Whit's Knits: Color Change Scarf

Purl Soho's most subtle yarns come from Habu Textiles. They tend to be extremely fine and very delicately colored. They also tend to leave customers scratching their heads, "I LOVE this yarn, but what can I possibly make with it?" A great answer has been Habu's all white Kusha Kusha Scarf pattern, but, for this project, I wanted to also engage with Habu's amazing spectrum of colors.

I envisioned a scarf that would shift from one color to the next, making a beautiful color journey from one end of the scarf to the other. Joelle, with her unique genius for color, picked these five Fine Merinos. While knitting, my excitement grew and grew as I introduced each new color. More like painting with watercolors than knitting with yarn, it was a fascinating process!

This simple lace ladder stitch is a perfect antidote to such fine yarn. With only two easy rows to memorize and so much open lace work, you'll be surprised how quickly you fly through this scarf. The result is a perfect accessory for fall that will inspire you every day!

The Materials

• 5 cones of Habu Textile's Fine Merino, 100% Merino Wool. These colors, from the left, are:
  
  • # 3042 - In the pattern this is COLOR A.
  • # 3044 - COLOR B.
  • # 3046 - COLOR C.
  • # 3043 - COLOR D.
  • # 3055 - COLOR E.
  (These five cones are enough for two identical scarves. Or, for four or five different scarves, switch the colors around so that the lesser used colors become the greater used colors. It will be so interesting to see the changes!)

• A US #7 circular needle, 24 inches. I used (and really recommend!) a Skacel Addi Lace needle for this project. With sharper points than the traditional Addi Turbos, these needles make knitting with fine yarn much easier. They also have a slightly stickier shaft for keeping slippery yarns in control.

The Pattern

Gauge

9 stitches = 1 inch in lace pattern

Finished Size

66 inches long and 8 inches wide

Note

Throughout this pattern you will be knitting with two yarns at the same time. One yarn will always be COLOR A and the other yarn will change from B to C to D to E, as instructed in the pattern.

Begin

Holding COLOR A and COLOR B together, cast on 72 stitches.

Rows 1-4: Knit

Row 5 (right side): K4, *k2tog, yarn over (yo) twice, ssk, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k4.

Row 6 (wrong side): K5, *(k1, p1) into the 2 yo's from the previous row, k2, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k5.

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until piece measures 12 inches from the cast on row (always end each color section with a wrong side row). Cut COLOR B and join COLOR C (so that you are now knitting with A and C).

Continue to repeat Rows 5 and 6 until the second section of color measures 15 inches. Cut COLOR C and join COLOR D.

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until the third section of color measures 18 inches. Cut COLOR D and join COLOR E.

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until the fourth and final section of color measures 20 3/4 inches, ending with a wrong side row.

Knit 3 rows.

Cast off very loosely (use a needle one or two sizes bigger if you have to).

Cut both yarns.

Weave in the ends and lightly block your scarf. It may grow a little bit, but it will be wonderfully flat and soft!

Comments

[Kt]

This is beautiful! It would be great if Joelle could put together some kits for those of us that are color challenged.

Orange-red
green-blue
purple-grey

[tante sophie]

whitney ... i think that habu fine merino will "spit splice" beautifully on the color changes and then only the beginning and ending tails at the bottom and top of the scarf have to be put away ... it's lovely indeed!

[Em]

I may be overlooking it, but I'm not seeing Color C on the shop page? Thanks!

[purl bee]

Hi Em,
We have more on the way, it should be here very soon! We were planning to supplement our website's inventory with our shop's inventory, but unfortunately this weekend there was a big water leak in our building and this color was damaged. If you'd like us to notify you when this color comes in, please send us an email at this link:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/contact

[scottlaw]

I would love to see other colorways suggested - perhaps using some of the blues and grays. Since the colors on the monitor may not be true, this would be very helpful.

[purl bee]

Hi Scottlaw,
We're definitely going to do this, stay tunned!

[Betsey]

i was hoping for just the same, blues and grays or greens. all of the colors are beautiful, though.

[Beth]

I love this scarf. It would be fabulous for xmas presents. I do hate weaving in the ends and they always pop out on me! What is spit splice? I think doing a scarf in pinks, greens and blues and beiges would probably work as well. The colors on the website look terrific. Is it really soft? My children don't like itchy scarfs.

[tante sophie]

... google "spit splice yarn" and you'll get even youtube help ... or read here ... http://morcatknits.typepad.com/spitsplicing/2005/03/or_how_to_join_.html ... happy days ...

[Robin]

Whenever I try to work this out it comes out wrong. I feel like it should only be k3 at the end of the wrong side. It's a four stitch repeat going both ways, so I'm wondering how it can be four and five stitches on either end. I know I'm probably missing something here. Any advice?

Thanks,

[Katie]

Thanks for sharing!

[Wendy]

This is lovely! I'm a definitely going to try this, probably in teal - darker blue for myself and a whole rainbow of colours for other people!! Thank you.

[Sally]

Will you let us know when you have these colors in stock? I don't believe any of the colors are available any longer on your site...Thanks!

[kelly]

I made this scarf for a friend and I absolutely love it! I made it in blues and greens -- you can see my blog post about it right here:
http://transcraftinental.blogspot.com/2011/01/scarf-for-katie.html

[Blair]

This would be a fantastic project for spring. I hope you guys still plan on posting other colorways and soon! Thanks.

[Candi]

I am looking forward to knitting this scraf, I have never used this fine of yarn any securet that would be usefull?

[Lisa]

I'm rather new to knitting and am completely lost on one piece of the instructions on Row 5: "(k1 p1) into the 2 yo's from the previous row." The previous row, however, was straight knitting. And if the instructions mean to knit into previous wrong side row, how do I do that? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[purlbee]

HI Lisa,

The instructions you quote are actually from Row 6. In Row 5 you yarn over twice so that in Row 6 you can "(k1,p1) into the 2 yo's from the previous row".

I hope this gets you on your way and good luck!

Whitney

[Robin]

Hello,
I'm a novice at knitting, and do not know how to use circular needles. I love this scarf. I have tried using circular needles, and I always want to throw them across the room, and give up. Can I use ordinary knitting needles? If not, could you explain to me why I would use circular needles to make a scarf? All information is appreciated! Thank you.

[christina]

Did Purl Bee, perhaps, put together kits of this with other colors? blues/greens, purple/grey, etc? I can't wait to start this one.

[purl bee]

Hi Christina-

We did not make kits out of these but we would be happy to help you put something together over the phone if you have some colors in mind. Our number is 800-597-PURL.

Thank you!

Molly