Laura's Loop: Men's Mini Herringbone Scarf
I have accumulated quite a bit of neckwear over the years. Some bright, some bulky, some sleek, lots ecru, but hands-down, what earns me the most compliments is my Big Herringbone Cowl, scooped off these pages of the Purl Bee!
It is undeniably wonderful. After making one for myself, I was hooked on herringbone. It creates a flat, woven-like fabric on one side while remaining quite lofty and full on the other. It has a fascinating texture with a hypnotizing rhythm, and its drape is just beautiful. Considering this unique combination of characteristics, I had to have more herringbone!
My scarf counterpart to Whitney's cowl showcases a mini-herringbone pattern, bordered by slip stitch rib edges. To highlight the timelessness of herringbone, I knit this scarf with Swan's Island Worsted, a sumptuously soft organic wool inspired by the rugged traditions of coastal knitting. I hope you find this pattern as classic and handsome as Whitney's cowl is modern and chic!
The Materials
- 2 skeins of Swan's Island's Worsted. I used the color Oatmeal.
- US #10 knitting needles, straight or circular
The Pattern
Gauge
7 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in stitch pattern
Finished Dimensions
7 1/2 inches wide by 62 inches long
Pattern Abbreviations
Sl = slip
wyib = with yarn in back
wyif = with yarn in fron
Pattern Notes
All slipped stitches are to be slipped purl-wise.
Mini Herringbone is always worked over an odd number of stitches.
Mini Herringbone Stitch Pattern
Wrong Side (WS): * P2tog and leave stitches on needle, purl the first stitch again and drop both stitches together from left-hand needle, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Right Side (RS): *Slip 1 with yarn in back, k1, then with left-hand needle raise up the slipped stitch as if to bind off but before dropping off right-hand needle, knit it and then drop from needle, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Begin
Cast on 55 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): Sl1 wyif, p1, k1, work in Mini Herringbone to last 3 stitches, k1, p2
Row 2 (RS): Sl1 wyib, k1, p1, work in Mini Herringbone to last 3 stitches, p1, k2
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 row until scarf measures approximately 61 1/2 inches or until desired length. Repeat Row 1 once more.
Bind off in pattern with RS facing. Instead of knitting the slipped stitch as you have done previously, just drop the slipped stitch of the right-hand needle without knitting it.
Weave in your ends and block if desired.
March 16, 2012
Reader Comments (95)
I would love to add it to my Ravelry queue, but I cannot find a Ravelry entry for this pattern.
Is there one?
Second, doesn't this version (with the border) need to be worked over an even number of stitches? In essence you're adding 6 stitches to the mini herringbone basic stitch, but you're also taking away the purl and knit stitches at the very end of each row. All I know for sure though, is that I tried it with 55 and ended up with 4 stitches left on my left needle, not three. Help?
Unfortunately there aren't any videos that we know of that use this pattern. Is there something specifically that you're having trouble with? Please let us know!
Thank you!
Molly
I love this scarf! Beautiful!
I always have such a hard time figuring out yarn substitutions. I have some Savannah DK and wonder if it can be subbed for the worsted you used here. It looks to be a bit lighter weight. And it recommends using a smaller needle size. So, would I want to use the smaller needle size and add stitches? I always end up confusing my self! Any help you could give would be so appreciated! Thanks!
Kelley
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mmromig/mens-mini-herringbone-scarf
thank you very much for sharing this pattern....i really love it...
i'm trying working on it but the problem is when i finished several rows e.g. <10 rows...it seems like the scraft is mis.shaped...it looks like in rhombus shape...instead of normal square...i did re-do it several times...but still have this problem...i feel like the middle of the scarf is too tight while the other two sides are loose...is this the reason? i'm looking forward to re-do it again by knitting it tighter at the beginning and in the end while knitting loosely in the middle. Not sure that i can fix it!
I am sorry you've had to start and re-start so many times. I am not sure why the scarf is slanting to one side. Sometimes, with certain stitch patterns, I have this issue. Usually it is just slight and after blocking the finished pieces, all is resolved. I am not sure that trying to adjust your tension is going to fix the problem. We knit how we knit and the best thing to do is be consistant.
Sorry to not be more help.
Let me know if you have better luck next time.
Laura
i've tried 25 stitches with a new yarn and it works!
Gonna try 55 stitches tonight :)
thanks
Chano
I'm working on the herringbone cowl now; I love it! I love this too! I think I will knit it after the cowl. Do you have any other yarn recommendations that could substitute for swan's island? Thanks for sharing all of these gorgeous patterns!
Olivia
You could use any worsted weight yarn for this project! You will neec 500 yards total. Here are some good options:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/7795-Brooklyn-Tweed-Shelter
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/649-Cascade-Yarns-Cascade-220
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8065-Cascade-Yarns-Eco-Cloud
Thanks!
