Glimmer Scarf
Even if science hasn’t proven it yet, we know it’s true: time definitely speeds up in the weeks before the holidays. Hours diligently planned for gift making somehow slip away into no time at all. To account for this… Our Glimmer Scarf. Cozy and opulent, it has all the thoughtful charms of a hand-knit treasure but finishes in record time!
The Glimmer Scarf is a simple 1 x1 rib, and it all starts with our super squishy Gentle Giant, a big bulky yarn that makes everything quick and easy. You’ll change colors partway through the knitting, adding a fun chromatic surprise as layers wrap around the wearer.
And more fun… Along with the big strand of Gentle Giant, you’ll hold two different colored strands of our gorgeous mohair-silk Tussock. Amidst Gentle Giant’s lush stitches, the two colors of Tussock come in and out of focus, adding unexpected dapples of color and light.
A jumbo softy shot through with delicate but vibrant threads of mohair silk… a veritable fiber celebration!
Five skeins of jumbo Gentle Giant and two skeins of Tussock: so speedy, you may even have time to do a little happy dance!
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, #PurlSohoGlimmerScarf, #PurlSohoGentleGiant, and #PurlSohoTussock. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Glimmer Scarf, you will need…
- 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 48 yards/ 125 grams.
- Yarn A: 3 skeins; approximately 141 yards required.
- Yarn B: 2 skeins; approximately 90 yards required.
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Tussock, 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk
- Yarn C: 1 skein; approximately 230 yards required.
- Yarn D: 1 skein; approximately 230 yards required.
We’ve chosen two pretty palettes but the possibilities are endless!
SUGAR PLUM (above left):
- Yarn A: Gentle Giant in White Peppercorn
- Yarn B: Gentle Giant in Calico Pink
- Yarn C: Tussock in Pink Joy
- Yarn D: Tussock in Squash Blossom
WINTERGREEN (above right):
- Yarn A: Gentle Giant in White Peppercorn
- Yarn B: Gentle Giant in Mint Ice
- Yarn C: Tussock in Lightning Yellow
- Yarn D: Tussock in Yellow Mimosa
You will also need…
- US 17 (12 mm) straight or circular needles
Gauge
10 stitches and 9½ rows = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, holding Yarns C, D, and either A or B together
Size
Finished Dimensions: 8½ inches wide x 68 inches long
Notes
While you knit this scarf, you will hold three strands of yarn together: a strand of both Yarns C and D, plus one strand of either Yarn A or B. Just pull each strand from its ball… Simple!
Pattern
Holding Yarns A, C, and D together, cast on 22 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures approximately 41 inches from cast-on edge.
Cut Yarn A.
Join Yarn B and holding it with Yarns C and D, repeat Row 1 until piece measures 68 inches from cast-on edge.
Still with Yarns B, C, and D, loosely bind off in stitch pattern. Here’s how…
Bind Off Row: Knit 2, pass stitch over, *p1, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to end of row.
Weave in the ends and lightly steam if desired.
Beautiful, just love it.
What is the weight of each of the yarns. Please give me more details about each of the yarns. What are the washing/cleaning directions? What is the yarn bulk number?
Hi Kathleen,
Great questions! Our Gentle Giant is a super bulky yarn, or roughly a number 6 on the Craft Yarn Council’s system, and Tussock is a lace weight, or number 0. Both yarns are hand wash and lay flat to dry. More information can be found on the product page under Product Details for every yarn we carry!
Best,
Julianna
Lovely pattern. The yarn just makes it.
Love this! What other color combinations would you recommend for this pattern?
Hi Steph,
Thank you so much for writing in! Really, the possibilities for color combinations are endless! You can start with any two colors of Gentle Giant, a neutral and a coordinating muted color, and then pick two colors of Tussock that pull out some of the undertones in the Gentle Giant but really pop. If you have an idea of what color families you like I’d be happy to make some recommendations!
Best,
Julianna
What a beautiful scarf! I was interested in making a more earth-toned version – maybe using gentle giant in wolf brown or winter bark? Any suggestions for a good combination?
Hi Holly,
Thanks for the kind words, and what a great idea! I think Winter Bark and Wolf Brown go together very well, and with such a neutral background, you have a lot of freedom to select colors of Tussock. Anjou Pear and Wild Guava would add a bright autumnal note, or Orange Pekoe and Ripe Boysenberry would move things in a bit more of a wintry direction. You could even go totally neutral, with Heirloom White and Silver Needle adding just a bit of shimmer and pop like an occasional snowflake!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
id love a suggestion for a silver or grey combination? thank you!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! I think Gentle Giant in Heirloom White and Pigeon Gray, along with Tussock in Silver Needle and Gray Quartz, would turn out just lovely!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
just started this scarf. I find that the width is about 10inches and also that the rib is not as close as it is in the picture. I’ve tried both tigger and loser stitches. The space between the raised sections is very wide. Appreciate any tips to decrease the space between the ribs. Thanks!
