Your basket is empty.
Continue Shopping
Fringe-As-You-Go Scarf
Our Fringe-As-You-Go Scarf pattern has all the fringe-y fun without the finishing fuss! Our radiant new Paintbrush Mohair yarn is the perfect medium for shimmery stripes and clever knitted-on fringe, glowing with painterly color and a soft, downy touch.
Knit lengthwise in two-row garter stripes, the scarf grows in soft bands of color that blend like brushstrokes. Paintbrush Mohair’s opulent halo gives the stripes a watercolor softness, while its airy texture keeps the fabric light, lofty, and wonderfully squishy. This generous scarf will keep you warm without weighing you down!
Fringe usually comes last, but not this time! With our Fringe-As-You-Go Scarf, the action happens right on your needles… No cutting, no tying, and no trimming! At the end of each row, you simply cast on your fringe stitches with a simple backwards loop cast on, then bind them off at the beginning of the next row. It’s a wonderfully intuitive rhythm that results in a different color fringe at each end of the scarf!
Paintbrush Mohair’s captivating depth comes from a soft, lustrous cloud of kid mohair blooming around a warm white Peruvian Pima cotton core, a structure that seems to hold light within the strand itself. A sensory delight to knit, this yarn feels soft and weightless in your hands and glows on your needles, as if pure color had been spun into yarn.
And the colors… What a palette to play with! With 40 glorious hues that range from quiet neutrals to saturated jewels, Paintbrush Mohair invites endless exploration and expression. For our Fringe-As-You-Go Scarves, we paired close neighbors to create subtle tonal blends: Orange Nectar with Wild Guava for a bright burst of joy and Wild Shiitake with Chocolate Brown for a rich, earthy depth.
You’ll need 3 balls each of 2 Paintbrush Mohair colors to make your own Fringe-As-You-Go Scarf, a project that knits up faster than you’d expect, so it’ll be ready in time for winter winds and holiday gifting. Light, soft, and full of luminous color, it’s an irresistible invitation to cast on and share a little warmth!
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!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Gianna Mueller. See even more of Gianna’s work on her Instagram!
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- Purl Soho’s Paintbrush Mohair, 75% kid mohair and 25% Peruvian Pima cotton. Each ball of this worsted/aran to chunky/bulky-weight yarn is 120 yards/ 50 grams.
- Color A: 3 balls; approximately 360 total yards required. We used Orange Nectar and Wild Shiitake.
- Color B: 3 balls; approximately 360 total yards required. We used Wild Guava with Orange Nectar, and Chocolate Brown with Wild Shiitake.
- US 10 (6 mm), 60-inch circular knitting needles
GAUGE
12½ stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: 15¾ inches wide x 66 inches long (excluding fringe)
NOTE: You work this wrap lengthwise, so the length measurement is the cast-on edge.
NOTE
CARRYING UP YARN
When changing colors, instead of cutting the yarns, carry the non-working yarn up the selvage. To do this, simply hold the yarn you just used in front of the new yarn as you knit the first stitch of the row.
PATTERN
With Color A, cast on 206 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
A little tip: When you’re casting on so many stitches, it helps to place a marker or piece of scrap yarn every 50 stitches, so if/when you lose your place, you don’t have to start counting from the very beginning!
Carrying the non-working yarn up the selvage at color changes (see Note)…
Row 1 (wrong side): With Color A, knit to end of row, use Make 1 Backwards Loop to cast on 18 stitches. [224 stitches]
Row 2 (right side): With Color A, bind off 17 stitches, drop Color A; with Color B, k1, bind off last Color A stitch, knit to end of row, use Make 1 Backwards Loop to cast on 18 stitches.
Row 3: With Color B, bind off 18 stitches, knit to end of row. [206 stitches remain]
Row 4: With Color A, knit to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1–4 twenty-three more times, until piece measures 15⅜ inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 4.
NOTE: In our samples we repeated Rows 1-4 twenty-four more times but decided to eliminate a repeat in the pattern to ensure you have enough yarn to finish!
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 once more.
Cut Color A.
