Pom Pom Trim Scarf
Like ducks in a row, a flock of pom poms arranges itself along the edges of our Pom Pom Trim Scarf. Combining classic seed stitch with a whimsical wink of bobbles, here is a beautiful balance of practical and playful!
In our Super Soft Merino, this cozy scarf is a warm, thick cloud, quick to knit and wonderful to wear. For the pom poms, we used two of our Appleton Tapestry Wool Bundles, each an octave of orchestrated tones from light to dark. Choose from 9 pretty bundles, including this one, Rose Garden, which ranges from pale pink to deep garnet.
Want to make your pom poms as round and dense and fluffy as ours? Pick up our Pom Pom Maker Set and check out our Pom Pom Tutorial. With both, you’ll be equipped to create your own row of incredibly irresistible pom pom ducklings!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoPomPomTrimScarf, and #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this bulky weight yarn is 87 yards; approximately 348 yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- 2 Appleton Tapestry Wool Bundles. We used Rose Garden.
- US 13 (9 mm) straight or circular needles
- Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set in Small + Large
- A tapestry needle
Gauge
10 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
10½ inches wide x 68 inches long (not including pom poms)
Pattern
Knit Scarf
Cast on 27 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Row 1 until the piece measures 68 inches from cast-on edge.
Weave in the ends.
Pom Pom Trim
Make Pom Poms
Following Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Tutorial, use the two Appleton Tapestry Wool Bundles to make 16, 1¼-inch solid colored pom poms. For each pom pom, wrap all but 12 inches of the skein around the Small Pom Pom Maker. Save 12 inches of tapestry wool to secure each pom pom. Make sure you don’t clip its tails when you trim your pom pom… You’ll use them to attach the pom pom to the scarf!
Attach the Pom Pom Trim
With one set of 8 pom poms, attach the lightest pom pom to the bottom left-hand side of the cast-on edge of the scarf. Attach the darkest pom pom to the bottom right-hand side of the cast-on edge. Evenly space the remaining 6 pom poms of this set along the cast-on edge of the scarf, keeping the light-to-dark color order. Each pom pom should be spaced approximately 1½ inches apart.
Attach each pom pom like this…
Thread the two tails of yarn that you used to secure the pom pom together through a tapestry needle. With the right side of the scarf facing you, insert the tapestry needle into the edge of the scarf from front to back, leaving a little slack between the pom pom and the scarf, like you would when sewing on a button. The slack is called the Neck.
Bring the needle around the edge of the scarf from back to front and wrap the needle around the Neck two times. Bring the needle up through the two wraps, then insert the needle into the scarf from front to back in the same spot as before.
Turn the scarf over, and insert the needle down through the wraps, then through the center of the pom pom, being careful not to pull out any pom pom strands. Pull the needle through so the tails are sticking out the bottom of the pom pom. Pull tight to secure and trim the tails flush with the pom pom.
Once one set of pom poms is sewn to the scarf, attach the second set of pom poms to the bind off edge in the same color order.
Trim the pom poms as needed and steam if desired.
LEARN ABOUT SUPER SOFT MERINO + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
The best reason to use Super Soft Merino for this project is because it is the dreamiest, cuddliest, toastiest yarn you can imagine! A single ply of 100% merino wool, Super Soft Merino has a nice, loose spin that shows off the softness of its fiber and keeps it nice and lightweight. Its gauge ranges from a chunky/bulky weight to super bulky weight (2.75-3.25 stitches per inch), making it a great choice for quick (and beautiful!) hand-knit gifts. And more… Super Soft Merino comes in over 30 amazing colors, too!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Super Soft Merino knitting patterns and cast on!
More Chunky/Bulky + Super Bulky-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of chunky/bulky weight yarns
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- 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 Fibers
- Shop merino wool
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 really want to make this for my granddaughter up at cornell, I like the grey fig she’s not flashy so which Pom Pom bundle would suit or can u suggest another color combo, she prefers dark sedate colors thanks fran
Hello Fran,
Thanks for reaching out! I think the Grey Fig is a lovely choice. If I were choosing a color to complement Grey Fig I would either go with Rose Garden or Skipping Stone.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Love this scarf! I’m going to need rot make it out of cotton (for a wool allergic friend). I’m thinking Blue Sky Fibers organic cotton.Any other suggestions? It looks like a lovely scarf in either fiber.
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for writing in and for the kind words! Blue Sky Worsted Cotton should work if you hold it doubled, though I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch to be on the safe side!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I love this and would like to make it for my niece who is in the 3rd grade.
What length and width would you recommend?
