Three-Yarn Scarf For Giving
Knitting may seem like a set-in-stone kind of thing: this many stitches, this number of rows, a knit here, a purl there. Not so! Knitting is full of creative choices and off-piste opportunities. One of our favorite maverick decisions is to create your own yarn simply by combining yarns that already exist!
Our Three-Yarn Scarf For Giving is a wonderful plunge into yarn-making. It uses our Super Soft Merino as a plump and very soft base, then adds a strand of mohair-wool-silk Brume for a nice and fluffy touch, and finally, also includes Tussock, a fine mohair-silk blend that hits a grace note with its pop of color.
Altogether, they’re a whole new animal! We love how the three yarns each contribute a splash of color and texture, combining into a deep, swirling pool. Watching the fabric come to life as you knit is interesting and surprising, but most importantly, fun, too!
In a 1×1 rib, our Three-Yarn Scarf For Giving is a breeze to knit up and a real joy to give. Whip it up for someone who might appreciate it or give them the yarn they need to enjoy making it themselves! They’ll just need a Three-Yarn Scarf Gift Bundle, which comes in nine beautiful palettes and includes a postcard with a link to this page, plus a canvas Purl Soho tote… Perfect!
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!
UPDATE: MATCHING HAT
December 11, 2021
Our Three-Yarn Hat For Giving is the perfect snuggly, pom-pom-topped companion to our Three-Yarn Scarf. Check out our free pattern here and pick up a Three-Yarn Hat Bundle here! (NOTE: We no longer the Three-Yarn Hat Bundle.)
Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoThreeYarnScarfForGiving, #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino, #PurlSohoTussock, and #PurlSohoBrume. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
Our Three-Yarn Scarf Gift Bundle includes… (NOTE: We no longer offer the Three-Yarn Scarf Bundle.)
- Yarn A: 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 240 yards required.
- Yarn B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Tussock, 60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk. Each skein is 328 yards/ 25 grams; approximately 200 yards required.
- Yarn C: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Brume, 58% mohair, 25% wool, and 17% silk. Each skein is 273 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 215 yards required.
- A postcard with a link to this free pattern
- A Purl Soho canvas tote bag
You’ll also need…
- US 15 (10 mm) straight or 24-inch circular needles
Choose from nine beautiful color combos (NOTE: some palettes are no longer available)…
COCOON
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Heirloom White; Yarn B: Tussock in Cloud Blue; Yarn C: Brume in Silver Needle
COQUINA
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Ballet Pink; Yarn B: Tussock in Tea Rose; Yarn C: Brume in Pink Fog
GUAVA
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Peachy Pink; Yarn B: Tussock in Pink Joy; Yarn C: Brume in Bright Thistle
THISTLE
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Crocus Bud; Yarn B: Tussock in Bright Thistle; Yarn C: Brume in Alpine Phlox
PANSY
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Wild Violet; Yarn B: Tussock in Blue Black; Yarn C: Brume in Amethyst Purple
LAPIS
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Cobalt Blue; Yarn B: Tussock in Lapis Lazuli; Yarn C: Brume in Electric Lapis
TWILIGHT
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Sapphire Blue; Yarn B: Tussock in Cerulean Sea; Yarn C: Brume in Blue Fjord
CANOPY
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Reef Green; Yarn B: Tussock in Balsam Green; Yarn C: Brume in Cypress Green
ECLIPSE
Yarn A: Super Soft Merino in Soft Black; Yarn B: Tussock in Blue Black; Yarn C: Brume in Blue Black
Gauge
13½ stitches = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, unblocked
Approximately 11½ stitches = 4 inches, blocked
Size
Unblocked Dimensions: Approximately 6½ x 72 inches
Blocked Dimensions: Approximately 7 x 70 inches
Notes
Hold Yarns Together
Throughout this pattern, you will hold one strand of each yarn together. Don’t worry about them lining up or getting tangled. As long as you catch every yarn in every stitch, it’ll all work out!
Knit Loosely
Try to avoid pulling your stitches tight. You’ll want to knit this scarf nice and loosely so the yarn is fluffy and soft!
Stitch Multiple
This pattern works over any even number of stitches.
Pattern
Holding one strand of Yarns A, B, and C together (see Notes), loosely cast on 22 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Repeat Row 1 until scarf measures almost 72 inches from cast-on edge.