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out! If you are getting a width of 10″ rather than 8.5 “, it sounds like your gauge is looser than ours. The easiest way to eliminate this is to go down to a US 15 needle which will give you a tighter gauge.
Happy knitting!
Marilla
Thanks, Marilla! I don’t have a 15 so I kept on with the 17 and the space started to close up the more rows I knit. Also learning to not be such a knitting perfectionist.
I would like to make the scarf In the white peppercorn/ calico pink version but I notice you only have the calico pink heather yarn. Do you expect to get in the calico pink solid in the near future?
Hi Jo Ann,
Thanks for reaching out! We actually only offer Calico Pink in the heather option we don’t make it as a solid color!
All the best,
Gianna
I couldn’t wait to start this project; what gorgeous yarns and delightful color combinations! I’m a relatively new knitter, and this is the first time I’ve carried multiple yarn strands at once, which is causing me a wee bit of anxiety. My tussock strands keep spiralling around the gentle giant. I’ve tried to keep them all straight, but have to unwind them after each row. Is there a trick for preventing the spiral, or should I just not worry about it? Many thanks for any advice!
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! As long as your Tussock isn’t bunching up in one spot and is a spread out spiral you will be fine. One trick I like to do when working with two yarns together, is to get two small zip lock bags and put each ball in their own bog and then make a hole in each bag to thread your yarn through. This will help prevent to much twisting.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Ooh, great idea! Thanks, Marilla!
I really love this, but was wondering if you think there is a good way to do it as an infinity scarf. Thanks!
Hello Alissa,
Thank you for reaching out! This would be a lovely infinity scarf. I would recommend using a provisional cast on and then grafting the two ends together.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love love love the beauty of this scarf. It looks so luxurious and I would so love to try to make it. Is there a video that shows you how to do this? I learn better when I can see how to knit this. (I’m trying to decide with color scheme to purchase. I love both of them!!)Thank you so much!!!
Hi Ellen,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! Unfortunately we don’t have the resources at the moment to do a video tutorial of this; however, it is a quite straightforward knit! The scarf is basic 1×1 ribbing holding one strand of Gentle Giant and two strands of Tussock together, with one color change about 2/3 of the way through. If you run into any questions as you go we are always here to help!
Best,
Julianna
Hi Purl Soho.. I was thinking I could do the same scarf using super soft Merino instead. I know it’s a thinner yarn. Do you think I could still do this pattern ? How many skeins, size needles, and stitches should I cast on to make it apx the same size? Thanks.
Hello Joyce,
Thank you for reaching out! You can certainly do that. I would reccomend knitting up a gauge swatch to determine a cast on that will get you to a width of 8.5 inches. You will just want to be sure to cast on an even number. 5 skeins should still work!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi, I would like to make this scarf with a light ballet pink and grey. What would colours would you recommend that would be similar? Thanks!
Hi Darlene,
Thanks for reaching out, and what a lovely color scheme! I would suggest using Gentle Giant in Pigeon Gray and Silver Mauve, and Tussock in Pink Fog and Apple Blossom. These shades of Tussock should really emphasize the pink tones in Silver Mauve!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
This is such a fun scarf to knit and I would love to make another. Can you suggest some additional colorways other than the Wintergreen and the Sugarplum? Thank you 🙂
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, I would be happy to! The glow of color that Tussock adds is so subtle that it’s hard to go wrong, even with highly contrasting colors, as you can see in our original colorways. Some other fun combinations could be:
Yarn A: 3 skein of Gentle Giant in White Peppercorn
Yarn B: 2 skeins of Gentle Giant in Honey Pink
Yarn C: 1 skein of Tussock in Golden Lichen
Yarn D: 1 skein of Tussock in Red Cedar
Yarn A: 3 skein of Gentle Giant in White Peppercorn
Yarn B: 2 skeins of Gentle Giant in Purple Lupine
Yarn C: 1 skein of Tussock in Alpine Phlox
Yarn D: 1 skein of Tussock in Bright Thistle
Yarn A: 3 skein of Gentle Giant in White Peppercorn
Yarn B: 2 skeins of Gentle Giant in Iceberg Blue
Yarn C: 1 skein of Tussock in Blue Lagoon
Yarn D: 1 skein of Tussock in Bright Verdigris
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Can this scarf be dry cleaned instead of hand washed.
