Slanting Stripes Scarf
Our Slanting Stripes Scarf brings in a pop of pinstripe at just the right frequency to keep things exciting!
The construction is a simple bias garter stitch. Knitting things on the diagonal may be a bit of mind bender, but it’s a case of don’t think, do! You just cast on in one corner and increase along each edge; then for most of the scarf, increase along one edge while decreasing along the other; then decrease along both edges to the opposite corner, and done!
Every so often the contrast color comes in from the wings for its moment of glory, creating rays of beautiful, vivid color. Don’t worry about weaving in a million ends, you just carry the unused yarn up the side, nice and tidy.
It’s all in our Linen Quill, a lovely blend of fine highland wool, alpaca, and linen. The palette is full of surprising bursts of color, ideal for inspired pairings. Here, we used two skeins of Stillwater Blue for the ground and one skein of Cobalt Blue for the stripes. Use the same or pick your own power combo!
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!
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoSlantingStripesScarf, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Color A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 439 yards; approximately 600 yards required. We used Stillwater Blue.
- Color B: 1 skein of Linen Quill. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 300 yards required. We used Cobalt Blue.
- US 4 (3.5 mm) 24-inch circular or straight needles
Gauge
23 stitches and 46 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: 10½ inches wide x 70 inches long
Notes
Slip Stitches
Slip all stitches knitwise with yarn in back.
Carry Yarn
Do not cut the yarn between stripes. Instead, at the beginning of each row, pick up the working yarn from behind the resting yarn so the resting yarn gets carried up the side of the work as you go.
Pattern
Begin + Increase
With Color A, cast on 3 stitches.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): With Color A, knit to end of row.
Row 1 (right side): With Color A, k1, yarn over (yo), knit to last stitch, yo, k1. [2 stitches increased]
Row 2: With Color A, slip 1 (see Notes, Slip Stitches), knit to end of row, knitting yarn overs through the back loop. Drop Color A (see Notes, Carry Yarn).
Row 3: With Color B, k1, yo, knit to last stitch, yo, k1. [2 stitches increased]
Row 4: With Color B, slip 1, knit to end of row, knitting yarn overs through the back loop. Drop Color B.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1. [2 stitches increased]
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-6 twelve more times, then repeat Rows 1-4 once. [85 stitches total, piece measures approximately 10½ inches along each diagonal selvage]
Continue
Row 1 (right side): With Color A, k1, yo, knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog), k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1, knit to end of row, knitting yarn over through the back loop.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2. Drop Color A.
Row 5: With Color B, k1, yo, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.
Row 6: With Color B, slip 1, knit to end of row, knitting yarn over through the back loop. Drop Color B.
Repeat Rows 1-6 until piece measures approximately 70 inches along longest diagonal selvage, ending with Row 6.
Decrease
Row 1 (right side): With Color A, k1, slip slip knit (ssk), knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]
Row 2 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1, knit to end of row.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1. [2 stitches decreased]
Row 4: Repeat Row 2. Drop Color A.
Row 5: With Color B, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]
Row 6: With Color B, slip 1, knit to end of row. Drop Color B.
Repeat Rows 1-6 twelve more times, then repeat Rows 1-2 once. [5 stitches remain]
Next Row (right side): With Color A, ssk, k1, k2tog. [3 stitches remain]
Next Row (wrong side): Bind off all stitches loosely.
Weave in the ends and gently wet block.
Learn About Linen Quill + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We designed this project to highlight the uniquely beautiful qualities of our Linen Quill, a wonderful fingering-weight yarn that is a blend of 35% alpaca, 50% wool, and 15% linen. It feels amazing in your hands, and in over 60 jaw-droppingly gorgeous colors, Linen Quill is the candy store of yarn!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Linen Quill knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-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
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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 would like to knit this using linen quill Juniper Green or Fresh Pickle.Do you think they would look good together or would you suggest a different combination? I am not very good at doing colour combos and would appreciate your help!