Thank you, Frances
Hi Frances,
Great question! For a kid’s scarf, I would probably make the width about 7 to 9 inches. A good rule of thumb for the length regardless of the wearer’s age is to knit the scarf until the length is about equal to their height, which for a third grader is probably around 48 to 54 inches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love this! Does this yarn shed? Sometimes I find the softer the yarn the more they shed. Could you advise a suitable yarn for this pattern that sheds the least?
Thank you!
Hi Celia,
Thanks for reaching out! It is true that softer yarns are usually spun less tightly and made with shorter fibers, which can lead to shedding, though usually after wearing the item a few times it will stop shedding. Two options that would shed less or not at all would be Cascade Superwash 128 or Brooklyn Tweed Quarry – both of these are a bit lighter weight than Super Soft Merino, so I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch to make sure you are happy with them on the recommended needle size. You may have to use a US 11 and adjust your cast on if you find they are too loose on the US 13.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I just finished the scarf and the first set of pom poms. But Before I attach them, should I block the scarf first, or skip this step? It looks pretty good now. I was considering skipping the blocking.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! With a simple scarf like this, you can get away with not blocking it if you wish – it already lays flat and seed stitch doesn’t need to be blocked to show stitch definition. However, I think that all knits do benefit in some way from blocking. It will even out your stitches and edges a bit more even if they look fine now, and wet blocking also will wash away any dirt or skin oils the scarf may have picked up during the knitting process. If you do decide to block the scarf, I would do so before attaching the pom poms.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I was just wish listing my way thru the site, and I started planning a scarf like this based on the Seed Bed scarf in Red Plum Worsted Twist with Pocket Posy pom poms in Heirloom White and Marigold Orange, which would result in a school color scarf as a gift for my daughters’ color guard instructor. Because I need those specific colors (maroon, orange and white), would I be better off using this pattern, or just adding the pom poms to the Seed Bed Scarf? Thanks in advance! ?
Hi Heather,
Thanks for reaching out! Since Super Soft Merino does not come in Red Plum, I would recommend adding the pom pom trim to the Seed Bed Scarf so you can use the right colors – the pom poms can easily be added to any scarf!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there, I just started knitting this scarf with US 13 needles, according to the pattern, and it seemed very loose/open. It didn’t look right. I noticed that Super Soft Merino calls for US 11. I tried it again with 11 needles and it looked more like the photo and the sample in your store. Any chance the pattern should recommend US 11 needles?
Thanks, Jung Min
Hi Jung Min,
Thanks for writing in! Although we used a US 13 to knit our scarf, it is quite possible that you would need to use a US 11 to obtain the same gauge that we did! Everyone’s gauge is different, so if you needed to go down a needle size to match ours, it sounds like you might be a bit of a loose knitter. There’s no need to change how you knit, but I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch to check your stitches per inch before starting future projects.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
My question answered with Jung Min Lee’s. I am gratified this scarf may done on a Size 11 circular needle, because I already have one!
I haven’t made pom poms before and wondered which tool and method were better/easier, so I know which one to purchase: Clover’s, Loome’s or Purl Soho’s. I might want to make bigger pom poms for a hat later, but now the plan is 1 1/4″ pom poms for this scarf.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! All of the pom pom tools do make the pom pom process quite easy, but they vary in a few ways. Both our Purl Soho Pom Pom Maker Set and Loome Slingshot Tool are very fast and easy to learn how to use – even children can use this type of tool with very little instruction – but the pom pom is very lopsided when it first comes off of the tool and requires quite a bit of trimming to get that ideal round shape. The trim guides included with the Purl Soho set speed up this process and you can make 6 different sizes with just the one set. Loome also sells a trim guide to go with the Slingshot tool, but it only comes in one size.
The Clover Pom Pom Maker is a bit trickier to learn to use. It has several arms that have to be unfolded and wrapped in the proper order, but once you master the steps, it creates a pom pom that is much rounder, so there is less trimming involved. However, each tool can only make one size of pom pom, so you may need several sizes depending on your pom pom needs.
Each tool has its advantages and drawbacks – overall, the Purl Soho Pom Pom Maker Set and the Loome Slingshot are easier to use, but require more trimming, while the Clover Pom Pom Maker is harder to use but requires less trimming. Also, the Purl Soho set can be used to make more sizes than either of the other sets, but it is a bit pricier. It is really up to you and how many pom poms you think you will be making, but I hope that extra information helps!
Best,
Julianna
I wondered what other Super Soft Merino colors go with Appleton Tapestry Rose besides Heirloom White. I noticed you recommended Rose with Gray Fig. Are there other nice combinations?