With Color B, and wrong side facing you, bind off all stitches knitwise.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and gently wet block.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
LEARN ABOUT PAINTBRUSH MOHAIR + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Paintbrush Mohair brings radiant color and soft dimension to this project! With a palette of 40 luminous shades to mix, match, or combine, this incredible worsted- to bulky-weight yarn is spun from 75% kid mohair and 25% Peruvian Pima cotton, a mix that feels soft in your hand, floaty on your needles, and warm on your skin. Fine mohair fibers bloom around a cotton core, creating an airy loft, fascinating depth, and irresistible feel… Every stitch glows with creative possibility!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of free Paintbrush Mohair knitting patterns and cast on!
More Worsted/Aran-Weight Yarns + Chunky/Bulky-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of worsted/aran-weight yarn (What does worsted-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to worsted-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- Shop our entire collection of chunky/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 and our Yarn Substitution article for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop mohair yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!
Lovely pattern but mohair makes me itch. Would Pouf work instead? Or is there something else that has a nice halo that could be suitable?
Hi Pam,
Thanks so much for writing in! Pouf would be a lovely choice for this pattern and will give you a beautiful halo effect. Just keep in mind that the fringe might be a bit less drapey, so I’d suggest knitting a small swatch with a few rows of fringe first to see how it feels. If it doesn’t work for you, you can always add the fringe at the end. I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Gavriella
Thank you, this is the most beautiful yarn and the colors are wonderful too.
I would love to make this scarf. It is spectacular. If I made the scarf without the fringe would I have enough yarn left over to make fringe or should I buy extra skeins? Thank you for your help.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for asking! I’d recommend getting additional balls for after thought fringe just to be sure you have enough. From there we are happy to accept a return for any unused yarn! I hope you enjoy making this project as much as we did!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Thank you so much can’t wait, it’s going to be hard choosing the colors they are all beautiful. I appreciate your help thanks again.
You are so welcome! We know your project will be beautiful!
could I make this not as wide
Hi Gail,
Great question! You can definitely modify this scarf by casting on less stitches for a shorter scarf or more stitches for an even longer scarf. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
All the best,
Gavriella
Could you modify (easily) to make fringe same color on each side?
Hi Natalie,
Thank you for your question! Yes, you can absolutely modify the pattern so the fringe is the same color on each side. To do that, you’ll simply keep working with Color A instead of switching to Color B when the pattern says to do so.
Here’s how it works:
Rows 1 & 2: Work with Color A as usual.
Row 3: Bind off the stitches at the beginning of the row with Color A, then drop it and switch to Color B to knit to the end.
Row 4: Knit back across with Color B to where Color A is waiting.
This way, Color A is always used at the edges where the fringe is created, and Color B fills the center. Then you repeat the sequence the same way.
Happy Knitting,
Megan
Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
So attractive- can’t decide whether to make this as a wrap, or would also be terrific as a throw blanket.
Hi Natalie,
Both of those are great options! We can’t wait to see what you decide!
Happy knitting,
Allison
Re the fringe…can you clarify what you mean by Make 1 Backwards Loop to cast on 18 stitches?
Hi Shelley,
Great question! Our Make 1 Backwards Loop Tutorial shows you how to do this step, which is knitting’s simplest way to cast on stitches.
Be sure to let us know if you have any more questions as you make this scarf and happy knitting!
Best,
Whitney
I have 6 balls of 50 gram each total 300 grams
I would like your professional help would I have enough to knit a retangular shawl . If so please give me an idea how many stitches to cast on and what size needles.
This was a gift yarn from a great friend and no tags are on .Thank you in advance.
Hi Filo,
Thank you for reaching out! That’s such a special gift and we can’t wait for you to cast on a project with it!
The yardage per one 50g ball of yarn can vary quite a bit based on the gauge or thickness of the yarn, so I’d recommend checking that first to see what gauge yarn you’re working with. Since you don’t have the yarn labels, you could try counting the wraps per inch (WPI) to determine that! A thicker yarn like a bulky yarn will have fewer wraps per inch and a thinner yarn will have more. To calculate the WPI, you’ll just need something like a ruler with clear inch markings and solid enough that you can wrap your yarn around it securely. Once you have that tool, just wrap your yarn starting from the beginning of one of the inch markings until you have covered that entire inch. Then, count the number of times the yarn wrapped around, and that’s your WPI! For reference, fingering weight yarn which is quite fine has a WPI of 14 and jumbo yarn might have a WPI of 0 – 4; a worsted weight yarn has WPI of 9 wraps per inch, a DK weight yarn has a WPI of 11. I’d recommend looking up which yarn weight corresponds with the WPI number you get once you have completed that test!