Your site,patterns and yarns are a source of great enjoyment for me!Thankyou.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for writing in! Juniper Green and Fresh Pickle do look quite nice together, but because they don’t contrast very strongly, your scarf won’t have quite the same pop as ours – although, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you like a more subtle scarf. Otherwise, I would recommend pairing Juniper Green with a lighter neutral like Stonewall Gray, or Fresh Pickle with a dark background like Stillwater Blue, for a higher contrast stripe!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you for the pattern, it looks elegant. from Brendah
I adore this pattern but am wondering how I could make it thinner than 10.5 inches? How many rows and repeats would it take to make it 7 inches (give or take) wide instead? Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! It’s very easy to adjust the width of a bias knit piece, so rather than determining how many repeats you will need to work before you start, I would suggest going ahead and starting the scarf as written, and as soon as the edges of the triangle formed in the “Begin + Increase” section measure 7 inches, work a few more rows if necessary to get to Row 4 of the pattern, and then move on to the “Continue” instructions.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Would this work as a baby blanket maybe…I love the pattern and realize maybe would need a different yarn for working as a blanket.
Hi Mary,
What a wonderful idea! Yes, you could easily adapt this bias striped pattern to a baby blanket! You will simply work the “Begin + Increase” instructions until the short sides of the triangle measure the desired width of your blanket, work the “Continue” instructions until the long side measures your desired length, and then knit the “Decrease” rows as written. I would recommend using Posy for a snuggly washable blanket!
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
How do you think it would work to knit this scarf with Posy to be softer next to my face? I’m still learning how to substitute different yarn into a pattern. Thank you!
Hi Molly,
Thanks for reaching out! Posy is a fantastic substitute for Linen Quill, so I think it would be wonderful! You will still need only two skeins of Color A and one of Color B.
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi I have just started knitting this scarf and have come to the Continue Section, to the ,knit to end of row, have done, but its the Knitting yarn over through the back loop that’s confused me.
Please can you help.
Best regards
Denise
Hi Denise,
Thanks for reaching out! You should treat this yarn over the same way you worked the yarn overs in the Begin + Increase section of the scarf. When you come to the yarn overs on the wrong side rows, instead of knitting through the front leg of stitch as you usually do, you will insert your right hand needle from right to left into the back leg of the yarn over and then knit it.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Can you explain why the first stitch on the wrong side gets slipped? What does that add to the final product?
Thanks
Hi George,
Thanks for reaching out! Since the two colors will be carried up the edge on the right side rows, which tightens the edge a bit, slipping the first stitch on the wrong side rows will tighten up the other edge to match.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Love this pattern, very elegant as usual. Can the YOs (and subsequent KBL) be subbed by KFBs if they are done loose enough?
Hi Sam,
Great question! Yes, this might tighten up your edge a bit, but KFBs blend very neatly into garter stitch. After blocking, your scarf should look just the same as ours!
Best,
Julianna
I started the Continue section of the pattern but am confused.
I assumed Row 3 and 4 were with Color B but the pattern says A, which would mean you’d have 4 rows of Color A. Is this correct? I feel like it should be written:
Row 1 (right side): With Color A, k1, yo, knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog), k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1, knit to end of row, knitting yarn over through the back loop. Drop Color A
Row 5: With Color B, k1, yo, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.
Row 6: With Color B, slip 1, knit to end of row, knitting yarn over through the back loop. Drop Color B.
Repeat until desired length…
I didn’t notice in the pictures that there were places with wider bands but it’s possible I missed it. Thanks in advance.
Hi Christie,
Thanks for reaching out! You should always be alternating 4 rows of Color A with 2 rows of Color B, so it sounds like you might have ended the Begin + Increase section on the wrong row. In that section, after working rows 1-6 13 times, you should have worked rows 1-4 only once, so that you ended with two rows of Color B. The Continue section then begins with four rows of Color A so that the stripe pattern stays consistent.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
It does, thanks! The wider black band was glaringly obvious right after I hit the submit button. Doh!
I am currently working on my second slanting stripes scarf with the black and bright pink and think there may be enough left over to make a third incorporating all three colors.
