Our Reversible Stripes combines a couple of tried-and-true stitch patterns to create a unique one that is pretty dazzling! We took a bit of Woven Stitch and a dash of Linen Stitch, and voilá, Reversible Stripes… All through the magic of easy slip stitches. One side of this stitch pattern is smooth and flat, with thin, horizontal pinstripes that appear woven rather than knit. The other side is textured in deep, hearty ridges, running in vertical stripes like a knotted tweed. The contrast is fascinating, but the actual knitting couldn’t be simpler!

Here’s our Reversible Stripes Knitting Tutorial, where we show you just how easy it is to create this super satisfying stitch pattern.

Reversible Stripes: Video Tutorial

Click To See Video Transcript

Hey, I am going to show you how to do the stitch pattern for our Reversible Striped Scarf. It’s a slip-stitch pattern worked with two different colors of yarn on circular needles. It’s worked over four rows. The first row is on the wrong side or this backside here, and it’s worked with Yarn B, which is the white. 

I’m going to work the very first stitch just as a slip stitch with this yarn in the front towards you. So slip this with the yarn in front. I brought the yarn, Yarn B, underneath Yarn A. There we go. Then I’m going to begin what is a two-step, or three-step repeat, that you’ll do to the end of the row. I’m going to purl one, take my yarn to the back, and slip one. Then we just keep doing that purl one, slip one with yarn in back, purl one, slip one with yarn in back. So you do this all the way to the end of the row. There we go. Purl one, slip one with yarn in back. 

So we leave the Yarn B, the white yarn here, just right here, but we want to work the next row with Yarn A, which is at the other end. And that’s why it’s important to be on circulars or double points. You slide your work all the way to the end of your needle, so it’s at the other point. And now we can work across with Yarn A. So here we just jump right into the repeat. We’re going to purl one, slip one with yarn in back. Purl one, slip one with the yarn in back. So purl, yarn to the back, slip it, purl. You keep doing this. You’ll notice that I’m working with Yarn A and I’m only working the stitches that are the same color as Yarn A. That’ll help you keep on track during this pattern. Alright, so we made it all the way to the end of the pattern and now we have both our yarns on this side. So now we turn our work. There we go. 

So the next row, we’re going to work with Yarn B again. We’re going to start just this first stitch. We’re going to pull Yarn B underneath Yarn A. And I’m going to slip this first stitch purlwise. Now we have the yarn in back already, so we’re going to knit one, bring yarn to the front, slip one. And that’s the repeat for this row. So knit one, bring yarn to the front, slip one. Knit one, slip one with yarn in front. You do that all the way to the end. Knit one, slip one with yarn in front. Knit one, slip one with yarn in front. So leave your Yarn B over there. Slide your work to the other end of your needle. 

I’m working with Yarn A and I’m only working the stitches that are the same color as Yarn A. Knit one, bring yarn to front, slip one. Knit one, bring yarn to front, slip one. So there are very few steps in this pattern. You just have to make sure you’re doing it with the right yarn, on the right stitches in the right order. We just do this all the way to the end. And that’s the four rows that you work for the Reversible Striped Scarf.

Reversible Stripes: Step-By-Step Instructions

NOTE: You need to work this pattern on circular knitting needles.

With Yarn A, cast on an odd number of stitches.

Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), with Yarn B, *p1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to end of row, slide work.

Row 2 (wrong side): With Yarn A, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, p1, turn work.

Row 3 (right side): Slip 1 wyib, with Yarn B, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to end of row, slide work.

Row 4 (right side): With Yarn A, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1, turn work.

Repeat Rows 1-4 for Reversible Stripes pattern… Easy!

Try It Out!

Now that you’ve got the stitch pattern down, put it to good use and cast on for our free Reversible Stripes Scarf pattern.

Reversible Stripes | Purl Soho

You can see that the play of textures is pretty gorgeous, and now you know how simple is to achieve such beautiful results! We used two different yarns for this scarf: one is Season Alpaca and the other is Mulberry Merino. We no longer carry the latter, but two colors of Season Alpaca would work great, or explore our collection of sport-weight yarns to find a duo you love!

Reversible Stripes | Purl Soho

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our 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!