Our Strata Scarf is like a geological survey of nature’s most beautiful colors! Dipping into Linen Quill‘s palette of more than 40 shades, each stripe adds a compelling layer to the landscape.

The beauty is also in the simplicity: knit in the round, you turn the finished piece inside-out because who doesn’t prefer knitting to purling? Get started with a collection of Linen Quill in your favorite colors, or choose from our curated palettes from sunny Beach Walk (shown here) to cool Skyscape, then knit earth’s timeline!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoStrataScarf, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

To knit your own Strata Scarf, you will need…

• 9 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards with a total of 1339 yards required….
  • Color A: 1 skein, approximately 184 yards required
  • Color B: 1 skein, approximately 146 yards required
  • Color C: 1 skein, approximately 194 yards required
  • Color D: 1 skein, approximately 160 yards required
  • Color E: 1 skein, approximately 160 yards required
  • Color F: 1 skein, approximately 136 yards required
  • Color G: 1 skein, approximately 151 yards required
  • Color H: 1 skein, approximately 83 yards required
  • Color I: 1 skein, approximately 127 yards required

You will also need…

• US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
• A stitch marker

Choose your favorite colors or consider these five palettes…

Beach Walk

Shown above and the palette we used to knit our sample…

• Color A: Lychee Pink
• Color B: Eggshell Blue
• Color C: Crocus Bud
• Color D: Peony Pink
• Color E: Pale Oats
• Color F: Fresh Nutmeg
• Color G: Calendula Orange
• Color H: Dark Denim
• Color I: Bright Flamingo

Nasturtium

• 
• 

• Color A: Bright Flamingo
• Color B: Dandelion Yellow
• Color C: Twig Brown
• Color D: Peachy Pink
• Color E: Peony Pink
• Color F: Red Poppy
• Color G: Pink Pop
• Color H: Rhubarb Pink
• Color I: Super Orange

Sunflower

• 
• 

• Color A: Mustard Seed
• Color B: Calendula Orange
• Color C: Fresh Nutmeg
• Color D: Butterscotch Yellow
• Color E: Honey Pink
• Color F: Sweet Potato
• Color G: Super Orange
• Color H: Chestnut Red
• Color I: Lychee Pink

Mussel Shell

• 
• 

• Color A: Pale Mushroom
• Color B: Stonewall Gray
• Color C: Peach Stone
• Color D: Honey Pink
• Color E: Pale Oats
• Color F: Trout Brown
• Color G: Lavender Opal
• Color H: Stillwater Blue
• Color I: Peony Pink

Skyscape

• 
• 

• Color A: Eggshell Blue
• Color B: Heirloom White
• Color C: Green Turquoise
• Color D: Purple Smoke
• Color E: Lavender Opal
• Color F: True Turquoise
• Color G: Cobalt Blue
• Color H: High Tide
• Color I: Vintage Celadon

Gauge

25 stitches and 37 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Size

Finished Dimensions: 16 inches in circumference x 76 inches long

Notes

Construction

You will knit this scarf in the round with the wrong side (the knit side) facing you. Once you’re done, you’ll turn the finished piece inside out so the reverse stockinette (purl side) is on the outside.

Changing Colors

To avoid weaving in a whole lot of ends when you’re finished knitting, follow these instructions for doing it as you go along. Don’t worry, all those little tails you’re leaving will stay secure and will be hidden on the inside of your scarf! (Feel free to change colors as you normally would, just be prepared for many tails to weave in! ) Here’s what we recommend…

For Knit Rounds

Knit the first 4 stitches of the round holding both the New and Old Colors together. When you join the New Color, leave a 1½ to 2-inch tail on the knit side of the work. And when you’re done with the Old Color, do the same: Leave a 1½ to 2-inch tail on the knit side of the work.

For Purl Rounds

When you work the purl-stitch Rolled Edges, change colors in the same way, except leave the tails on the purl side of the work.

Stripe Pattern

You will repeat the following Stripe Pattern 8 times. Each repeat is approximately 9½ inches long.

Color A: 3 rounds
Color B: 2 rounds
Color C: 3 rounds (NOTE: For first repeat of Stripe Pattern, purl first round of Color C and knit next two rounds.)
Color D: 2 rounds
Color E: 4 rounds
Color A: 2 rounds
Color F: 3 rounds
Color G: 2 rounds
Color C: 2 rounds
Color B: 1 round
Color D: 4 rounds
Color H: 1 round
Color C: 2 rounds
Color G: 2 rounds
Color A: 3 rounds
Color I: 2 rounds
Color E: 3 rounds
Color F: 2 rounds
Color B: 3 rounds
Color H: 2 rounds
Color I: 2 rounds
Color G: 1 round
Color A: 2 rounds
Color F: 2 rounds
Color C: 3 rounds
Color B: 2 rounds
Color E: 3 rounds
Color D: 3 rounds
Color I: 1 round
Color A: 2 rounds
Color H: 3 rounds
Color G: 2 rounds
Color C: 3 rounds
Color B: 2 rounds
Color D: 2 rounds
Color F: 2 rounds
Color I: 3 rounds (NOTE: For last repeat of Stripe Pattern, knit first round of Color I and purl next two rounds.)
Color E: 1 round
Color G: 2 rounds

Pattern

Rolled Edge

With Color A, cast on 100 stitches.

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Rounds 1-3: With Color A, purl to end of round.

Rounds 4 and 5: With Color B, purl to end of round, following the Changing Colors For Purl Rounds instructions (see Notes).

Round 6: With Color C, purl to end of round, following the Changing Colors For Purl Rounds instructions.

Body

For the first round of every New Color stripe in this section, follow the Changing Colors For Knit Rounds instructions (see Notes).

Starting with the second round of Color C, follow the Stripe Pattern to end (see Notes).

Repeat the entire Stripe Pattern 7 more times, ending the final repeat with one round of Color I.

Rolled Edge

Rounds 1 and 2: With Color I, purl to end of round.

Round 3: With Color E, purl to end of round, following the Changing Colors For Purl Rounds instructions.

Rounds 4 and 5: With Color G, purl to end of round, following the Changing Colors For Purl Rounds instructions.

Bind Off Round: With Color G, bind off knitwise.

Do not weave in ends, turn piece purl-side out, and block as desired.