Hello knitters,
I just started this scarf yesterday and I knitted a few inches of the Begin + Increase, as I’m reading it, it’s knitting 2 rows with each color and it’s leaving equal size stripes for color A and color B. Reading the Instructions, in the continue section is does say knit 4 rows of color A and only 2 of color B, but how is the beginning different? What am I missing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Christina,
Thanks for reaching out! It can look a little confusing but in the BEGIN + INCREASE section you are in fact working 4 rows of color A and 2 Rows of color B! Rows 1 + 2 are worked in Color A, then 3 + 4 are worked in Color B, then Rows 5 + 6 are repeats of Rows 1 + 2 (Color A) and then start the process over again with Rows 1 + 2 again, Once you establish a few rows you will see that there are 4 rows of Color A since Rows 5 + 6 are looping directly back to Rows 1 + 2 creating 4 rows of color A and only 2 rows of color B (Rows 3 + 4 are the only rows that you should be using Color B)
I hope this clarifies things!
Warmly,
Gianna
I have some Linen Quill in the color High Tide. What would be the best color to use with it to make this Slanting Stripes scarf?
Thanks,
Margene
Hi Margene,
Thanks for writing in! High Tide looks beautiful paired with many different shades of Linen Quill, so it’s hard to go wrong! For a striking high contrast combination, I would suggest Stonewall Gray or Vintage Celadon, or if you prefer a more subtle scarf, either Kettle Black or Fresh Pickle.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi – I have some linen quill in Dark Iris – what would be some nice color combinations? Thanks!
Hi Heather,
Thanks for reaching out! Dark Iris is one of my favorite colors of Linen Quill, so I’m happy to suggest a few color combinations! If you want to brighten things up a bit, I think either Pale Oats or Stonewall Gray would be great neutral options. Black goes with everything of course, so Kettle Black would also be a beautiful background color. For something a bit more colorful, Lychee Pink or Crocus Bud would be lovely, and Fresh Pickle would really pop!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Julianna! Thanks so much for the great suggestions – I love that you included a variety of different styles… Can’t wait to get started!
Best,
Heather
I have two skeins of this lovely yarn in rose granite, a color no longer available. I would love to make this scarf with a contrast color perhaps in the blues. Any suggestions? Looking at mountain bluebird, dark denim, or high tide. Any suggestions? Even something on greens would be ok.,,hard to know bc rose granite no longer available
Hi Geraldine,
Thanks for reaching out about this! We just fixed the link on the Linen Quill page, and you can see the Rose Granite there again (it was missing for a short while, apologies for that!). I think the Dark Denim would be a lovely combination with the Rose Granite, with just enough contrast and a little bit of “pop” with the blue against the soft rose color. I hope this helps – please feel free to reach out again if you have any more questions.
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Any thoughts on what would look good with rose granite? I have 2 skeins and would love to make this pattern! Thanks!
Hi Geraldine,
Thank you for writing in about this! If you’re looking to get a similar “pop” of color, I’d suggest Red Rhubarb or Red Poppy for a bright color to go with Rose Granite. If you were looking for a more subtle contrast, Dark Iris would pair beautifully. I hope this helps – happy knitting!
Best,
Cassandra
Good morning!
I knit this scarf in the spring in the blue colorway that you featured and absolutely loved the process and the finished project! Thank you again for such a great pattern!
I have a couple skeins of Linen Quill in Purple Smoke that I’d like to use with this project. Would you please suggest a contrasting color? Thanks again 🙂
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for the kind words – it’s just wonderful to hear that your first scarf went so well! I think either Stillwater Blue or Dark Iris would be a great dark contrast with Purple Smoke; or, for something a little different and punchy, Peachy Pink!
Happy knitting!!
Julianna
Hi there!
Is there any reason this pattern couldn’t be adapted to a worsted weight, adjusting the number of stitches/rows as needed for sizing?
