Color Block Infinity Scarf : to knit and wear
I’ve moved a good fair bit through the years – different towns, cities, states, and countries – but I’ve always lived in places with four distinct seasons. This year, my first in California’s Bay Area, is a bit different. While natives would, I’m sure, argue that there are four distinct seasons; it’s hard for me to see or feel it right now.
As it is, it’s the first full day of Autumn here and the leaves are still green, the skies are still blue, the temperatures are still in the 80’s, and I’m contemplating a little dip with my kiddos in the pool out front.
And while cold temps and snow aren’t on the horizon for me this year, it’s seems there’s something in me that still believes it is.
Fall, while it isn’t outside my window, is in my bones.
And all of a sudden, I find myself wanting to do all those Fall things that feel oh-so-unnecessary here. Like making big pots of Lentil Soup. And knitting. A lot. With wool.
Perhaps it is Fall where you are too – whether in your reality or just in your heart. And perhaps you, too, are itching to pick up needles and wool. If it is, if you are, this pattern might be just the thing.
This color block infinity scarf is perfect for just about everyone. Confident beginners can stretch and learn. Advanced knitters can relax into the rhythm, allowing their minds to wander. Everyone will end up with something super cozy – to give or to keep – as we all edge through Fall and into Winter, however that might look.
You Will Need
660 Total Yards Aran Weight Yarn
(I used Baby Alpaka Naturbelassen which has sadly been discontinued – see instructions for ideas/suggestions on choosing your yarn)
US 8 Knitting Needles (or size needed to get gauge)
A Spare Knitting Needle (a size or two smaller than the needle you used for knitting)
Gauge
20 stitches per 4 inches
30 rows per 4 inches
(in pattern stitch)
(incredible photo by Tara of T.Spoon Photography)
Instructions
Choose your yarn and colors. You’ll need at least 660 yards of yarn, total. I chose three skeins – about 220 yards each – in three different shades of gray. I wanted my color blocks to be fairly subtle, and to work well with my wardrobe. But you can do what you wish with yours – going for bolder color blocks or eliminating the blocks altogether and just making a solid. Some good yarns to consider are:
For a nice, neutral scarf try:
Ecological Wool by Cascade Yarns – 2 skeins
For a super-light, soft scarf try:
Osprey by Quince & Co – 4 skeins
For something bright and colorful try:
Wool Clasica by Manos del Uruguay – 5 skeins
Knit a gauge swatch, if you want. Since fit is no biggie when it comes to a scarf, you’re free to skip this step and just cast on. Often when working a project like this, I’ll cast on and start knitting, if after an inch or two the scarf is too wide or too narrow, the fabric too firm or too loose, I’ll just pull the work off the needles, unravel the yarn and begin again with a smaller or larger needle as needed. If the thought of unravelling all your hard work is just too much, knit a small swatch to check your gauge.
Cast on. Using your favorite method, cast on 51 stitches. Don’t have a favorite method yet, no worries! You can always try mine – the long tail cast on.
Start knitting. The scarf is worked in seed stitch. That means you’re going to alternating knits and purls. Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl, all the way across the row, ending with a knit stitch. Turn your work and repeat.
Change colors. Or don’t. It’s up to you. For three even color-blocks, like in the photographs, you’ll want to knit approximately 220 yards with each color. Then switch. You get to choose how you want big (or small) you want your color blocks to be.
Keep on knitting. This is a lot of seed stitch folks, just keep on going. It’ll be worth it – I promise. To have enough fabric to loop the scarf twice, you’ll want to knit until the scarf is about 66 inches long.
Bind off your stitches. Use whichever method you like. My go to is always the basic knit bind-off. Leave a nice long tail of yarn attached after binding off. You can use it to sew your scarf.
Seam the scarf. Using a yarn needle, and the yarn end, seam your scarf together.
Weave in your yarn ends. Since both sides of the fabric are visible, you’ll want to do this as invisibly as possible.
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