Helix Tube Scarf
Knitting has some realities that set up certain limitations, so when a technique comes along that breaks the rules, we’re all ears!
Our Helix Tube Scarf employs the very simple technique of helix knitting to bust through the usual problems of knitting stripes in the round: having to limit the number of rows between uses of a color (or else weave in a ton of ends!) and dealing with the dreaded “jog” at the end of round.
With helix knitting, you knit a few stitches of each color one right after the other, offsetting the colors by a stitch each round. In effect, you’re orchestrating a spiral of successive colors that looks like tidy little rounds of stripes. And even more amazing, it’s all super simple to do. Our pattern below explains, and our Helix Knitting Tutorial further demonstrates!
And what better way to explore a new technique than with a new palette of Super Soft Merino? We have added nine new colors to the collection, many included here in our Helix Tube Scarves… Grab a handful of Super Soft Merino and jump right into something new!
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 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, #PurlSohoHelixTubeScarf, and #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Helix Tube Scarf, you will need…
- 8 skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this bulky weight yarn is 87 yards.
- Color A: 2 skeins, approximately 107 yards required (We used Heirloom White for both the warm and cool color options.)
- Colors B-G: 1 skein each, approximately 79 yards of each required (We used the colors listed below!)
You’ll also need…
- US 13 (9 mm), 16-inch circular needles
- A stitch marker
We made our Helix Tube Scarf in two palettes…
WARM (above, left)
- Color A: Heirloom White
- Color B: Peachy Pink
- Color C: Lotus Flower
- Color D: Oatmeal Gray
- Color E: Super Orange
- Color F: Bougainvillea Pink
- Color G: Crocus Bud
COOL (above, right)
- Color A: Heirloom White
- Color B: Stillwater Blue
- Color C: True Turquoise
- Color D: Gray Denim
- Color E: Artemisia Green
- Color F: High Tide
- Color G: Timeless Navy
Gauge
10½ stitches and 14 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Size
- Finished Dimensions: approximately 8 inches wide x 74 inches long (from rolled edge)
- Finished Circumference: 16 inches
Notes
Construction
This scarf is knit in the round inside out with the knit side facing you. After knitting the scarf, you will turn it right side out so that the purl side is facing you.
Helix Knitting
For a demonstration on how to work this technique, please visit our Helix Knitting Tutorial to watch our Helix Knitting video.
Pattern
Begin
With Color A, loosely cast on 42 stitches. We used a Basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Work in reverse stockinette stitch, purling every round, for 1½ inches.
Next Round: Continuing with Color A, knit to end of round.
Helix Knitting
Round 1: With Color A, k6; with Color B, k6; with Color C, k6; with Color D, k6; with Color E, k6; with Color F, k6; with Color G, k6.
Round 2: With Color G, k6; with Color A, k6; with Color B, k6; with Color C, k6; with Color D, k6; with Color E, k6; with Color F, k6.
Round 3: With Color F, k6; with Color G, k6; with Color A, k6; with Color B, k6; with Color C, k6; with Color D, k6; with Color E, k6.
Round 4: With Color E, k6; with Color F, k6; with Color G, k6; with Color A, k6; with Color B, k6; with Color C, k6; with Color D, k6.
Round 5: With Color D, k6; with Color E, k6; with Color F, k6; with Color G, k6; with Color A, k6; with Color B, k6; with Color C, k6.
Round 6: With Color C, k6; with Color D, k6; with Color E, k6; with Color F, k6; with Color G, k6; with Color A, k6; with Color B, k6.
Round 7: With Color B, k6; with Color C, k6; with Color D, k6; with Color E, k6; with Color F, k6; with Color G, k6; with Color A, k6.
Repeat Rounds 1-7 until piece measures 74 inches from cast-on edge, unrolled.
Cut Colors B-Color G.
End
Next Round: With Color A, knit to end of round.
Continuing with Color A, work in reverse stockinette stitch, purling every round for 1½ inches.