I wondered if Sea Salt goes well with Skipping Stone? The latter has some purplely tones. I already have a lovely light gray scarf, so want to vary into another main color.
Hi Judy,
Yes, I think those would be lovely together! Sea Salt would also go well with Rose if you prefer warmer accent colors.
Best,
Julianna
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! Between the nine sets of Appleton Tapestry Wool and 22 colors of Super Soft Merino, there are many, many beautiful potential combinations! If there is a particular Appleton set or shade of Super Soft Merino that you are fond of, I would be happy to suggest some colors to go along with it!
Best,
Julianna
If I change to Quarry for this pattern, which has 200 yards to the skein, I will need only 2 skeins, won’t I, because Super Soft Merino is only 87 yards per skein and calls for 4 skeins. Is it between SSM and Superwash 128 in softness, perhaps?
I really like Quarry’s Garnet color and think it matches the Rose Garden Appleton Tapestry wool bundle really well.
On second thought, Superwash 128 Burgundy goes better with Rose Garden, as Quarry’s Garnet is more orange.
I like the Rose Garden best, then Russet Spice.
Hello Judy,
Thank you for reaching out!
I would say that Quarry has a more rustic wooly feel than Super Soft and Superwash 128. Both of these are a bit lighter weight than Super Soft Merino, so you will need to knit a gauge swatch to make sure you are happy with them on the recommended needle size. You may have to use a US 11 and adjust your cast on if you find they are too loose on the US 13. This will also determine how much yarn you will need for your project. Because Quarry and Superwash 128 both knit up at smaller gauges you will need more yarn to get the same dimensions. That being said you could certainly get a nice sized scarf with 2 skeins of Quarry.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Does Super Soft Merino look shiny and smooth, rather than fuzzy and fluffy? It and Tosh Merino seem woven differently than most yarns, which have spiral ribs. I’m wondering about the final effect of the scarf. It looks fuzzy in the picture above.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! Both Super Soft Merino and Tosh Merino are single ply yarns, meaning they consist of a single twisted strand of fibers, rather than multi-ply yarns, that are constructed with several single plies twisted around each other. Although single ply yarns can be either shiny or matte depending on the fiber content, Super Soft Merino does have a matte and somewhat fluffy texture when knitted.
Best,
Julianna
Thank you. That helps. Does Tosh Merino, then, tend to be more shiny than SSM?
Hello Judy,
Thank you for reaching out! I would actually say that their textures are quite similar.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I just started this lovely scarf and even though I only have 4 or 5″ done, I can tell it’s going to be beautiful. My question is: which method to do you recommend for casting off? Should I just knit every stitch or alternate knit and purl? Thank you in advance!
Hello Valerie,
Thank you for reaching out! We cast off our sample with a basic knit cast off.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi…I love this scarf. The pom poms are so fun! The yarn is a bit heavy for me. Can you recommend a soft yarn that is lighter weight …..how many stitches, amount needed and size needles you would recommend as well.
Many thanks.
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for reaching out. This pattern can easily be knit up in any yarn, and since you’re interested in a lighter yarn, I’d recommend Morning! Morning is a DK weight yarn, and it’s made from a blend of cotton and yak, which makes it soft and cozy but not too heavy. We usually use size US 5 or 6 needles with Morning.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the closest odd number. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, I made this scarf and the seed stitch looked absolutely beautiful before blocking. The stitch definition was great and the yarn had the perfect amount of fluffiness. However, after wet blocking, the scarf is now completely flat and lacks any definition in texture. The yarn doesn’t have that super soft fluffiness that it used to. Is there any way to get that texture back? I suppose I could unravel it, wash it, rewind it, and knit it again, but do you have any better tips? Thank you!
Hi Leanna,
Thanks for reaching out! It is easy for fluffy yarns like Super Soft Merino, that we used for this pattern to lose their fluff when blocked. Instead of wet blocking, I would suggest steaming the scarf instead! This way the stitch definitely wont be flattened out, but instead will maintain the fluffiness! I wouls recommend steaming the scarf and using your fingers to work in a circular motion over the fabric to help re-fluff the fibers!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Hello, I see that you’re presently out of the Appleton Tapestry Wool Bundles in Russet Spice but do carry individual skeins of the Appleton Tapestry Wool. Would you be so kind as to tell me what color numbers are included in the Russet Spice colorway so I can collect them individually? Thank you so much for your time! Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, the reason that we are out of some of the color palettes of the bundles is because we are out of stock for some of the individual colors included in them. That means that they won’t all be available individually. We’re so sorry about that! But for reference, the colors included in Russet Spice are color numbers 201 – 209, in order (and 203 is out of stock).
All the best,
Lili