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for reaching out! We recommend hand washing cold, lay flat to dry.
Best,
Marilla
Any tips on joining the second color? When I slip one purl wise then continue in pattern, the first stitch will be white and the rest of the row will be mint.
Thanks.
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for reaching out! When knitting a scarf or other item with a slipped stitch selvage like this, it’s totally normal and not avoidable that the selvage stitch will not completely line up with the color change; however, it’s usually not noticeable! The slipped selvage stitches each stretch over two rows, so the white selvage stitch will actually be half edging the previous row of white and half edging the first row of green, and should just look like a decorative element in the finished scarf.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Yes, thank you for clarifying!!!
I am an emotional knitter and have discovered that at times the width wanders. Would blocking solve this? Or should I frog it to the point (s) where it was in complete harmony?
Hi Leslie,
Thanks for reaching out! It could be your tension changing as you knit! This is something you can definitely fix with blocking if it is not a lot of growth but if you are noticing a very big difference in the width than it may be better to frog and begin again from where it is in harmony!
All the best,
Gianna
Has anyone ever suggested this yarn combo and pattern for a crib blanket? Have been cruising around for a bulky baby blanket that’s not too bulky, but also has some interest within a simple pattern. Working on calculating how much material is needed but if have that handy, would appreciate the help!
thanks so much!
Hi Becky
Thanks for writing in! If you wanted a blanket around 34″ X 34″ it would be the equivalent of 2 of these scarves together. You would need 6 skeins of Gentle Giant for yarn A, 4 skeins of Gentle Giant for yarn B, and 2 skeins of Tussock for yarn C and D, and a cast on with 88 stitches. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting
Jessica
Thanks you so much for the assistance!
hi…is this yarn itchy? How soft is it? I am a committed cashmere knitter and am always afraid to try Merino of any kind…so need to know exactly how it feels?
Hi Marina,
Thanks for writing in! Both Gentle Giant and Tussock are incredibly soft! Although it’s hard to compare anything to cashmere, we use only the finest quality merino and mohair, so both yarns are super cozy and soft, even for sensitive skin – not at all itchy! I hope you give it a try!
Best,
Julianna
Thinking of this for Xmas gift…Using the heirloom white and graphite gray. (Making a statement!) And am thinking of Claret pink with white and Bright Thistle on gray…or do you think Pink joy on gray?
Other thought is Partly cloudy blue and cloudy blue?
Bright Jade, Bright Verdigirs?
Are the above the right tone/hues for the gray and white? Hard to decide with out actually seeing in person. Thanks.
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for writing in! These all sound like gorgeous color combinations! Keep in mind that Tussock is so much smaller than Gentle Giant that, even when choosing colors that contrast strongly the effect will be fairly subtle; however, this means that the bolder and bolder the contrast, the better! Heirloom White and Graphite Gray both provide very neutral backgrounds, so you could go with almost any color of Tussock. I think I prefer Bright Thistle along with Pink Joy to go along with Claret Pink, but all of your other combinations sound fantastic!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I would like to make another glimmer scarf.
I prefer the bright colors. Could you suggest a combo with either green or pink? I was thinking of using the Heirloom white and either Mint ice or Mountain Hemlock (Gentle Giant). I am not sure which 2 colors of Tussock would look best.
Thank you,
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Heirloom White would look beautiful with either Mint ice or Mountain Hemlock! If you go with Mint Ice, I would recommend Tussock in Bright Verdigris and either Balsam Green or Cloud Blue and for Mountain Hemlock I would recommend Cypress Green and Bright Verdigris or Balsam Green!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
I would like to make another glimmer scarf! It’s a dream to knit! Would the Lucky green Tussock work with the Mint Ice or are the under tones wrong? Ideas for an accompanying color? Or, any other combos you would suggest that included Lucky green?
Hi Buffy,
Thanks so much for writing in! For the Tussock shades held together, we’d suggest Lucky Green and Bright Verdigris, Lucky Green and Pink Joy, and Lucky Green and Saffron Yellow! And Lucky Green would pair really well with Gentle Giant in Parsley Green, but I’m afraid that color is currently out of stock. You can sign up to be notified when that returns though by going to the product page (https://www.purlsoho.com/gentle-giant.html), selecting Parsley Green, and entering your email address. This way, you’ll know when it’s available again! If you’d like to cast on sooner, Lucky Green looks great with Mint Ice too. And a fun Gentle Giant color combination you could try is Mint Ice and Calico Pink!
I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Cat