Gift List Scarf

Our Gift List Scarf pattern is impossibly soft and irresistibly warm in our cashmere Nigh DK yarn… Just the thing to wow everyone on your “Nice” list!

You knit the Gift List Scarf from point to point, using just 2 skeins of Nigh DK for either the long version (above) or the short one (in brown, below). And with 3 skeins, you can make 2 short scarves, perfect math for knitting your way through your gift list. Whichever length you choose, simple shaping and a rhythmic, grid-like texture let you relax and savor every moment with this glorious cashmere yarn on your needles. 

Made from exquisite 100% cashmere, Nigh DK is substantial yet feather-light yet toasty. The cashmere comes from the Mongolian highlands, where goats grow a lofty winter undercoat to keep warm. In spring, when the animals are naturally shedding, farmers gently comb away that undercoat, and the very finest of those fibers become Nigh DK!

Nigh DK knits up into a gorgeous, kitten-soft fabric with a radiant halo. It’s the perfect yarn to draw out those oohs and aahs when your Gift List Scarf is unwrapped, and then again every time the lucky recipient wraps it around their neck.

Choose their favorite from just over two dozen inspiring colors, including the ones here: misty Ocean Storm and rich Toasted Chestnut. There’s a color of Nigh DK to make everyone on your gift list feel special!

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, Gaby Bush.

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; approximately 235 (340) total yards required. We used the colors Toasted Chestnut and Ocean Storm.
• US 5 (3.75 mm), straight needles OR circular knitting needles 

NOTE: 3 skeins will make 2 scarves in the Short length!

GAUGE

25 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern

NOTE: To work a gauge swatch, we recommend casting on 32 stitches, working the Body section of the pattern for a few inches, and blocking the piece without cutting your yarn so you can reuse it!

SIZES

Short (Long)

• Finished Dimensions: 4¾ inches wide x 45 (62) inches long

SAMPLES: The Toasted Chestnut scarf is the Short size, and the Ocean Storm scarf is the Long size.

NOTE

SLIP STITCHES

Slip stitches purlwise with yarn in back.

PATTERN

CAST ON + INCREASE

Cast on 4 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Row 1 (right side): K2; with left needle, pick up the bar between the previous stitch and the next one, bringing the needle from back to front, then knit front and back into this stitch; k2. [6 stitches]

Row 2 (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Row 3: K2, make 1 left, knit to last 2 stitches, make 1 right, k2. [2 stitches increased]

Rows 4 and 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3. [10 stitches]

Row 6: P4, k2, p4.

Row 7: Repeat Row 3. [12 stitches]

Row 8: P2, k2, p4, k2, p2.

Row 9: Repeat Row 3. [14 stitches]

Row 10: P6, k2, purl to end of row.

Row 11: Repeat Row 3. [2 stitches increased]

Row 12: P4, *k2, p4, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 13: Repeat Row 3. [2 stitches increased]

Row 14: P2, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k2, p2.

Row 15: Repeat Row 3. [2 stitches increased]

Row 16: P6, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.

Repeat Rows 11–16 two more times. [32 stitches]

BODY

Row 1 (right side): Slip 2 (see Note), knit to last 2 stitches, slip 2.

Row 2 (wrong side): P3, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k2, p3.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: P6, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.

Repeat Rows 1–4 until piece measures 42 (59) inches from cast-on edge.

DECREASE

Row 1 (right side): K1, slip slip knit (ssk), knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog), k1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 2 (wrong side): P2, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k2, p2.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 4: P4, *k2, p4, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1. [2 stitches decreased]

Row 6: P6, *k2, p4, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.

Repeat Rows 1–6 two more times, then repeat Rows 1–3 one time. [10 stitches remain]

Next Row (wrong side): P4, k2, p4.

Next Row (right side): Repeat Row 1. [8 stitches remain]

Next Row (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Next Row: Repeat Row 1. [6 stitches remain]

Next Row: P1, purl 2 together, slip slip purl, p1. [4 stitches remain]

Next Row: K2tog, ssk, pass first stitch on right needle over second and off needle. [1 stitch remains]

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch.

FINISHING

Weave in all 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 1,000s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!