Pocket Scarf
The power of pockets! They keep your hands warm, your keys safe, and your phone on hand. Our quick and free Pocket Scarf pattern gives you all this and, in soft and cozy Plenty, is a joy to knit, give, and wear, as well!
In bouncy, cushy garter stich, this entire scarf is just knitting. When you finish, you just seam up those pockets and voilà!
And because we like to keep a good thing going, you cast on this scarf with unbelievably cushy 100% extra fine merino Plenty… Garter plus Plenty? Yes, please!
Plenty has a distinctive high twist, which amps up its durability but also makes it super-duper fun to knit! You’ll love the plump, lofty feeling of knitting with this exceptionally satisfying yarn.
Plus, Plenty has three new colors, so there’s even more to love… Find two of them here as the main colors of our scarves: Bright Tomato with sweet Plumeria Pink pockets (below left) and rich Hazelnut Brown with zingy Sapphire Blue pockets (below right).
So, pick your favorite Plenty color combo and cast on for this versatile marvel… Your hands (and neck, and phone, and keys) will thank you!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. Click here to see even more of Hiromi’s work!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoPocketScarf, and #PurlSohoPlenty. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 3 (5) skeins of Purl Soho’s Plenty, 100% extra fine merino. Each skein is approximately 139 yards/100 grams.
- Color A: 1 (2) skein(s); approximately 139 (200) total yards required. We used Plumeria Pink for one scarf and Sapphire Blue for the other.
- Color B: 2 (3) skeins; approximately 255 (417) total yards required. We used Bright Tomato with Plumeria Pink and Hazelnut Brown with Sapphire Blue.
- US 9 (5.5 mm), straight or 24-inch circular needles
- A removable stitch marker or scrap yarn
NOTE: We used the entire skein of Color A for our Small scarf, so if you want to be sure you have enough, consider ordering an extra skein. If you don’t end up needing it, you can return unwound yarn for a refund within 30 days of purchase, or within 6 months, for store credit. Our Return Policy has all the details!
Here are some more color combos, for inspiration!
Golden Green + Peony Pink; Night Blue + Lilac Quartz
Blue Jeans + Rose Hip; Laurel Leaf + Fresh Pickle
Reed Gray + Heirloom White; Gray Pearl + Mint Blue
GAUGE
17 stitches and 32 rows (16 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZES
Small (Large)
- Finished Dimensions: 6 (8) inches wide x 63 (80) inches long, with instructions to modify (see Note)
- Pocket Depth: 6½ (9) inches
NOTE
ADJUSTING SCARF LENGTH
Want to adjust the length of your scarf? See below for an easy guide, keeping in mind that a longer scarf will require more Color B, and a shorter scarf may require less!
For pockets that hit around the natural waist, knit with Color B until the piece measures approximately the same height as the intended wearer from the cast-on edge. Our Small scarf is 63 inches long and is worn by a 5’2” (62-inch) person.
For pockets that hit at or below the hips, knit with Color B until the piece measures 13-15 inches longer than the height of the intended wearer from cast-on edge. Our Large scarf is 80 inches long and is worn by a 5’7” (67-inch) model.
PATTERN
With Color A and leaving a 2-foot tail, cast on 26 (34) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
NOTE: Mark the first row with scrap yarn or removable marker to indicate the right side.
Knit every row until piece measures 13 (18) inches, ending with a wrong-side row.
Cut Color A.
With right side facing you, join Color B and knit every row until piece measures 63 (80) inches from cast-on edge, or to desired length (see Note), ending with a wrong-side row.
Cut Color B.
With right side facing you, join Color A and knit every row for 13 (18) inches, ending with a right-side row.
Bind off knitwise on wrong side, leaving a 2-foot tail.
SEAM POCKETS
With right side facing you, fold up one end of the scarf so that the cast-on (or bind-off) edge aligns with the last row of Color A, creating a pocket. Seam the vertical edges together, using the long tail for one side and a new length of yarn for the other. For tips, visit our Seaming Garter Stitch Tutorial.
Repeat at the other end for other pocket.
FINISHING
Weave in the ends and gently wet block.
I want only on color and do not want the pockets.
What other yarn could I use that might be multi color and what you think is Beautiful. The cost?
I will be making this maybe 18 inches and person can
Wrap it around the neck twice.
Thank you
Phyllis
Hi Phyllis,
Thank you for your comment! I’d recommend our Lovebird yarn (https://www.purlsoho.com/lovebird.html) as a wonderful option for your project! Lovebird is quite a bit thicker than Plenty, though, since it’s a chunky/super bulky weight yarn (Plenty in comparison is a worsted/aran weight) so I’d recommend knitting up a gauge swatch first on your preferred needles to see how many stitches per inch you’re getting. Then, just multiply that number by 18 inches for the width of your scarf and after that you can knit the scarf in garter stitch to the length that you’d like! I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Nice scarf
Hi Barb,
Thank you so much! We hope you give this pattern a try! 🙂
All the best,
Cat
This scarf looks beautiful! I’m interested in making one for my 5-year-old niece. Any suggestions for adjusting the pattern for a child?
Hi Steph,
Thanks for reaching out! We are so happy to hear you will be making this project! We have included a note for adjusting the length of your scarf in the notes section of the pattern right under the ‘Sizes’ section. This will help you decide how long you would like to make your scarf. My son is a little taller than most 5 year olds but he is about 45 inches tall.
I hope this helps but if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I’m asking your opinion on color combos (unsure of accurate color swatches on my computer).
I’d like to use Fig as the pocket – Fig & mint or Fig and Ash Grey? Fig and ?
And another scarf with a pocket of Laurel leaf – leaf and ??.
What would you suggest to 2 different/complimentary pockets and one main color?
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for writing in! I would recommend Fig and Ash Gray for one scarf and then Mint Blue and Laurel Leaf for the other! I think these colors will complement each other very well! I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
What are your thoughts on adding an icord edging all 4 sides?
Hi Mimi,
Thank you for writing in! That sounds like a wonderful idea and could be a really cool design detail! I’d recommend checking out our attached i-cord tutorial if you need a reference on how to do this. You could also add i-cord edging as you knit as well!
All the best,
Gavriella
thanks so much- I intend to knit it in and use the icord cast on and bind off
Wonderful! Let us know how it goes and if you need any help along the way!
I would like to knit this scarf with one solid and one striped pocket Can you help me figure out a pattern for a long scarf using 2 skeins for A and 3 skeins for color B? Thank you
Hi Ellie,
Thank you for writing in! I think that sounds like a wonderful idea! One thing you could try is to follow the pattern as is and begin with your striped pocket. This will ensure you have enough yarn to continue knitting the full length of your scarf and match it up with your other solid pocket. Since you will be slightly redistributing your yarn for your stripes, you shouldn’t need any additional yarn and we would encourage you to play around with your pockets to see what stripe thickness you like best. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella