Color Flux Scarf
Non-metaphorically speaking, gray days are ahead. An absence of color is the mood and beauty of winter, and so when a bright pink or a tomato red pokes its head out of the grayness, it sings an especially boisterous song. And we’d say our Color Flux Scarf is really belting it out!
In a medley taken from the pink-red-purple corner of the color wheel, our Color Flux Scarf says no to gray (metaphorically and non-metaphorically speaking). You’ll need just five skeins of our incredibly soft Gentle Giant. And if loud singing isn’t your thing, the a say-yes-to-gray palette is just as lovely!
For this super quick knit, you cast on the long way and work only a couple of seed-stitch rows of each color, with four rows in between of “flux” where you transition from the old color to the new one… Fun!
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 founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoColorFluxScarf, and #PurlSohoGentleGiant. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Color Flux Scarf, you will need…
- 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this super bulky yarn is 48 yards/ 125 grams.
We’ve chosen two palettes for inspiration…
GLADIOLA, shown above left
Color A: Heirloom White
Color B: Super Pink
Color C: Rose Violet
Color D: Sugar Maple
Color E: Orange Koi
BRANCH, shown above right
Color A: Heirloom White
Color B: White Peppercorn
Color C: Winter Bark
Color D: Wolf Brown
Color E: Graphite Gray
You’ll also need…
- US 19 (15/16 mm), 47-inch circular needles
Gauge
5 3/8 stitches = 4 inches in seed stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 10 ½ inches wide x 71 inches long
Notes
(These are notes about the pattern, and the pattern itself starts below!)
Stitch Pattern
Row 1 (right side): K1, *p1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), *p1, k1, repeat from * to to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 purlwise wyif.
Color Change Rows
The Color Change Rows transition from the Original Color to the New Color over the course of 4 rows, working 2 right-side rows, followed by 2 wrong-side rows. Here’s how to do it…
Row 1 (right side): Attaching New Color, k1, *p1, k1 repeat from * to end of row. Slide work (see below).
Row 2 (right side): Picking up Original Color, k2, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p1, k2. Turn work (see below).
Row 3: (wrong side): Picking up Original Color from underneath New Color (to carry New Color up side of knitting), slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), *k1, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif. Slide work.
Row 4: (wrong side): Picking up New Color, slip 1 purlwise wyif, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 purlwise wyif. Turn work and cut Original Color.
Slide + Turn
When you work the Color Change Rows, you either “slide” or “turn” the work at the end of each row.
“Slide work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
“Turn work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with circular needles: Transfer the needle from your left hand into your right hand and the needle from your right hand into your left, flipping the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is right there waiting for you!
Pattern
With Color A (see Materials), cast on 95 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Work Rows 1 and 2 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color B.
With Color B, work Rows 1 and 2 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color C.
With Color C, work Rows 1 and 2 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color D.
With Color D, work Rows 1 and 2 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color E.
With Color E, work Rows 1 and 2 of Stitch Pattern.
Bind off loosely in stitch pattern with Color E.
Weave in ends.
LEARN ABOUT GENTLE GIANT + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
You can’t get more gentle or more giant than Gentle Giant! A single ply of 100% merino wool, Gentle Giant has a loose and lofty spin that puts the fiber’s softness up front and also keeps this jumbo-weight yarn from weighing you down. You knit Gentle Giant up on mega US 17 or 19 (12-15 mm) knitting needles, making it a very smart choice for last-minute gifts that don’t sacrifice a lick of beauty!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Gentle Giant knitting patterns and cast on!
More Jumbo-Weight Yarns
- Shop our collection of jumbo-weight yarns
- 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!
Looks beautiful! How many stitches to cast on? Thanks.
Hello Maggie,
Thank you for reaching out! The cast on for this lovely project is 95 stitches.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is there a printer icon I can use?
Many Thanks for a beautiful pattern.
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for the kind words! 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. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
Best,
Julianna
Is there a heavy yarn that is not wool (allergic) that can be used?
Maybe a cotton?
Hi Janet,
Great question! I think Blue Sky Worsted Cotton held double would work well for this pattern! You may find that you prefer it on a US 17 needle, since it will be just a bit lighter weight than our Gentle Giant, so I would definitely recommend knitting a gauge swatch before you start.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
OMG – is Purl Soho trying to bankrupt me? That scarf is beautiful. Just wondering if the dyes need to be re-fixed? Thanks.
Hi Ruth,
Thank you so much for the kind words – we’re so glad you love our scarf! Usually dye only needs to be re-fixed on hand dyed yarn, which our Gentle Giant is not, so I don’t foresee having any problems with the color bleeding. It certainly can’t hurt, however, if you want to be extra cautious!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Just wondering if a #19 needle with a 39″ cord will work. I’d rather not buy yet another one of those if possible. Thanks!
Hi Ruth,
Great question! Although your stitches will be quite scrunched up and that may make working on the scarf a little uncomfortable, everything should fit on a shorter needle and this scarf knits up so fast that any awkwardness from the shorter needle will be short lived!
Best,
Julianna
How much yardage per color is needed? (Use the whole skein?)
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! We did use nearly all of one skein of each color, which is 48 yards.