Bind off in 1×1 rib pattern.
Weave in ends and lightly steam or spray with water to block. (Gentle hand washing is fine, when necessary, but once dry, you may want to steam it to fluff the mohair back up.)
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!
This is simply stunning! I have three skeins of Super Soft Merino in Oyster Gray in my stash and would love a suggestion for coordinating and/or complimentary colors of Brume and Tussock to order. Thanks so much for this pattern and for being such a warm and cozy presence in so many of our lives!
Hi Megan,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! These scarfs are so lovely and Oyster Gray is such a beautiful color! I would recommend 2 pairings, for a slight pop I would use Brume in Gray Quartz and Tussock in Marble Gray, or for a more monochrome look I would recommend both Brume and Tussock in Silver Needle!
Please let us know which you end up going with and how it turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thinking about purchasing this yarn to knit the scarf . However, does this pattern require 5- bundles of yard? I just don’t want let over yard. Thank you
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this scarf is a “Three Yarn Scarf” it uses Super Soft Merino, Brume and Tussock together at the same time (this combination gives it a beautiful effect and dimension.) You need 3 skeins of Super Soft Merino, and 1 skein of both Brume and Tussock to complete this scarf! We used approximately 216 yards of SSM, 184 yards of Tussock and 197 yards of Brume so you will have approximately 45 yards of SSM, 144 yards of Tussock and 76 yards of Brume left over.
All the best,
Gianna
I would absolutely love to knit this project, but I have an awful time with skeins like these. Would you be willing to wind them into balls before shipping?
Hi Denise,
Thanks for reaching out! Due to the volume of orders we are experiencing at this time we can only wind 2 skeins per customer, so we could wind the Brume and Tussock skeins for you (since it is only 1 of each, its perfect!) and luckily the Super Soft Merino is extremely easy to wind by hand! When you check out in the “Special Instructions” section you can request the 2 skeins you would like wound and check out our Winding a Skein into a Ball tutorial to help with the rest!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Gianna: Thank you so much for this information! I will read the tutorial about Winding a Skein into a Ball right now. Order is going to be placed. So excited about creating this scarf! Thanks again and have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.
This is from Denise again…… I want to let your customers know how helpful it is to read the messages To you Gianna and From you. It’s like a little book of problem solving and knitting helps all rolled into one (no pun intended!) Thank you for responding to all issues in such a timely manner!
Hi Denise,
Thanks for reaching out again and for your kind words! I am so glad that I could be of assistance and that you find our pages so helpful! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments going forward, I am happy to help! I can’t wait to hear how your scarf turns out, which colors did you choose?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Gianna
Gianna: My 3-Yarn Scarf for Giving is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made. Im giving it to myself!! It was a pure delight to handle such soft and cozy yarn throughout the project!! Thank you again for your helping! A happy knitter I am.
Hi Denise,
It was my pleasure, I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed this pattern and our yarn (I would keep this beautiful scarf for myself as well!)
Warmly,
Gianna
I love the Eggshell Blue color in the super soft merino — what other two colors would you put with it to make the three yarn scarf. Would you sell them as a bundle? Thanks!
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out! Eggshell Blue is such a lovely color, I would recommend combining it with Brume in Bright Verdigris and Tussock in Blue Lagoon or Bright Jade! You can contact our customer service team at [email protected] about making a bundle!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Does this shed? I once had an awful time with a yarn that had mohair in it and it just was awful to wear–shed all over my coat
and sweater.
Thanks.
Marion
Hi Marion,
Thanks for reaching out! With most mohair based yarns there will be some shedding that can naturally occur due to the nature of the fiber, but in my experience our Brume and Tussock shed very little for both being mohair based yarns! I actually knit all of these sample scarves and there was hardly any shedding that I noticed while working on them!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Just finished this scarf in black, love it, but want something with a bit more “pop” and contrast. The bright jade is stunning, wondering about combining the lapis or a different combination of the brume and tussock…and advice? Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! I love Bright Jade, it is such a beautiful color! I would suggest either Reef Green or True Turquoise Super Soft Merino for the base, Tussock in Bright Jade and Brume in Bright Verdigris!
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi. I have some black supersoft merino and I wanted to use the Tussock and Brume to make the scarf a bit sparkly and colorful. What would you suggest?
