rather even personal gauge, using a US 4 needle will create a very stiff fabric with a lot less drape that you see here. However, if you are a looser knitter, a US 4 might work well for you. If you do want to achieve the drape that you see in our images, you will want to use a needle will get you the gauge that we note above. In the end, it is about the fabric that is most pleasing to you! If you like the fabric on US 4, the scarf will be beautiful!
Best,
Cassy
Hi, would this scarf work in flax down?
Thanks
Hello Sujata,
Thank you for reaching out! Yes, you can certainly use Flax Down for this scarf.
Let us know how it goes and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Love this drapey scarf. I have started using the Norwegian Purl which seems to even out my rib stitches. However, my edges look sloppy when I slip the first stitch in the row. The chain looks so big. Did you slip the first stitch or did you knit in pattern. Any tips to tighten that first slip stitch?
Hi Patty,
Thanks for reaching out! For this scarf, we actually did not slip the first stitch of each row – we simply continued the rib pattern right out to each edge. Depending on your yarn and tension, this may give you a better result on your selvedge, so I encourage you to give it a try!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
hello,
What is the number of stitches required for this pattern. Is it just even numbers? I think 86 stitches is too big for me
Hello Teresa,
Thank you for reaching out! You are absolutely right, any even number will do.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Could this be knit in cashmere merino bloom? If so how many skeins and what size needle would you suggest? Thanks!
Hi Helen,
Thanks for reaching! I think Cashmere Merino Bloom would be a fantastic yarn to use for this pattern! Since it knits up to just about the same gauge as Good Wool, you can use a US 6 needle and follow the pattern as written. For the same length scarf, you would need five skeins, but you will only be using a tiny amount of the fifth skein, so if you don’t mind a scarf that is a few inches shorter, you will only need four.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I’m making this in Lion Brand’s Mandala yarn, in their gorgeous new Cupid colorway. It’s all reds and pinks and whites. It’s going to be beautiful! Thanks for the pattern!
Hello – I just purchased three skeins of your sport weight merino yarn. Is this a good scarf to make and would I need to make any adjustments or can your recommend another scarf. I’m new to knitting but do like a challenge.
Hi Michele,
Thanks for writing in! Sport-weight Mulberry Merino is a bit thinner than the Good Wool we used for this pattern, but they are so close that I think it would turn out fine as long as you use a US 5 needle and don’t mind if the scarf is an inch or two narrower than the original. This is a great beginner pattern, but if you are looking for something a little more challenging, you might also be interested in our Mistake Rib Scarf, which is written for Mulberry Merino!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi,
Could you please recommend a cashmere yarn for this scarf? Preferably available in a dark navy or black. Thank you!
Hello Ellen,
Thank you for reaching out! Zageo 6-Ply Cashmere would make a stunning scarf.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
What method did you use to cast on and bind off. I’m new to knitting. I made a ribbed scarf not knowing about flare. I really like the edges of this scarf. I really want no flare. Thank you
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out! We used a long tail cast on for this project. You could also cast on with a needle one size smaller to help prevent a flare.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I’m making this with the good wool but would love a suggestion for needle size/cast on/skeins needed for the Big Good Wool if that’s a possibility!
Hi Ling,
What a wonderful idea! To modify this scarf for Big Good Wool, you will need to knit a gauge swatch in 2×2 rib pattern on a US 10 needle. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 10.75 inches and round to the nearest multiple of 4 plus 2 to determine how many stitches to cast on. It’s hard to say exactly how much yarn you will need when changing the gauge like this, but I think three skeins would be plenty.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi there,
I’ve realized deep into this project that I made the scarf too narrow by an inch or so. (I originally wanted a narrower scarf than the pattern but I overreached a bit!) Would it be possible to stretch the scarf that extra inch during blocking without it creating too many issues? Thanks!
Hi and thanks for reaching out! Ribbing is quite stretchy, so you could definitely block it out as wide as you will like, but it may look a bit different from our scarf, since the ribs will be more spread out after aggressive blocking. It will also require re-blocking occasionally since ribbing really wants to contract, so with wear, the scarf will eventually pull itself back to the narrower width.
Best,
Julianna
Hi, I would like to widen this to be a shawl and have figured I need to cast on 80 stitches. Based on the directions, though, you have an odd number of stitches cast on (31). Should I cast on 81, then? Many thanks, love, love your site!
Hi Marina,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! We actually cast on 86 stitches for this scarf – is it possible that you were looking at a different pattern that started with 31 stitches? Please let us know and we’ll be happy to take a look!