Best,
Julianna
What cast on method do you recommend for this scarf?
Hi Margaret,
Great question! For this, and most of our patterns, we like to use a long tail cast on! We think that it creates a neat, tidy and elastic cast on!
Best,
Cassy
I love this scarf…. I just had to start the pattern… and I am unfortunately a little stuck with how to slide the work from the one side of the needle to the other and then continue. Could you please explain what exactly you mean by this? Sorry, I am still not that experienced. Do you mean to knit back while the same side is facing me? Thank you so much. Nadine
Hi Nadine,
Thanks for reaching out! In order to use this technique, you will need to be knitting the scarf on a circular needle that has needle tips at both ends. When you reach the instructions to slide, instead of turning, you will slide the scarf over to the opposite needle point and begin knitting from the opposite end of the needle.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi! I see these size 19, 47” needles are sold out. Are there other sizes that work for this project? Thanks!
Hello Julia,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately we only carry the US19 in the Addi Turbo and you do really need the length of the 47″ cord, so I wouldn’t reccomend going shorter. I would add your name to the waitlist so that you are notified as soon as they come back in stock!
Good Luck,
Marilla
I just made the scarf and LOVE it! I would love to use the same pattern to make a blanket. How many would you cast on? How would you adjust the pattern? Many thanks!
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for writing in – this sounds like a stunning blanket! For a throw blanket that is about 48 inches wide, you will need to cast on 65 stitches. You can then work the pattern as written, but to make it longer, after completing the first sequence of colors A through E, I would reverse the pattern and work back from colors E through A, and then A through E again, and so on until you reach your desired blanket length. If you make it about 53 inches long, which would be 5 repeats of the color sequence, you will need about 4 skeins of each color, or 4 bundles.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Thanks!!! This is super helpful! Would you do a blanket on the same sized needles? If so, would you break it into pieces and sew it, or keep it on the same circulars the whole time?
Hi Julie,
Yes, I would still use the same size needles and keep it all in one piece! It is hard to seam any super bulky yarn, including Gentle Giant, without creating bulky seams so I would avoid that if at all possible. Also, since the throw is narrower than the scarf, you shouldn’t have any problems keeping it all on one needle.
Best,
Julianna
I purchased the yarn to make the scarf, and now my daughter has decided that she would rather have a wrap! I see from another comment above that most of each skein is used, but is there enough to increase the width a few inches? I doubt I’ll be able to match dye lots at this point! Thank you!
Hi Heather,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately this scarf does run very tight on yardage – I don’t think you would have even enough leftover to add one row of each color! It is however quite possible that we still have the same dye lots in stock, so please feel free to give us a call at 800-597-PURL and we will be happy to check for you. If we don’t have the same dye lots, another option would be to work the scarf as written, and then after completing the first sequence of colors A through E, reverse the pattern and work back from colors E through A to create a wider scarf. Since the color stripes will be separated from each other, you won’t see any dye lot discrepancies.
Best of luck and I hope that helps!
Julianna
After months of procrastinating, the Color Flux Wrap is finally complete! It was a bit cumbersome in the latter stages, but the finished product is so warm and cozy. My daughter is thrilled with it!
Hello! I love this scarf!! I was wondering if you could recommend a yellow version? My daughter loves yellow! Thanks so much!
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend
Color A: Heirloom White
Color B: White Peppercorn
Color C: Parakeet Yellow
Color D: Winter Bark
Color E: Super Yellow
All the best,
Gianna
Hi there! Would you be able to suggest a blue version of this scarf?
Hi Kat,
Thanks for reaching out! I have two options to recommend,
#1: Heirloom White, Periwinkle Blue, Pool Blue, Lapis Blue and Nighttime Blue
Or
#2: Heirloom White, Iceberg Blue, Clear Turquoise, Pool Blue, Mallard Green
Please let us know which you choose and how it turns out!
All the best,
Gianna
Hello,
I just finished this scarf in the pink series you recommended. Love it! Wondering, once you weave in ends, how to avoid them sticking out/up in spots? Thanks! Happy, hopefully, New Year!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the color palette! The ends will naturally stick out but once you block the scarf and with wear the ends will slightly felt together keeping them in place and you can trim the spots as needed!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello, I’ve eyed this scarf for several years now and I particularly love the orange, red and pink combo. I notice that gentle giant no longer has the red and orange, so I was wondering if knitting this pattern this super soft marino, the thickest available yarn with the colors I want, is viable. Or is it possible to knit this pattern with gentle giant and doubled up super soft marino?
Thanks!
Hi Parisa,
Thanks for writing in! Both of your options are perfect and would work out wonderfully! I would recommend doubling the Super Soft merino throughout the pattern for a more consistent result in the fabric but you definitely could work the pattern with both yarns! I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Thanks!
If I were to knit this scarf using super soft marino, but without doubling up, how many stitches would I have to cast on to make it the right length?
Thank you!
Thats a great question! You will want to start by knitting a gauge swatch in pattern before you begin to alter the cast on number. Once you finish your swatch, you can measure your stitches per inch and multiply that by the length of the scarf (71 inches). This will give you your new cast on number so you can jump right in!