The Checkerboard Scarf - a free knitting pattern
| checkerboard-scarf-free.pages.pdf |
The Checkerboard Scarf, a truly manly or womanly design
Originally published as My Man’s Scarf
I needed a knitted scarf pattern that was suitable for a man. This is a pretty common design, but after looking around and not finding one with the width and gauge I wanted, I decided to just do it myself! Here is a simple graphic scarf pattern suitable for a manly-man or a non-frilly woman in your choice of yarn weights. Enjoy!
Materials:
Yarn: Directions are for DK (worsted, bulky);
Needles: US size 7 (9, 11) or size to get gauge.
Gauge: 21 (15, 12) stitches and 27 (24, 20) rows to 4” in pattern.
Size: One size fits all, approx. 6 ½” (7 ½”, 7 ½”) wide x 80” (72”, 70”) long.
Notes and abbreviations:
K1 = knit one
P1 = purl one
S1 = slip one as if to purl
yib = with yarn held in back
yif = with yarn held in front
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
A no-frills scarf for man or woman
Pattern stitch (checkerboard) (6 stitch repeat):
Rows 1 through 4: *knit 3 (K3), purl 3 (P3)*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times
Rows 5 through 8: *purl 3 (P3), knit 3 (K3)*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times
Repeat rows 1 through 8 until desired length.
Border stitch (seed stitch):
Row 1: S1, *K1, P1* to end.
Row 2: S1, *P1, K1* to end.
You will be knitting the purled stitches (bumps facing you), and purling the knit stitches (no bumps facing you). Do not make a rib
Originally published as My Man’s Scarf
I needed a knitted scarf pattern that was suitable for a man. This is a pretty common design, but after looking around and not finding one with the width and gauge I wanted, I decided to just do it myself! Here is a simple graphic scarf pattern suitable for a manly-man or a non-frilly woman in your choice of yarn weights. Enjoy!
Materials:
Yarn: Directions are for DK (worsted, bulky);
- DK wt. yarn, 390 yds/100 grams - or
- Worsted wt. yarn, 440 yds/200 grams - or
- Bulky wt. yarn, 200 yds/200 grams.
Needles: US size 7 (9, 11) or size to get gauge.
Gauge: 21 (15, 12) stitches and 27 (24, 20) rows to 4” in pattern.
Size: One size fits all, approx. 6 ½” (7 ½”, 7 ½”) wide x 80” (72”, 70”) long.
Notes and abbreviations:
K1 = knit one
P1 = purl one
S1 = slip one as if to purl
yib = with yarn held in back
yif = with yarn held in front
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
A no-frills scarf for man or woman
Pattern stitch (checkerboard) (6 stitch repeat):
Rows 1 through 4: *knit 3 (K3), purl 3 (P3)*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times
Rows 5 through 8: *purl 3 (P3), knit 3 (K3)*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times
Repeat rows 1 through 8 until desired length.
Border stitch (seed stitch):
Row 1: S1, *K1, P1* to end.
Row 2: S1, *P1, K1* to end.
You will be knitting the purled stitches (bumps facing you), and purling the knit stitches (no bumps facing you). Do not make a rib
The Checkerboard scarf, knit in two strands of Findley
Directions: Cast on 32 (32, 26) stitches.
Border:
Row 1 (RS): sl1 yif (slip one as if to purl with yarn in front), *p1, k1*, to last stitch, p1.
Row 2 (WS): sl1 yib (slip one as if to purl with yarn in back), *k1, p1*, repeat to last stitch, k1.
Rows 3 through 6: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Scarf Body: Note - continue to work the first and last 4 stitches of every row in border stitch. Remember to always slip the first stitch of every row. This gives a nice, neat chain stitch on the edge of the scarf.
Rows 7 & 9: sl1 yif, p1, k1, p1, *k3, p3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), k1, p1, k1, p1.
Rows 8 & 10: sl1 yib, k1, p1, k1, *k3, p3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), p1, k1, p1, k1.
Rows 11 & 13: sl1 yif, p1, k1, p1, *p3, k3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), k1, p1, k1, p1.
Rows 12 & 14: sl1 yib, k1, p1, k1, *p3, k3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), p1, k1, p1, k1.
Repeat rows 7 through 14 until you are almost out of yarn. Finish a pattern block, ending in row 10 or row 14 and work 6 rows of border stitch. Bind off.
For the chart readers (Note – the chart shows 4 pattern repeats):
Border:
Row 1 (RS): sl1 yif (slip one as if to purl with yarn in front), *p1, k1*, to last stitch, p1.