Loosely bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends, turn piece purl-side out, 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
- Shop our entire collection of super bulky-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!
Could you knit this in stockinette, being careful to keep the loose threads and joins on the knit side, and then turn it inside out?
Hi Cornelia,
Thanks for reaching out! After the first 1 1/2 inches which are purled, you will switch to knitting for the main part of the scarf, and return to purling for the final 1 1/2 inches. The finished scarf is then turned so that the purl side is facing out.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I have the same question. Is there some reason one couldn’t just leave the scarf with the knit side as the public side?
Hi Paula,
Great question! Helix knitting is attractive from both the knit and purl sides, so you can certainly choose to wear the scarf with the knit side facing out if you prefer!
Warmly,
Julianna
love your patterns and yarn. thanks loads.
Again, I ask where can I buy your yarn in Canada?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing back! I am sorry to say that our yarns are available only at our NYC shop, our CA warehouse and on our website. However, we do ship to Canada! For more information about our shipping, please see our shipping page!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
I love this pattern–it’s ingenious! I have two questions–could this be done with a worsted weight yarn? And also, I watched the excellent tutorial for how to do the helix stitch and noted that the knitter uses 4 colors, instead of 8. If I wanted to use only 4 colors,
can you help me with the math for how much I would need of each color?
Thank you,
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you could absolutely knit this scarf in a worsted weight yarn like Worsted Twist with a few pattern adjustments! You will need to knit a gauge swatch in your worsted weight yarn on a US 7 or 8 needle to measure your stitches per inch, and then multiply that number by 16 inches and round to the nearest multiple of 4 (or however many colors you choose to use) to determine how many stitches to cast on. It is a bit tricky to estimate yardage when changing the gauge like this, but I think about 900 yards of worsted weight yarn divided evenly between your four colors, plus a bit extra of whichever color you use for the beginning and end of the scarf, should be plenty!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I just bought a Stripey Tube Scarf bundle (7 skeins). If I want to use that bundle to knit this scarf, how would I modify the pattern? I am willing to make the scarf narrower. Is it possible to knit this with just 7 skeins and not 2 of color A? Thanks.
Hello Hellen,
Thanks for reaching out! To make this scarf narrower, you will need to cut a minimum of 7 stitches, one from each color section. This will take out approximately 3″ from your circumference and you will have plenty of yarn to knit the full length.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I just received my yarn and am starting this pattern. Do you have suggestions for arranging yarn balls to rotate if I am in my chair, not at a table?
Thank you,
Susan
Hi Susan,
Great question! If you have a basket or sturdy tote bag, you could use that to contain your yarn balls and keep them in order as you switch colors.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there,
Thank you so much for all the beautiful patterns! This scarf looks really cool and I think it would make a great kids’ scarf. Can you suggest an appropriate size for a 4-foot tall, five-year-old, and how much yarn I would need? I would guess the finished scarf could be half as wide, and about 42″-48″ long, which would mean I’d need maybe 4 or 5 skeins, but I’ve never knit a kid-sized scarf so I would appreciate the guidance. Many thanks!
Hi Lilli,
Thanks for writing in! I think your estimates sound spot on! Most of the time the wearer’s height is a good guide for how long to make a scarf, so 48 inches for a 4 foot tall child should be perfect. I would usually suggest making a child’s scarf 6 inches wide, but since this one is a tube and will be twice as thick, 4 inches is probably a better width. For a scarf this size, you will need about 190 yards, or 3 skeins of Super Soft Merino total, but this technique really is more fun the more colors you put into it! One skein each of 4 or 5 colors will be more than enough yarn.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
for the cool scarf colors, what would you substitute for Stillwater Blue, which seems to be discontinued?
Hi Jenna,
Thanks for reaching out. I would recommend using Toasted Charcoal as a substitute for Stillwater Blue! Stillwater Blue was really more of a gray color with cool undertones, so this will be a pretty close match. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili