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Point To Point Scarf
A little scarf with a clever point of view, our Point To Point Scarf is the easiest possible introduction to intarsia colorwork. This simple technique creates bold graphics, while our dreamiest 100% cashmere yarn, Nigh DK, adds sumptuous softness… An absolutely beautiful gift knit!
Nearly all of the knitting is simple garter stitch with a dramatic color change at the halfway point. At each end, you knit the contrast-color diamond tips with intarsia, a colorwork technique that lets you knit broad sections of color without slipping stitches or carrying yarn across the back. You won’t believe how easy it is—especially in garter stitch—and we have a great tutorial to walk you through it.
Every stitch is a pleasure in Nigh DK, our 100% Mongolian cashmere yarn that you have to feel to believe. The frigid Mongolian highlands are the source of much of the world’s cashmere because the goats who live there grow an extraordinarily soft, lofty, and insulating winter undercoat. In spring, when the animals are naturally shedding, farmers gently comb away that undercoat, and only the very finest of those fibers make it into Nigh DK.
The finished yarn is then washed several times, which means Nigh DK is unbelievably soft as you’re knitting, not just after you block it. At a not-too-thick-not-too-thin DK weight, it knits up into an incredibly warm and surprisingly lightweight fabric, with a luminous halo that floats above the surface.
To knit a totally on-point gift for someone close to your heart or a new favorite scarf for yourself, choose two of Nigh DK‘s colors, from nuanced heathers to rich solids… Just one skein of each makes a Point To Point Scarf!
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 founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson, and Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover.
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
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Nigh DK, 100% cashmere yarn. Each skein of this light worsted/ DK-weight yarn is 199 yards/ 55 grams.
- Color A: 1 skein; approximately 110 total yards required. We used Pearl Gray.
- Color B: 1 skein; approximately 110 total yards required. We used Golden Ochre.
- US 5 (3.75 mm), 24-inch circular knitting needles
GAUGE
23 stitches and 46 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: 5 inches wide x 37½ inches long
NOTES
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all slip stitches knitwise with yarn in back (wyib).
INTARSIA
The colorwork in this project is done with a technique called “intarsia.” Each row involves three balls of yarn, which is much easier than it may sound! For some tips on this technique, visit our Intarsia in Garter Stitch Tutorial.
MAKE COLOR A AND B BALLS
When you work the intarsia sections of this pattern, you will need three balls of yarn. Two of them will be the regular balls you’ve wound, called “Color A” and “Color B.” The third will be a much smaller ball: “Small Color A” for one tip and “Small Color B” for the other tip. To get ready to go, simply wind 4½ yards from each color into a small ball. The pattern will let you know when to use these!
PATTERN
FIRST TIP
INCREASE
With Color A (see Notes), cast on 2 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-Up Increase Row 1 (wrong side): K1, knit into front and back (kfb). [3 stitches]
Set-Up Increase Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 (see Notes), kfb, k1. [4 stitches]
Mark previous row with a removable stitch marker or piece of scrap yarn to indicate the right side.
Starting with a wrong-side row…
Increase Row: Slip 1, kfb, knit to end of row. [1 stitch increased]
Repeat Increase Row 23 more times, ending with a wrong-side row. [29 stitches]
WORK INTARSIA
Joining both Color B balls, when needed…
Set-Up Row (right side): With Color B, k1, drop Color B without cutting it; with Color A, k27, drop Color A without cutting it; with Small Color B (see Notes), k1. [1 Color B stitch; 27 Color A stitches; 1 Small Color B stitch]
Now working Intarsia (see Notes) at every color change…
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1; with Color A, k27; with Color B, k1.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1, then with Color B, k1; with Color A, knit until 1 Color A stitch remains; with Small Color B, k2. [2 Color B stitches; 25 Color A stitches; 2 Small Color B stitches]
Row 3: Slip 1, then with Small Color B, knit to end of Color B; with Color A, knit to end of Color A; with Color B, knit to end of row.
Row 4: Slip 1, then with Color B, knit to end of Color B, k1; with Color A, knit until 1 Color A stitch remains; with Small Color B, knit to end of row. [1 more Color B stitch; 2 fewer Color A stitches; 1 more Small Color B stitch]
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 eleven more times, then repeat Row 3 one time. [14 Color B stitches; 1 Color A stitch; 14 Small Color B stitches]
Cut Color A and Small Color B. Do not cut Color B.
BODY
Starting with a right-side row and using only Color B…
Row 1: Slip 1, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures 13¾ inches from last Color A stitch, or 18¾ inches from cast-on tip, ending with a wrong-side row.
Cut Color B.
Joining Color A…
With Color A, repeat Row 1 for 13¾ inches, or until piece measures 32½ inches from cast-on tip, ending with a wrong-side row.
SECOND TIP
WORK INTARSIA
Joining Color B and Small Color A, when needed…
Set-Up Row (right side): Slip 1, then with Color A, k13, drop Color A without cutting it; with Color B, k1, drop Color B without cutting it; with Small Color A, knit to end of row. [14 Color A stitches; 1 Color B stitch; 14 Small Color A stitches]
Now working Intarsia at every color change…
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1, then with Small Color A, k13; with Color B, k1; with Color A, knit to end of row.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1, then with Color A, knit until 1 Color A stitch remains; with Color B, k3; with Small Color A, knit to end of row. [13 Color A stitches; 3 Color B stitches; 13 Small Color A stitches]
Row 4: Slip 1, then with Small Color A, knit to end of Color A; with Color B, knit to end of Color B; with Color A, knit to end of row.
Row 5: Slip 1, then with Color A, knit until 1 Color A stitch remains; with Color B, k1, knit to end of Color B, k1; with Small Color A, knit to end of row. [1 fewer Color A stitch; 2 more Color B stitches; 1 fewer Small Color A stitch]
Repeat Rows 4 and 5 eleven more times, then Repeat Row 4 one time. [1 Color A stitch; 27 Color B stitches; 1 Small Color A stitch]
Cut Color A and Small Color A. Do not cut Color B.
DECREASE
Using only Color B…
Decrease Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog), k1. [1 stitch decreased]
Decrease Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. [1 stitch decreased]
Repeat Decrease Rows 1 and 2 twelve more times. [3 stitches remain]
Next Row (right side): Slip slip knit pass (s2kp). [1 stitch remains]
Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch.
FINISHING
Weave in the 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 Nigh DK + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Cast on for one of our free knitting patterns in Nigh DK, made with the most exquisite, amazingly soft 100% Mongolian cashmere you can imagine! This DK-weight yarn has four even plies and knits into a beautiful, even fabric with a soft halo that floats above the fabric’s surface, a distinctive characteristic of fine cashmere yarns. Choose from two dozen stunning colors and cast on for incredibly special accessories, baby gifts, and even socks. For more inspiration, explore all of our knitting patterns and all of our beautiful yarn!
More Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Nigh DK knitting patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/ DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- 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, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop Nigh Aran + Nigh Fine, this yarn’s aran-weight and lace- to fingering-weight siblings
- Shop cashmere yarn (What makes cashmere so special? Learn all about this amazing fiber in our guide to cashmere 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 55 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 1,000s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
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Does Purl Soho have a pattern for the white sweater the model is wearing? I’ve been looking for a good plain drop-shoulder, crew neck pattern like this.
Hi Laura,
Thanks so much for writing in! While the sweater pictured is a personal knit, our Addison sweater pattern is a wardrobe staple that might fit the bill. And though not a crew-neck, you may want to take a peak at Goode as well. Both of these patterns are perfect to wear over and over again!
We can’t wait to see what you work up next!
Happy knitting!
Mia
Can this be done using only one color by using the directions for the body from end to end?
Hi Lynn,
Great question! To work the scarf in only one color you would cast on and work through the increases as written to the final 29 stitch count. From there you would knit the scarf to your desired length and work the decrease instructions. In other words you would only work the Increase, Body, and Decrease sections ignoring the instruction within the Body section to change colors.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Mia
Many thanks, Mia. I guessed as much, but I wanted to be sure. I was thrilled to see this pattern for a narrow scarf. I don’t have a long neck, and wide scarves look like they are wearing me rather than my wearing them. It’s a great, easy pattern, and I thank Purl Soho for it.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks so much for your reply and your kindness! We’re really glad this was helpful. We hope you love your new scarf, and please feel free to reach out anytime if you have any questions.
All the best,
Hills
I love this pattern, but am looking for a less expensive yarn, any suggestions???
Hi Marilyn,
We’re so happy that the Point to Point Scarf has caught your eye! Alternate yarns that would work well with this pattern would be Goldenberry Alpaca, Good Wool, and Knitting Yarn DK. Any three of these would be a one-to-one substitution for this pattern, meaning you would only need one skein of each color you choose.
Happy knitting!
Mia
If I bought 2 skeins of each color (which I know would be expensive), could I make this scarf in a longer length? Seems possible. How long could I make it using 2 skeins of each color?
Hi Janice,
We’re so happy to hear that the Point to Point Scarf has caught your eye! When starting the scarf, you will wind 4½ yards from each color into a small ball and the pattern will let you know when to use these. You could then continue to knit until you are out of your first color before joining in the second color. Like many of our patterns, this one does have a bit of a buffer built in and doesn’t use the entirety of the two skeins so it’s completely doable.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Mia
Hi! In looking at your response for using just one color, would this look good in a variegated yarn?
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks so much for writing in! I think that the Point to Point Scarf would look great in a variegated yarn if you’re planning on using a single color. The garter stitch and shorter rows would highlight the colors in your yarn beautifully.
Happy knitting!
Mia
I’ve become obsessed with cashmere yarn of late. Even though California has been hit with a massive heatwave! I just ordered this yarn and cannot wait to start the “Point to Point Scarf”. I have never tried Intarsia before, and, I’ve read the directions three times. I am hoping it’s easy for a beginner. Any other tips I should know about this pattern?
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for reaching out! We’re so glad to see how much you’re loving cashmere (and we totally agree!).
This is an absolutely perfect project for trying out intarsia! I would just recommend being mindful of detangling as you go, as your yarn can become overly twisted. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you do run into any trouble, though. We’re always glad to help. You’ve got this!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Just started my scarf (finished my first ‘point’) and after a rough start (first Intarsia attempt), it started to flow perfectly! I think the hardest is keeping the yarns from tangling… But, this is a fun knit! I probably should have used two colors which were more contrasting, instead of the same color tone, but, I felt the two colors deserved each other (Driftwood, and Ocean Storm). I’m already thinking of a second! Maybe, black and off white. That would be “striking”, with a touch of class…Thank you, Purl Soho, for your most excellent design team!
Question: As I am ready to change to Color A, will I have much of the color B left over after my second point? I want to use as much of this lovely yarn as possible (no leftovers). I’m thinking I should knit to 19 1/2 inches from the point, instead of 18 3/4″ (maybe longer). I could even tie the scarf if it was a bit longer.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the Point To Point Scarf! We’re so glad to see you’re loving the project and found it approachable as a first intarsia attempt. Great work!
While there isn’t enough yarn to make two scarves of the same size (with the colors swapped) there should be enough to work another inch or so! It sounds like a really lovely idea, and we would love to see this finished project. Please feel free to upload a photo at the bottom of our homepage or on the Ravelry project page.
Happy knitting,
Hills