Could you let us know which stitch pattern you’d like your wrap to be in as well? Some stitch patterns like garter stitch require more yarn than other stitch patterns like stockinette, so knowing the stitch pattern(s) you’re interested in is helpful as well to see which projects might best fit the yarn you have on hand! If you’d like to chat about your project more in-depth, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email at [email protected] as well. We’re always happy to help!
Kindly,
Cat
I am considering making this as a throw. Was thinking of combining Stormy Sea with Forget-me-not blue. Was wondering if those colors would work. It is so hard to decide by looking on line. Like the Stormy Sea and would be open to other suggested colors.
Hi Sylvia,
Thanks so much for asking about color pairings! I really like Stormy Sea and Forget-Me-Not Blue together. Both have just the slightest purple undertone to them, so they coordinate really well.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
What is the length of the fringe?
Hi Elise!
Thank you for your question! The length of the fringe is about 5 3/4″ long.
Warmly,
Megan
My daughter is a sophomore in college and bulky scarves are the trend! She loves pink and she would love this scarf! I would like to try to tone down the color intensity a bit so that she could wear it for less casual occasions as well. Do you think a pairing of heirloom white and fresh grapefruit might work? I am open to other suggestions … so hard to choose online!
Thank you for the advice …
Hi Marsha!
Thank you for your question! Heirloom White + Fresh Grapefruit is a lovely pairing. The white will definitely soften the bright pink and make the scarf more versatile for both casual and slightly dressier outfits. Here are a couple of other combinations from that yarn line you might also consider for a toned-down but still beautiful look: Heirloom White + Apple Blossom — softer and more subtle than Fresh Grapefruit, great if you want a gentle, romantic blend. Heirloom White + Lilac Mauve — even more muted, though not in the pink category. Mouse Ear + Fresh Grapefruit — a warmer neutral base that still lets the pink pop without feeling too bold. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Megan
Hi there,
I cast on the correct number of stitches here but the length of the piece was about half the length of the pattern (may 3ft tops). Would love some guidance?
Hi Ila!
Thank you for writing in! My first thought is gauge might be the issue. If your gauge is a bit tighter than the pattern calls for, the piece can end up much shorter even with the correct stitch count. If you can share whether you met gauge (and how many stitches per inch you’re getting), we’d be happy to help you troubleshoot from there!
Warmly,
Megan
Wow! This looks awesome. At first I didn’t understand casting on 18 stitches but then realized that’s what makes the fringe. I would love to make this as a scarf instead of a wrap. Thank you for providing this as a free pattern.
Hi Susybaker!
Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled you’re enjoying the pattern! Yes, you can absolutely make it as a scarf instead of a wrap. Simply work fewer rows to reach the width you like.
Happy knitting!
Megan
Hello all,
Thank you for such a lovely pattern. I have a friend who loves hot or bright pink, what pairing recommendations do you have for spring rose?
Thank you so much,
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for reaching out about this! Spring Rose looks great with a lot of colors, so you have quite a few options. I like it with Fresh Grapefruit or Pomegranate Seed to really play up the pink. Fresh Grapefruit is a very energetic pairing, while Pomegranate Seeds brings a dramatic flair! Other options that bring out more purple in Spring Rose are Lilac Mauve and Wild Boysenberry.
We hope you find an option that you love! If you’d like more custom pairing options or to see any of these color combinations, send us an email at [email protected]. We’re happy to help!
Kindly,
Allison
I’m thinking or making this into a 40×30 crib throw. Will 6 balls (3 in the two colors) be enough? Thanks.
Hi Camille!
Thank you so much for your question! For a 30 × 40 inch crib throw, 6 balls likely won’t be quite enough. To get that size comfortably at the pattern’s gauge, you’ll want 8 balls total (4 balls of each color). You’d also cast on 125 stitches to achieve the 40-inch length. This should give you enough yarn to finish without worrying about running short.
Happy knitting!
Megan