Hi Jill,
Thanks for reaching out! There are so many fun ways you could go with this! With Soft Black Super Soft Merino I would suggest Tussock in Pink Pop, Bright Jade, Golden Lichen, Blue Lagoon or Alpine Phlox and then Brume in Bright Thistle, Bright Verdigris, Blue Lagoon, Golden Lichen, and Alpine Phlox! You could pair the colors together (pinks with pinks, or blue with blues) or mix and match!
Please let us know how this turns out and what you end up going with!
Warmly,
Gianna
Any suggestion on how to add on the two skeins of the merino since it’s so large?
Hi Deedee,
Thanks for reaching out! Please check out our Adding a Ball of Yarn tutorial, it is the same method we used when making these scarfs!
Warmly,
Gianna
I purchased the yarns to make 3 scarf 3 & decided to make them for 3 young girls. One is 13 the other two are 1 & 3. Do you have any suggestions for the size, width & length? Or a pattern you can suggest.
Thank you, Diane
Hi Diane,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend working the scarf as written or slightly smaller (casting on 18 stitches) and knitting until about 68″ for the 13 year old, and for the 1 and 3 year olds I would suggest cutting the pattern in half, casting on 12 stitches and knitting until you reach your desired length!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
I also have a question about size. I’d like to make this for someone who is very petite. She is about 5’0″ and maybe 100 lb.
Do you think this scarf as written will work for her? Would the width be ok, and maybe simply adjust the length?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! I actually made the samples shown in the photos and happened to try one on while working on them, I am about the same height and weight (5’1″ 100lbs) and thought the length and width was great and not too large for me! I believe the scarf would work for her as is! However, if you do want to make any adjustments it is very simple. Since this is a 1×1 rib you can easily adjust the width (as long as you cast on an even number of stitches) and you can also easily shorten it, knitting until you have reached your desired length!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Then I shall make it as is- which just makes things easy!
Thanks Gianna!
I started knitting this scarf over the weekend. It’s turning out so pretty but I have a question. My scarf is like a tube—the front and the back are two separate pieces and can be pulled apart. Is this correct?
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately no, that is not correct. The scarf should be knit flat, not as a tube! My best guess is that you somehow split the knit stitches from the purl stitches and began double knitting, but you should be working all the stitches together: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1. You then repeat that every row.
I hope this clears things up and please feel free to reach out with any other questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you so much. I’ll start over! 🤗
Hi,
I ordered the bundle in Eclipse. I was wondering in person how does this scarf come out? Is the color from the Brume and Tussock very subtle compared to the other color bundles?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, the Eclipse color way is a bit more subtle than the other colors since the three yarns are all very monochromatic. However, when in the light you can tell that the Brume and Tussock are in fact dark blue and not black (Blue Black) which helps pop against the Soft Black Super Soft Merino! You will also get the beautiful slight glimmer from the silk content in both yarns!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thanks Gianna!
This pattern seems perfect for adapting to a cowl. Do you have a cowl pattern that could be adapted to using this yarn combination? Thank you!
Hi Jay,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have a cowl pattern similar to this scarf, but I think you could easily adjust the pattern to make a cowl! If your gauge is consistent with the pattern, you could calculate a cast on based on the overall width you desire. Cast on your stitches, join the work in the round and establish the 1×1 rib pattern working until you reach your desired length!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
I’d like to know, please, how much of the yarn was used for making the scarf? Mainly, I’d like to know how much of the Merino was used? Was the entire 3rd skein used, or only a portion of it?
How much length were you getting per skein?
Thanks,
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! For this scarf we used approximately 216 yards of Super Soft Merino, 184 yards of Tussock and 197 yards of Brume! The three skeins of Super Soft Merino total 261 yards, so you will have approximately 45 yards (about half, each skein is 87 yards total) left over from the 3rd skein!
Warmly,
Gianna
This is a beautiful pattern and beautiful scarf. Where is the pattern?
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for reaching out! The pattern in on this page under the NOTES section where it says “PATTERN”!
Warmly,
Gianna
I’d like to do this in blues that are more in navy family. See that there’s a nice navy in the merino. Thoughts on the other two colors?
Thanks
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! A navy version of this scarf would be lovely! I would recommend Super Soft Merino in Timeless Navy, Brume in Deep Sea Blue and Tussock in Blue Black!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thanks. That looks just right. Will order today. Is there a price difference when it’s not part of an established bundle?
