Our Slanting Stripes Scarf brings in a pop of pinstripe at just the right frequency to keep things exciting!

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

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!

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

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.

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

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!

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho

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

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho
  • Color A: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein 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.

Slanting Stripes Scarf | Purl Soho