Knitted Scarf with Silk Ribbon | Free Pattern

This is a super easy garter stitch pattern requiring only knit (plain) stitch, and no purl rows. It makes a silkie, drapey scarf. The drop stitch pattern show off the silk ribbon and requires only one skein. Try it, here is the pattern!

Scarf measures approximately 3.5“ wide by 72” long [9 cm x 182 cm]

1 Skein of Silkie - Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon > available HERE

Knitting Needles Size 17 [12.27 mm] 

A friend of mine made the first couple of scarves. She used needles size 13, but when I tried to duplicate her pattern, with needles size 13, my knitting was too tight and the scarf lost its drape. I tried with size 15, but it was still too tight, size 17 is perfect for me. You may need to adjust your needle size but a looser knit is best for this pattern, so I recommend going with the larger needles. I used Japanese Clover Takumi single point 9 inch bamboo needles. They are light and comfortable to hold. I bought them at Stitches West in February. Let me know if you cannot find them, I will order some for you. 

Cast on 12 stitches using the long tail method.

Rows 1-4: Knit across row. 

Then start the yarn over row listed below as shown here, by knitting the first stitch, then wrapping the ribbon around the needle 2 times. 

Row 5: [* Knit 1 - Yarn Over Twice (Wrap ribbon around needle 2 times)]
Repeat until the end of the row. End with Knit 1.

Now you have 12 stitches, plus lots of yarn over on the needle. In the next step, you will only knit the stitches and drop the 2 yarn over ribbon in between the stitches. The next picture shows the first stitch knit and the first 2 yarn over dropped. 

Row 6: [* Knit 1 - Unwind wrapped stitches off the needle and let them drop.]

Repeat until the end of the row. End with Knit 1. 

This is Row 6 completed. 

Make sure you have 12 stitches back on your needle. 

Next Rows: [* Knit 4 rows, then repeat Row 6 and 8] - Repeat until you have either achieved the desired length or you have 12-13 Drop Stitch areas. 

If you are adding a fringe, stop when you still have some ribbon leftover for the fringe. 6 yd 4 inches or 5.6 m yields a 5 inch fringe. 

I do not like counting rows... So to recognize when all knit rows between the yarn overs have been completed, count the garter stitch ridges, 3 on one side and 2 on the other, that's when you are ready for the next yarn over row (Row 5).

Last Rows: End with 4 knit rows. Bind off in knit stitch. 

Finishing: Weave in the ends, or incorporate them into the fringe. 

Fringes: Cut 22 lengths 10 inch long for 5 inch fringes. Adjust length as needed but plan on 11 lengths per each scarf end. 

Fold 1 length. Insert the U in between the end stitches. Pull the 2 ends through the U and pull tight. Repeat for all lengths. Incorporate the ends and trim as needed.

Some of the samples scarves shown here were made with 6 knit rows in between the yarn over rows. The finish scarves made with the additional knit rows are shorter...


About the Silk Ribbon: This ribbon was hand dyed in Thailand and was a one time purchase. It is currently available in full skein in Sunset (top photo), Atlantis (shown in the step by step), Iceland, Midnight Blue, and Obsidian (shown below). It is a silk blend with 45% silk, 38% viscose and 17% nylon. It is available in 75 yd skeins and in 15 yd mini-skeins. This ribbon is also featured in a kumihimo necklace project. 

> Silkie Ribbon | Hand dyed Silk Ribbon

> Kumihimo Necklace Kits with Silk Ribbon and 4mm Magatamas

> Pattern - Printable PDF

 

Tips: Chinese Knotting Cord - Unwinding Skeins

Some of the Chinese Knotting Cord comes in skeins of about 82 yards each. The Medium Weight is about 1.2 to 1.5 mm in diameter and the Fine Weight, about 0.8 mm in diameter. The skeins are hand wound so yardage is approximate. Dye lot vary as the skeins are hand dyed. The dye lots of the Medium and Fine weight cord do not always match. For your convenience in addition to skeins, I also sell these cords by 10 yard cards bypassing your having to deal with skeins > Chinese Knotting Cord


If you get Chinese Knotting Cord by skeins, here is the best way to unwind them:

Untwist the skein carefully and place it on a umbrella swift or skein winder. I prefer my swift vertically as shown in this picture below. Lay the skein as evenly as possible before removing the ties. Untie the knots at the ends. It is fairly clear where the ends are, they are knotted together and create the tie that encircle the skein.  Before proceeding, tuck the end you are not using into the spoke so it will be out of your way. Then unwind the skein onto a spool or a card.

If you do not have a swift, use the arms of a friend, the back of a chair, or any other way to keep the skein open.

Occasionally the cord is hard to unwind. Resist the impulse to pull the cord over and under - do this as a last resort only. Sometimes moving the cord or turning the skein around on the swift does the trick. It loosens the cord, making unwinding easier again.

See Chinese Knotting Cord Selections > Chinese Knotting Cord
Get an Umbrella Swift/Skein Winder > Tool Section
Read a weaving entry written by Peggy Ostercamp >  Unwinding Skeins