Best,
Julianna
Oh no, Good Wool is out of stock! Would Flax Down be a good substitute? If so, how would the amount of yarn and gauge be adjusted? If not, is there another yarn you’d suggest?
Hi Ali,
Thank you for reaching out! You can certainly use Flax Down for this pattern, keeping in mind your ribbing and gauge will be slightly larger since this is a heavier yarn. To figure out your cast on number, you will want to knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on a multiple of 4 stitches + 2. Try your gauge swatch with a US 6 to give you a soft-but-dense fabric, or a 7 or 8 for a looser rib!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
This looks like a lovely pattern.
I was wondering what ply the good wool is? I can’t seem to figure it out.
Thanks 🙂
Hi Jes
Thanks for writing in! Good Wool is a sport weight to light worsted weight yarn. This is only actually 2 lofty ply in this yarn. But it would be the equivalent of a 5-8 ply in thickness. I hope this helps you out!
Best
Jessica
It does, thank you! 🙂
If you cast on 86 stitches for this scarf
and k2p2, won’t the rib go crossways on the scarf instead of the lengthwise direction shown in the photo?
Thanks,
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out! No, the pattern is worked from the bottom up so if you follow the instructions as written, casting on 86 stitches and working the k2, p2 stitch pattern it will knit up lengthwise! Keep in mind that the 86 stitches that you are casting on is for the width of the scarf not the length, so the established pattern will work up the length from there!
I hope this clarifies things for you, happy knitting!
Gianna
Is this pattern identical on both sides?
Hi Emma,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct, since the pattern is a rib stitch it is identical on both sides of the fabric!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi
I’d like to make this with linen quill to match the lovely rib hat. How many skeins of linen quill should I purchase to make the same size scarf as this pattern? Should I use the number 5 needles, same as for the hat?
Also really interested in this yarn – If I buy 3 skeins for this scarf, would there be enough left over to make an adult small hat?
Thanks so much for your help
Cheers,
KB
Hi KB,
Thanks for reaching out! For this scarf you would need 5 skeins of the Linen Quill Worsted, we used approximately 800 yards for this scarf and each skein of Linen Quill Worsted 164 yards! I would recommend using a US 6 needle for the scarf. You may have enough left over of the 5th skein to make the Toddler/Kid Small Size of the Lovely Ribbed Hat but it certainly wouldn’t be enough to make the Adult Small since that take 2 skeins alone!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi there. New knitter here. Do you think that the cashmere merino bloom would work well with this rib?
Hi Rebekah,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Cashmere Merino Bloom would be a great choice for this scarf! Cashmere Merino Bloom is a bit thicker than Good Wool so I would suggest working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure you are consistent with the pattern! For more information on that, I would suggest checking out our lovely tutorial All About Gauge.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi! I’m using a yarn that makes 23 rows, 16 stitches per 4x4inch block. Will that work for this pattern?
Hi Katie,
Thanks for reaching out! You can use that yarn, but you will need to adjust the cast on amount. If the yarn has 16 stitches for 4 inches, you will want to cast on 40 stitches for a 10″ wide scarf and then knit until you have reached your desired length!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I’d like to knit the Lovely Ribbed Scarf for my husband, but I may have picked the wrong yarn for it… I fell in love with the feel, and forgot that a yarn has to be a good match for a pattern! The yarn is Spindle, so a lace yarn… Would it be crazy to hold two strands together, so this scarf would feel more substantial, but with still some great drape? I have 3 still-intact skeins in Black Sand, and the plan is for a narrower scarf, around 9 inches, would it be wise to grab at least another skein? I just wonder if I’m “wasting” Spindle using it double, part of me just wants to grab some Knitting Yarn instead and just make a nice, sensible scarf! (He wants a black/charcoal color, so I can’t use Good Wool.) Thank you in advance for your advice!
Hi Mrs. Bee,
That’s a great question, and I actually think that holding Spindle double for this scarf would be a fantastic option! I just finished a project of my own with two strands of Spindle, and it worked out perfectly, creating a more substantial knit fabric, while still not being too dense. 3 skeins of Spindle should work just fine for a 9-inch wide scarf, since there’s so many yards per skein!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you for the encouragement, Lili! I’ve never worked with a yarn doubled, please let me know if you have any advice. I’m thinking of using needles #6, though so far I’ve only made one teeny tiny swatch in stockinette.