Hi Anne,
I am happy to help! There is no difference between the bundle price vs. buying all the individual skeins! Plus with the bundle you get the Purl Soho tote bag for no additional cost!
Warmly,
Gianna
I screwed up and ordered Deep Blue Sea in Tussock rather than Brume, so I have two Tussocks. (I really need a babysitter.) Thoughts about just going ahead with what I have, or should I bite the bullet and order the Brume?
Hi Anne,
No worries! If you don’t mind having 2 strands of Tussock instead of 1 Tussock and 1 Brume you can certainly move forward with the pattern as written using two strands of Tussock plus the strand of Super Soft Merino, it will look a bit different overall but will still be beautiful!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
If I do get the Brume, any suggestions on how to use one skein of Tussock?
Hi Anne,
I love to add Tussock into any project, since it is such a fine yarn you can virtually add it to anything without causing any changes to the gauge! For example I love our Classic Ribbed Hat pattern, I always add a single strand of Tussock in with a coordinate color of Cashmere Merino Bloom for a nice glimmer and halo! Another great option would be the Simple Pleasure Hat! One skein will be plenty for either of these projects!
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Really nice. Too bad I am allergic to mohair.
Hi Jeannette,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are allergic! If you are interested, there are a few fun substitutions you could use! In place of Tussock I would recommend Mineral Silk and in place of Brume I would recommend Burnish or even the HABU TEXTILES Cork Chenille Cotton A-25!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Received the kid as a gift. The yarn feels wonderful and Iam eager to get started. would you recommend winding the three yarns into one ball?
Hi Joann,
You could certainly wind all three yarns into one ball! It very much comes down to personal preference. I find when holding multiple strands together as one, keeping the various yarns separated is easier for me to control how evenly the yarn is being knit. If you do decide to wind them together ahead of time, I’d just caution you to be careful when winding all three together to avoid having any uneven sections of one yarn.
I’m so glad to hear you’re loving your yarn, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting!
Kelsey
Thanks for the answer. I think I will try knitting with the individual yarns. I did not think of keeping the various yarns separated. Thanks again!
Hi…just starting to knit with the bundle i ordered. You wound the skeins for me (thank you!)—but now one of the mohair balls is totally tangled. Tips? Or just patience??
thx much.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! How is the ball tangled? Feel free to send us a picture to our team at [email protected] and we can troubleshoot some solutions from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
I would like to make this for a friend who is an Arsenal fan—so true red. Unfortunately, there are not true reds available in Brume or Tussock. So, my thought is to create a similar complement of textures/sheens I will use Alpaca (instead of Super Soft Merino), Burnish (instead of Brume), and Shetland (instead of Tussock). Can you please tell me if this will work and how much of each to buy? The lengths don’t quite match. And while I don’t want loads of extra yarn, I don’t want the piece to short. It is for a man height 5’9″.
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that Burnish and Shetland would be great alternatives to use for Brume and Tussock, however I would not recommend using Season Alpaca in place of Super Soft Merino since it is a much different gauge and would require quite a bit of alterations to the pattern and ultimately have a much different look! I think that Super Soft Merino would work well with Burnish and Shetland and wouldn’t require any changes to the pattern! You would still need 3 skeins of Super Soft Merino and I would recommend one skein of Burnish and 2 skeins of Shetland.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
For the bind-off, do I purl the first stitch, knit it, or slip it?
On another note- I liked the idea of adding Tussock to the Cashmere Merino Bloom for making the Classic Ribbed Hat. I may use up my leftover Tussock from this project for that! Perhaps it would look nice even if it wasn’t enough for the entire hat? If it only covered a stripe or a color block?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for reaching out! I think using your leftover Tussock paired with the Cashmere Merino Bloom would look wonderful!
For the Three Yarn Scarf, you can go ahead and slip that first stitch of the bind-off row and then continue to work the bind off in 1×1 ribbing (meaning knit the knit stitches and purl the purls as you are binding off).
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Knitting,
Kelsey
Good morning!
I have an extra skein of Tussock in Bright Verdigris and would love to use it to knit this scarf. What colors of Super Soft Merino and Brume would you suggest? I’m leaning toward Eggshell Blue in the merino. Thanks so much!
