Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Easy Knit Scarf Pattern

This is a very simple pattern (garter stitch, which is a joy to knit) using larger needles and Lion Brand Jiffy yarn. Jiffy is one of my favorite yarns because it's a bulky yarn that is soft with a mohair look to it, and it works up quickly and is a pleasure to knit because it feels soft in your hand. The colors are also excellent. I like to make this scarf for charity, and these two scarves and several others are for Threads of Compassion. It's durable, functional, and very nice looking, in my opinion. I love the texture and look of garter stitch. The scarf is warm, soft, and stretchy. It's also perfect for either a man or a woman, depending on the color you choose. This is the perfect scarf for a beginner, yet also suitable for an advanced knitter.

First, you will be cutting the fringe before you actually start knitting. This is so you can knit until you get to about the last yard of yarn, which you will use for binding off. You will be using exactly two skeins of Jiffy yarn for this scarf. Note that the variegated Jiffy yarn is 2½ ounces and solid color Jiffy is 3 ounces. You will end up with a scarf that is about 6 to 6½ inches wide (depending on your tension) by about 5 to 5½ feet long, depending on which color you use.

Materials:

· Exactly 2 skeins Lion Brand Jiffy yarn
· Size #11 (8 mm) straight knitting needles
· Size K crochet hook (for adding fringe)

Instructions:

Before beginning to knit, cut 36 strands of yarn approximately 18 inches long (exact length is not important – shorter is also fine). Set aside.

Cast on 18 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until you have about 36 inches of yarn left. Bind off in knit.

Using two strands of the fringe you cut earlier, use crochet hook to place 9 sets of fringe on each short end of the scarf. Space the fringe evenly (in every other stitch). Trim fringe so it is even. Then tie a very tight single knot close to the end of each strand of yarn. You will need to add the knot because it's not a pretty sight when your lovely fringe is all frayed when it comes out of the dryer.

After you have trimmed the yarn and added the knot, the fringe should be about 8 to 8½ inches (again, exact length is not important here). If you cut the fringe a little shorter, it doesn't matter because you will still be using the remainder of the yarn to make the scarf, and you will get a will get a slightly longer scarf. You can also be creative and knit with another simple stitch that is the same on both sides, such as seed stitch, moss stitch, etc.