You’re very welcome! I think that size 6 needles would be perfect. I used size 7 needles for my own project with Spindle doubled, and I felt that the fabric was a bit too loose, so I wish I had used size 6. But in general, swatching is always the way to go when you’re experimenting with yarn!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there, what is the best way to join new yarn for this scarf? I was going to do the Russian join but I don’t have enough plies to comfortably secure the yarn. I am also using super wash yarn (Drops Karisma) so I can’t spit splice the ends. Please let me know! Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Zoe,
Thanks for writing in! We recommend leaving yarn tails of a few inches and weaving them in after you finish the project.
All the best,
Lili
Hello! Isn’t a 2×2 ribbed scarf meant to be K2, P2 for every row? Whereas this pattern alternates by beginning every other row with P2,K2.
I’m a total beginner so just want to make sure I’m understanding correctly (!) and haven’t seen other patterns do this.
Hi Amy,
We are so happy to hear you are jumping into the Lovely Ribbed Scarf! That’s one of my favorites! This pattern is written so that the edge stitches mirror each other by having knits on both ends. Ultimately you will just knit the knits and purl the purls on each row. Just a quick tip that helped me memorize the stitches when I was first starting, the purl stitches can be identified by their little purl bumps that are made on the back of your work after knitting a stitch. Vice versa, the knit stitches can be identified as the stitches that look like little V’s.
Something else to keep in mind if you’re just starting to learn new techniques like the seed stitch is that the order of the knits and purls can vary depending on the number (or multiple) of stitches in the pattern. For example, if the pattern calls for odd or even stitch counts, that can change the order they’ll recommend knits and purls. It’s really just up to the result the designer desires to achieve.
We are always here to help so let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello! I am looking to make the lovely ribbed scarf in the Nigh DK. Just wondering how many skeins and what size needles I would need?
Am excited to start this next project!
Hi Jane,
We are so happy to hear you will be making this scarf! To complete this project in Nigh DK, you will need 5 skeins. We recommend starting with the needle size in the pattern but always recommend knitting a gauge swatch just to make sure you are getting the same as the pattern. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello, I have sport weight and worsted weight yarn. When I used sport weight my gauge was too small but it was just right with the worsted weight. I’m worried about the scarf being too bulky if I go with the worsted weight since the pattern calls for sport weight. Which yarn would you recommend I use? Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Shio,
Thanks for writing in! Either yarn would work great for this pattern–it’s super adjustable. You can either swatch further to figure out what needle you should be using to achieve the gauge of the pattern, or, if you like the texture you’re getting currently, you can adjust the cast-on number. This pattern works over any multiple of 4 stitches!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I’m new to knitting and having trouble finding my gauge. Does the gauge in the pattern only apply to the stitches across? Is there any gauge for the row height? Also, is the gauge saying cast on 26 and knit 32 rows or cast on 32 and knit 26?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Shio,
Thanks for writing in! We include both a stitch gauge and a row gauge for this pattern: You should aim to get 32 stitches within 4 inches (horizontally) and 26 rows within 4 inches (vertically).
For the most accurate gauge measurements, we always recommend knitting up an approximately 5 x 5-inch gauge swatch and then measuring the gauge, in both directions, over the inner 4 inches. To get a 5-inch swatch in this pattern, you should cast on 40 stitches and then knit until the swatch measures 5 inches in height! Then, just lay a ruler or tape measure across the swatch and count the number of stitches within 4 inches. For the row gauge, be sure to count the purl stitches that are hiding behind the knit ribs!
All the best,
Lili
Hello. I’m making this scarf out of the good wool. It’s not as soft as I thought. Will blocking it make it softer? Not really sure how to block correctly. Could you advise. Thank you.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing in! Blocking will improve the drape of Good Wool and make it slightly softer to the touch, but it will not stop it from feeling prickly against the skin. That’s because this yarn is made from highland wool, which naturally feels prickly to those who are sensitive to wool. As for the blocking method, either wet blocking, spray blocking, or steam blocking would work great! Let me know if you’d like more specific instructions for any of those methods.
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I’d love to make this. I really love this yarn and have 4 skeins of good wool and would like to make it wider. How many stitches would I need to cast on please?
Hi Karen,
To figure out your new cast-on number, just multiply the number of stitches per inch (8 stitches, according to the gauge of the pattern) by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest multiple of 4 + 2 stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
I saw in an earlier post the recommendation to cast on 66 stitches if knitting this for a child. To what length would you recommend it be knitted?
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for writing in! I was able to search online and see that it is recommended to knit the scarf to the same length as the child is tall.
I hope this helps and happy making!
All the best,
Gavriella
Thank you!