Ledger Scarf

Our Ledger Scarf is a simple and satisfying knitting pattern, as orderly as a column of figures and as long as a curling receipt! Adding an earthy warmth to these rhythmic stripes is our new Ochre yarn, a mix of superwash wool and linen that’s delightfully soft and easy to care for.

You knit this toasty, double-thick scarf in the round, and it’s all super knitting, with a few elevated details that give a truly polished result. The ends of the scarf are closed—we suggest using Judy’s Magic Cast On and Kitchener Stitch for the most seamless look—and built-in creases along each side make the tubular scarf lie nice and flat. A few more details to account for: jogless stripes keep your lines neatly ruled, and you carry your unused yarn along with a tidy twist as you stripe.

Ochre adds lots of personality to this clean-lined scarf. An expressive superwash merino wool yarn with a touch of Belgian linen that bursts enthusiastically from the strand, it is a cushy DK-to-worsted weight with a round 4-ply spin and a wonderful liveliness on the needles. Ochre knits up into a buttery-soft fabric with the very practical benefit of being machine washable and dryable. Pick two from a palette of beautiful heathered colors, including the parchment, ink, and leather palette we chose for our Ledger Scarves.

Four skeins of each color make a long, dramatic scarf like the ones we made, or pick up three skeins each for a slightly smaller version. With Ochre’s intriguing character, miles of stylish stripes, and cozy double-thick fabric, your Ledger Scarf will be one for the books!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 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, Hiromi Glover. See even more of Hiromi’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 Ochre, 90% superwash wool and 10% linen. Each skein of this light worsted/DK-worsted-weight yarn is 177 yards/ 100 grams.
  • Color A: 3 (4) skeins; approximately 470 (708) total yards required
  • Color B: 3 (4) skeins; approximately 450 (700) total yards required
• US 7 (4.5 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making, or 32-inch circular knitting needles if using Judy’s Magic Cast On and/or Magic Loop
• Optional: Spare needle, US 7 or smaller if using 3-Needle Bind Off
• Stitch markers, including one unique

We used these colors for our samples…

• Color A: Giant Sequoia, Color B: Heirloom White
• Color A: Wrought Iron, Color B: Mica Gray

GAUGE

21 stitches and 27 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

NOTE: We used every last yard for this scarf. To avoid running out of yarn, be sparing with your tails and check your gauge.

SIZES

Small (Large)

• Finished Circumference: 16 (19¾) inches
• Finished Length 68¼ (87¼) inches long

Sample: Both of our samples are the Large size.

NOTES

STITCH MULTIPLE

This pattern is worked over an even number of stitches.

SLIP STITCHES

Slip all slipped stitches purlwise with yarn in back.

MAGIC LOOP

This pattern can be worked on either 16-inch circular needles, or on 32-inch circular needles using the Magic Loop method. Just pick the approach you prefer!

For more help, visit our Magic Loop Tutorial.

WORKING STRIPES IN THE ROUND

For tips on carrying up the non-working yarn while working stripes in the round and on jogless stripes, please visit our Stripes in the Round Tutorial for both videos.

PATTERN

CAST ON

NOTE: Using Judy’s Magic Cast On leaves you with a very tidy bottom edge of your scarf and also means you won’t have to seam the cast-on edge closed when you’re finished knitting. Learn how to do it with our Judy’s Magic Cast On Tutorial!

With Color A, cast on 84 (104) stitches. We used Judy’s Magic Cast On and 32-inch circular needles, but a basic Long Tail Cast On would also work fine! If you do a basic Long Tail Cast On, use either 16-inch circular needles or 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop (see Notes), and leave an approximately 25-inch tail for seaming the cast-on edge later.

IF YOU USED JUDY’S MAGIC CAST ON

Place unique marker for end of round and join for working in the round.

Set-Up Round 1: K42 (52), place marker at middle of round, knit through back loop to end of round. NOTE: This round is also explained in the Knit The First Round section of our Judy’s Magic Cast On Tutorial.

Set-Up Round 2: Knit to end of round, slipping marker as you come to it.

Set-Up Round 3: Knit to next marker, slip marker (sm), slip 1 (see Notes), knit to end of round.

Go on to Work Stripes section below.

IF YOU USED A BASIC LONG TAIL CAST ON

Place unique marker for end of round and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Set-Up Round 1: K42 (52), place marker at middle of round, knit to end of round.

Set-Up Round 2: Knit to next marker, slip marker (sm), slip 1 (see Notes), knit to end of round.

Go on to Work Stripes section below.

WORK STRIPES

NOTE: Carry non-working yarn up the inside of the tube between stripes and work jogless stripes. See Notes for more help.

Still with Color A…

Round 1: Knit to end of round, slipping marker as you come to it.  

Round 2: Knit to next marker, sm, slip 1, knit to end of round.

Drop Color A.

Join Color B.

Rounds 3–6: With Color B, repeat Rounds 1 and 2 two times.

Rounds 7–10: With Color A, repeat Rounds 1 and 2 two times.

Repeat Rounds 3–10 fifty-six (72) more times. [Piece measures 68 (87) inches from cast-on edge]

Cut Color B.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends (except for long tail, if you used a Long Tail Cast On).

CLOSE ENDS

IF YOU USED JUDY’S MAGIC CAST ON

Slide 42 (52) stitches to each end of circular needles, and holding needles parallel, use Kitchener Stitch to graft edge closed.

Weave in remaining end and gently wet block.

IF YOU USED A LONG TAIL CAST ON

Slide 42 (52) stitches to each end of circular needles, and holding needles parallel, bind off stitches using a 3-Needle Bind Off.

Turn piece so cast-on edge is at the top, edges are aligned, and long tail is at right side. Ensure that cast-on edge is parallel to bound off edge and that the tube is not twisted. With long tail, seam the two sides of the cast-on edge together using a whipstitch.

Weave in remaining 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!

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 55 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!