Striped Garter Scarf
As light as sea foam, as gentle as a breeze, our Striped Garter Scarf is as fresh a layer as early fall demands. This is the sweet scarf you need to battle the shortening days and evening chills that threaten your comfort in the months ahead!

To make our Striped Garter Scarf we alternated between two lightweight fingering yarns: Cattail Silk and Line Weight. In a case of opposites-really-do-attract, Cattail Silk’s little nubs of color and crisp, natural finish pair beautifully with Line Weight’s single ply cloud of merino wool.

For beginners, this pattern is a great next step after your first garter stitch scarf… Knit two rows with one color, then two rows with the other. More experienced knitters will also enjoy this simple project that lets you settle into a knitting groove!

Designed for Purl Soho by Nicole Milano.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoStripedGarterScarf, #PurlSohoLineWeight, and #PurlSohoCattailSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Yarn A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 494 yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- Yarn B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% silk. Each skein is 618 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 524 yards required. We used Blue Bamboo.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 40-inch circular needles
GAUGE
24 stitches and 56 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: 11 inches wide x 70 inches long
NOTE
To switch between yarns, bring the working yarn behind the non-working yarn when you knit the first stitch of each right-side row.
PATTERN
Using Long Tail Cast-On and Yarn A, cast on 420 stitches,
Row 1 (wrong side): With Yarn A, knit to end of row.
Row 2 (right side): With Yarn B, knit to end of row.
Row 3: With Yarn B, knit to end of row.
Row 4: With Yarn A, knit to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 11 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
Cut Yarn B.
Bind Off (right side): With Yarn A, bind off loosely knitwise.
Weave in all ends and block gently.

Regarding my previous comment….would purple sumac in Cattail Silk be too bold with Lavender Opal Linen Quill?
Hi Judith,
Thanks for reaching out again! I think Purple Sumac would work! It would be a great contrast!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Gianna
I’d like to use linen quill and line weight. What are your thoughts?
Thank you
Dottie Avery
Hi Dottie,
Thanks for writing in! I think this pattern would look gorgeous in Line Weight and Linen Quill! The gauge should similar, if not the same, but I do suggest working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure you are consistent with the pattern!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Hi! I have an extra skein of Cattail Silk in Pale Wisteria and was thinking of using it to knit this beauty! Do you have any suggestions for a Line Weight color to pair with it? Thanks so very much!
Hi Megan,
Thanks for reaching out! I think you can’t go wrong pairing it with Line Weight in Heirloom White or Wheat Flour. If you’d like a more contrasting combination, I would consider Fieldstone Gray. Hope this gives you some inspiration!
All the best,
Lili
This scarf looks luscious and soft! I really like Cattail Silk golden oak and am debating between Line Weight lilac fog, reed grey, of wheat. Decisions decisions decisions! Any insights? Thanks!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in. Choosing the best colors for your project can definitely be the hardest part! Personally, I really like Cattail Silk in Golden Oak with Line Weight in Wheat Flour. I think that Wheat Flour has very warm undertones, which complement and accentuate the warmth of Golden Oak. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I’d like to make two of this scarf: one using line weight in High Tide and one using line weight in Blue Mountain.
Which colors of cattail silk would you recommend?
For High Tide, do you think either Thousand Year Old Green or Kingfisher Blue?
For Blue Mountain, do you think either Blue Iris or Flower Field Gray (which is currently out of stock) or Kingfisher Blue or ???
Thanks for your thoughts!
Hello,
Thank you so much for your question, and I really like the colors you’ve selected for your scarf! The High Tide paired with Kingfisher Blue and the Blue Mountain with Blue Iris are particularly lovely because of how the subtle sheen of Cattail Silk stands out next to Line Weight! Going with the colors that are more contrasted to the blue Line Weight would be lovely as well, but I love the subtlety of the blues being very close in color.
I hope these recommendations help, and please me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Carly
Hi,
I love the Line Weight yarn and the striped cowl pattern is beautiful. Could I use one strand of yarn and use all Line Weight instead for this pattern and no Cattail silk? Purchase double the skeins of Line Weight? Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate you answering all the questions and comments, they are all so helpful and inspiring.
Hi Pam!
Thank you for your sweet comment! This scarf uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together, so I think you could certainly use two strands of Line Weight held together in place of Cattail Silk and Line Weight. You would need two skeins of Line Weight if you went this route, and I would recommend making a gauge swatch first too, just to make sure everything will turn out as intended.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
I didnt realize there were two strands held together. I thought you were knitting one row at a time with one strand. Thanks for your help.
I really appreciate it.
Whoops! I am so sorry, you are totally correct! You are only knitting with one yarn at a time in this pattern, but you will use two strands, which is where I misinterpreted things. You can certainly still use two strands of Line Weight, though, and alternate each row between different colors or skeins of Line Weight.
I apologize again and I hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Margaret
Thank you so much, Margaret. What a great idea to alternate skeins all in Line Weight! How pretty! Thanks again, I really appreciate your help.
You are very welcome, Pam!
All the best,
Margaret