Hi Megan,
Thanks for reaching out! I think Eggshell Blue Super Soft Merino would be beautiful with Bright Verdigris Tussock! With those two I suggest using Brume in Bright Verdigris as well for a monochromatic look or Blue Lagoon for a bit of a pop and contrast!
Please let us know how this turns out, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi,
I would love to knit this scarf as a Christmas gift for my daughter to go with her new coat, which is a charcoal gray (the color moonstone at https://noize.com/collections/parkas-for-women/products/parka-with-fixed-hood-removable-faux-fur-elastic). She’s in her thirties and has brown eyes and dark brown hair. Her complexion is creamy white and does not suit beiges or yellows. Could you give me some advice on what 3 yarn colors to choose that would add pop and interest to the coat?
Gwen
Hi Gwen,
Thanks for reaching out! I think the Coquina light pink color combination would make for a stunning scarf that matches well with the lovely gray coat you shared! This color palette is Super Soft Merino in Ballet Pink, Tussock in Tea Rose, and Brume in Pink Fog. In case you’re interested, we offer a kit that has all the yarn you need for this scarf, a postcard with a link to the pattern, and a nice canvas tote bag: Three-Yarn Scarf Bundle.
I hope this was helpful! Have a great rest of your day!
All the best,
Cat
Hi Cat,
Thank you so much for your helpful advice! I think the Coquina combination would be lovely with the gray coat. I’m excited to get started on it!
Warmly,
Gwen
Hi, I just finished this scarf, the combo of yarns are sumptuous! I discovered one stitch that I didn’t grab all 3 yarns… a loop of tussock is loose. What is the best way to fix this?
Thanks!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing in. I can see how frustrating finding that loop must have been! I would fix it like this: First, undo the bind-off and place all your stitches back on one needle. Then, slip each stitch over to the other needle until you’re directly above the stitch that’s missing the loop of Tussock. Drop this stitch, and let it fall through the scarf until the column of dropped stitches reaches the mistake stitch. Using a crochet hook, pick up this entire column of dropped stitches back up, making sure to secure all three loops with each stitch. Finally, just bind off once again! I hope this helps–I’ve fixed many a mistake like this myself.
All the best,
Lili
Thanks! It wasn’t too far back so a pretty easy fix. Knitting really is all about adapting, learning that mistakes are part of the process and learning to fix them as best you can. Kind of like life,eh?
Happy New Year!
Beth
Hello! I have several leftover balls of Brume in Anjou Pear – what colors of Tussock/Soft Merino would you recommend for a scarf that is more pinky/red than orange? Thank you, this pattern looks so lovely!
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for reaching out! Anjou Pear is such a good color, and I’d recommend pairing it with Super Soft Merino in Rose Hip and Tussock in Claret Pink. These colors together will lean very much towards a rich reddish-pink and away from orange!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, what a lovely scarf! I have a few skeins of Supersoft Merino in Oyster Gray that I’d like to use to make this scarf. There are only a few colors of Brume available, none of which look like they might work with the Oyster Gray. Do you have suggestions of another yard that might replace Brume in this pattern, as well as suggestions for color combinations that would work with the Oyster Gray? Thanks so much!
Hi Debra,
Thanks for reaching out! While we do not have another mohair yarn (other than Tussock, but that’s already in the pattern), I think that Season Alpaca would be a nice alternative to Brume. This yarn has a wonderfully soft texture that will provide a bit on contrast with the other two yarns, and I’d recommend the color Dove Gray, which is similar to Oyster Gray, but different enough to add dimension to the stitches. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you!
Hi,
Do you think the following yarns would work well together? Super Soft Merino in frond green, Tussock in cypress, and Brume in golden lichen?
Also, is it possible to have the hanks wound into center-pull balls before being shipped?
Thank you for the help!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your comment! I think these colors would look beautiful together and would be a fantastic combination of gold and green! We can definitely wind your skeins for you as well; just leave a note in the Special Instructions field that you’d like winding and we’ll take care of the rest. We’ll wind your yarn into cakes so the yarn can technically be pulled from the center, but for very fuzzy yarns like Brume and Tussock that are made of mohair, I think it would be better to pull from the outside of the ball to minimize any snags or the yarn getting caught on its own fibers! Similarly, I think it would be better to pull from the outside for Super Soft Merino too since it’s a very fluffy single ply yarn. I hope this helps! We’re so excited for your project!
All the best,
Cat