Hi Rebecca,
Great question! Yes, you can definitely knit this scarf in any weight of yarn you like! All you have to do is follow the pattern as written, except instead of working a certain number of rows or counting how many stitches are on the needle, you will use the measurements given in the pattern. In other words, in the Begin + Increase section, you will work your stripe repeat until the sides of the triangle measure about 10.5 inches, ending with Row 4, although this will certainly be fewer repeats of the stripe pattern than we worked. You can then follow the rest of the pattern, ignoring all row and stitch counts and just measuring your edges!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I would love to knit slanting stripes in hemlock green . Can you suggest a contrast color?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for reaching out! I think the slanting stripes scarf would look amazing in the Hemlock Green! Depending on the direction you want to go, I have a few suggestions on contrasting shades that would complement the green beautifully! For a more bold look I would suggest Kiln Red, or if you would prefer a more subtle contrast I would recommend Chestnut Red or even Rosewood Pink.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you for your suggestions. So many beautiful colors. I’ve decided on the rosewood pink to work with hemlock green.
Someday I hope to visit your NY store.
I’m confused because I followed the pattern exactly (I think) and it seems to me that it’s written to be two rows of each color as opposed to what I can see in the picture is four rows of A versus two rows of B. I keep rereading the beginning directions and it says to switch colors after two rows of A. Am I reading something wrong? Row one is color A. Row two is color A. Row three is color B. Row four is color B. But the picture suggests rows one-four are color A. Is something wrong in the pattern?
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for reaching out! The pattern is correct! In the beginning you work the set up row and rows 1 and 2 in color A and then work rows 3 and 4 in color B and the 5 and 6 in color A. When you continue to repeat these rows you will begin to see that the color A section are 4 rows wide since rows 5 and 6 are repeats of row 1 and 2 and all 4 rows rest together since you start the repeat over again after finishing row 6.
I hope this helps, and feel free to reach out with any more questions!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hello! I am going to make this beautiful scarf for my mom’s Christmas present this year 🙂 I want to make it in Cashmere Merino Bloom — do you think that would work?
And any advice on color combos? I want to use the True Turquoise for the pop color. What would you suggest for the background? Perhaps dove gray or tidepool?
It’s hard to choose the colors without seeing them in person — so I really appreciate your help. Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hi Julia,
Thanks for reaching out! That will be such a lovely gift for your mom! I think Cashmere Merino Bloom will be lovely in this pattern. Just be sure to work up a gauge swatch with the Cashmere Merino Bloom so you can adjust the pattern since the Linen Quill we originally used in a much finer yarn. True Turquoise is such a beautiful shade! I think it would be stunning paired with Tide Pool since it has a nice blue/green undertone that will complement the True Turquoise really well!
Please let us know how this turns out and feel free to reach out with any more questions you may have going forward!
Gianna
Thank you so much Gianna!! <3
It looks like I can also buy the same amount in Cashmere Merino Bloom: 1 skein True Turquoise, and 2 skeins Tide Pool. Would you agree with that ?
(If anything I might have leftovers since the CMB is thicker)
Hi Julia,
I am happy to help! I would recommend buying an extra skein of each color just in case you end up needing a little more but I would also recommend leaving the extra skeins unwound in the event you don’t use them, you can exchange them for store credit within 6 month!
Can’t wait to hear how this turns out, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi,
I love this scarf! I’d like to use woolfolk far and make a scarf closer to 8” wide. I want to use color 5, which looks like a charcoal gray. For contrast, I’d like to use 00, 01, or 02. Any thoughts on the difference of those shades? How many skeins of each would you recommend? Also, would an M1 increase work work?
Thank you!
Debra
Hi Debra,
Thanks for reaching out! I think this scarf in Far would look great! With number 5 as the base I would go with 1 or 2 since they are cooler tones and would compliment the charcoal gray very well! I would recommend buying 3 skeins of color A and 2 skeins of color B! A M1 increase may work for this pattern, but I would recommend sticking to the pattern to insure that it comes out looking consistent with the increase/decreases!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi! If using the woolfolk yarn, should one change the size of the needles? I assume from the other comments that it would work to follow the pattern and just measure?
Thanks!
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are using a Woolfolk Far you will need to adjust the gauge a bit since it is a heavier weight than what the pattern is written for. You can easily adjust the gauge by changing the cast on number and the needle size you use. Our All About Gauge tutorial is an excellent resource to use!