Row 2 (WS): sl1 yib (slip one as if to purl with yarn in back), *k1, p1*, repeat to last stitch, k1.
Rows 3 through 6: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Scarf Body: Note - continue to work the first and last 4 stitches of every row in border stitch. Remember to always slip the first stitch of every row. This gives a nice, neat chain stitch on the edge of the scarf.
Rows 7 & 9: sl1 yif, p1, k1, p1, *k3, p3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), k1, p1, k1, p1.
Rows 8 & 10: sl1 yib, k1, p1, k1, *k3, p3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), p1, k1, p1, k1.
Rows 11 & 13: sl1 yif, p1, k1, p1, *p3, k3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), k1, p1, k1, p1.
Rows 12 & 14: sl1 yib, k1, p1, k1, *p3, k3*, repeat from * to * 4 (4, 3) times (4 stitches left on left needle), p1, k1, p1, k1.
Repeat rows 7 through 14 until you are almost out of yarn. Finish a pattern block, ending in row 10 or row 14 and work 6 rows of border stitch. Bind off.
For the chart readers (Note – the chart shows 4 pattern repeats):
Finishing:
I always wet finish (hand wash and dry flat) and lightly steam my finished knitted pieces, this allows the stitches to “settle” and helps your work hold it’s shape as well as softening up the yarn.
Have Fun and be Colorful!
Grey sample is knit with two strands of Juniper Moon Farm “Findley” (50% Silk/50% Merino Wool), 100 gr/798 yards.Knit by Joy S., she used one strand of Findley in color #3 Graphite and one strand of Findley Dappled in color #101 Unical. A total of 86 grams was used. Or 390 yds on a US size 7 needle at about 21 std and 24 rows to 4″ in pattern or stockinette stitch. Finished size approximately 6-½” x 80”.
© 2004 to TODAY Deborah Pym Harowitz – all rights reserved. Please respect our copyrights. Permission granted to make copies for your own use only. Permission is granted to anyone who would like to link to this page from their web site or Blog. Permission is granted to share the link freely with everyone so they may download their own copies.
Thanks to Gabby S. for being such a great model!
Publishing History: first published with the title “The Manly Scarf” as a “Free Pattern” for Heritage Spinning and Weaving and also posted on Scarlet Zebra‘s web site in December, 2004. Republished as Free Pattern for Heritage and on SZ web site with correction to border instructions and the addition of a chart in February of 2005. Republished on Sea Air Arts’ Blog with title changed to “My Man’s Scarf” in December, 2007. Republished as a free pattern for Heritage Spinning & Weaving and on Sea Air Art’s Blog with the title "The Checkerboard Scarf" in November of 2012 to give it a fresh look, add more pictures and add directions for multiple gauges. Republished on my new site, A Scattered Creative in August of 2015 with the addition of a downloadable .pdf file.
I always wet finish (hand wash and dry flat) and lightly steam my finished knitted pieces, this allows the stitches to “settle” and helps your work hold it’s shape as well as softening up the yarn.
Have Fun and be Colorful!
Grey sample is knit with two strands of Juniper Moon Farm “Findley” (50% Silk/50% Merino Wool), 100 gr/798 yards.Knit by Joy S., she used one strand of Findley in color #3 Graphite and one strand of Findley Dappled in color #101 Unical. A total of 86 grams was used. Or 390 yds on a US size 7 needle at about 21 std and 24 rows to 4″ in pattern or stockinette stitch. Finished size approximately 6-½” x 80”.
© 2004 to TODAY Deborah Pym Harowitz – all rights reserved. Please respect our copyrights. Permission granted to make copies for your own use only. Permission is granted to anyone who would like to link to this page from their web site or Blog. Permission is granted to share the link freely with everyone so they may download their own copies.
Thanks to Gabby S. for being such a great model!
Publishing History: first published with the title “The Manly Scarf” as a “Free Pattern” for Heritage Spinning and Weaving and also posted on Scarlet Zebra‘s web site in December, 2004. Republished as Free Pattern for Heritage and on SZ web site with correction to border instructions and the addition of a chart in February of 2005. Republished on Sea Air Arts’ Blog with title changed to “My Man’s Scarf” in December, 2007. Republished as a free pattern for Heritage Spinning & Weaving and on Sea Air Art’s Blog with the title "The Checkerboard Scarf" in November of 2012 to give it a fresh look, add more pictures and add directions for multiple gauges. Republished on my new site, A Scattered Creative in August of 2015 with the addition of a downloadable .pdf file.
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© 2015-2023 Deborah Pym Harowitz, all images and text, all rights reserved.