All the best,
Gianna
I love this pattern but live in a warmer climate. Can you please recommend a lighter weight yarn (not wool) I could use? Also, would I use the same yardage for a similar size? Thank you.
Hi Dorian,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d be happy to recommend some light weight alternatives for you!
I’d recommend taking a look at our Sweetgrass or our Cattail Silk as substitutions for the Linen Quill. You would need the same amount of Sweetgrass, but would probably need only one skein of each color in the Cattail Silk to complete the project (the Cattail Silk has 618 yards per skein, and the project calls for 600 yards of Color A).
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting!
Kelsey
Thank you for your suggestions…Burnish also looks lightweight as well, what do you think? Lovely colors.
Hi Dorian,
The Burnish would be lovely as well! It’s got a wonderful drape to it, and the colors are hard to beat. I’d make sure to check your gauge before beginning because the Burnish is a sport weight vs. Linen Quill’s fingering weight, so you may need to adjust your needle size to get the correct gauge for the pattern.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Yarn and color advice, please.
My favorite color is blue. I’m thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone if I use Linen Quill. Either Rhubarb Pink x2 w/ Pink Pop x1 or Green Turquoise x2 w/ Eggshell x1.
Staying in my comfort zone I’m looking at Tussock. I believe I can do a 2/1 combo and just have a shorter scarf. Do you see an issue with that? Also, would the fluffyness blur the lines too much?
If Tussock is suitable, my choices of colors would be Lapis x2 w/ Freswater Blue or Deep Sea x1 or Bright Thistle x2 w/ Pink Joy x1.
What do you think of these various color combos? To hard to decide when I can’t see the actual skeins.
Sorry if I overdid my question allowance. 🙂
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! I love this scarf in Linen Quill and I personally love the Rhubarb Pink and Pink Pop combination! Those two colors look really beautiful and compliment each other very well! Green Turquoise and Egg Shell would also be a stunning combination! I don’t think you could go wrong either way. When you say Tussock are you talking about adding it in with the Linen Quill or leaving it on its own?
Looking forward to your response!
warmly,
Gisnns
I’m thinking of Tussock by itself.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for your reply! I think you could certainly work this pattern with just Tussock alone! In that case I would recommend using two very contrasting colors to make sure that the stripes really pop since the yarn is so fuzzy!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Can this pattern be adapted to a neck warmer knit in the round?
Hi Rita,
Thanks for reaching out! I think you could certainly try out this pattern in the round! Since we don’t have a written pattern for that and this is worked on the bias it may take a bit of trial and error.
If you do end up making a neck warmer please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I’m looking to make this in shades of gray. Is the Stillwater Blue really blue or more gray? And would it look good worked up with the Oatmeal gray?
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d say the Stillwater Blue falls on the bluer side but is definitely a blue-gray. I personally think it would look beautiful paired with the Oatmeal Gray!
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting,
Kelsey
The pattern says to pick up the working yarn from behind the resting yarn “at the beginning of each row.” I think this should read “at the beginning of each right side row.” Is that correct? Or do you mean for Color A to be carried up the 2 rows of Color B, and then Color B carried up the 4 rows of Color A?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in with such a great question and a keen eye! Your description “at the beginning of each right side row” is more accurate in this case. You’ll only be changing colors on one side throughout the pattern so that’s a better way of interpreting the note we included earlier. I’ll bring that up with the team to see if we can update that so it’ll be more clear to anyone else trying this scarf going forward.
Thanks again for bringing it up as I’m sure the clarification will be useful to fellow knitters as well!
All the best,
Zha Zha
I’ve made this scarf a few times and love it. I’m thinking of using the pattern to make a table runner and placemats as a wedding present for a good friend’s dining room table. If you think that would work well, what about a good yarn? I like the way Serif looks online but wonder if it is too uneven. Or maybe Oleander? Thank you for your input!
Hi Candice,
Either yarn will work wonderfully for this project. If you decide to use Serif, I’d recommend going up a few needle sizes. Oleander would be a perfect equivalent for this pattern.
All the best,
Gavriella