Molly
Great questions. On the wrong side, hold the yarn in the front while you slip the first stitch purl-wise, keep your yarn in the front to purl the following stitch, then take the yarn to the back to knit the next stitch.
On the right side, hold the yarn in the back while you slip the first stitch purl-wise, keep the yarn in the back to knit the following stitch, then bring it to the front to purl the next stitch.
Hope this helps!
Laura
My border is a little loose (any tips for making it look great like yours?), but it's definitely the right stitch now.
So glad it's working.
As for the loose edge... Make sure to maintain a taut working yarn when you are slipping that first stitch.
Hope that helps. Thanks for writing in.
Laura
I absolutely love the pattern! I got pretty far in the knitting so far, however I accidentally slipped and it ruined the stitch. Now I'm not sure how to fix it. I'm not sure how to unravel it. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
My best advice for this, and it goes for all stitch patterns, is to slide your needles out. Pull your working yarn slowly and carefully study how the stitches pull out. This will help you understand how to pick them back up. I know this is kind of vague, but hopefully it helps.
Laura
Row 1 (WS): Sl1 wyif, p1, k1, work in Mini Herringbone to last 3 stitches, k1, p2
but when you go to the Mini Herringbone instructions, says repeat pattern to the last stitch then p1
So really you would repeat until last 4 stitches so you could p1, then k1, p2
same for row 2
The last stitch of the Mini Herringbone stitch is p1. Then you work the last three stitches: k1, p2. The last three stitches create the edge detail.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Laura
Connie
For the WS rows, once I finish S1 P1 K1 then go into the repeating P2tog.. I noticed the yarn is in the back because of the K1. Should I turn it over to the front for *P2tog? I've only done stockinette stitch and ribbed scarves so far so I wasn't sure if turning the yarn over for any type of purl stitch is implied knowledge and what all knitters should do..
After you Sl1, P1, K1, then you should bring your yarn between your needles to the front of your work in order to being the Mini Herringbone Pattern, just as you did between the P1 and K1 at the beginning of the row .When you say 'turn your yarn over' I am assuming you mean bring it to the front or to the back. Do not turn your work, however, until you have reached the end of the row.
Please please please let me know if you have any questions at all. This isn't a hard pattern, but it is a leap from stockinette and ribbing. I'm very impressed!
Laura
I really love this scarf and want to knit it for my boyfriend, but I do have a question.
I am using 100% merino wool yarn for needles 6-7mm. I made swatches with both 8 and 9mm and cannot decide which is better. I know that you are supposed to use one needle up (so the 8mm needle), but the swatch feels rather stiff. The 9mm swatch seems more soft and fluffy, but a bit loose. Your version of this scarf seems so soft and the drape looks amazing, I am just afraid that when I use the 8mm needles, the drape will be not nice.
What do you recommend? I am turning my family crazy trying to get their opinion :)
All you need to do is cast on an uneven number of stitches. You can make is as large or small as you want!
Thank you!
Molly
Sorry you are struggling with the pattern. With this stitch, sometimes it is helpful to go up a needle size, which should relieve some of the tautness. Also, sometimes it just takes a few rows to get the rhythm. Has it gotten any easier? Let me know if I can help more.
Thanks for writing in,
Laura
Slip one stitch, then knit the next stitch. Now look at your right-hand needle, slip the tip of the left-hand needle purl-wise into the stitch farthest right on the right-hand needle. Lift it up as if to slip it off the needle, but just before you slip it off, knit it.
I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Laura
thanks for that last explanation of the RS stitches.
When you say "Lift it up as if to slip it off the needle, but just before you slip it off, knit it."
I'm wondering whether you knit it purl-wise or if you end up getting a "twisted" knitted stitch..?
(sorry if it doesnt make sense..)
Greetings from Norway
Your question totally makes sense! And ask as many as you have. That's why we're here. So. When you are grabbing that slipped stitch with the left-hand needle, insert the left-hand needle into the front of the slipped stitch. That way it won't be twisted when you knit it. Let me know if this helps or not.
Laura
I know what you mean about driving our family crazy. Sometimes it's just so hard to decide. I tend to like my knits a bit tighter than other people do. Whitney (of Whit's Knits) is always suggesting I go up a needle size). If you feel the larger needle creates a fabric with holes then perhaps go with the smaller size needle. Knits tend to bloom and grow a bit once worn, so the scarf with drap more and more with wear. Does this help?
Hope it turns out to your liking!
Laura
I really want to make this scarf, it's beautiful, but I just don't see the same pattern coming through on mine, as the images you've provided. I have no idea where I'm going wrong! I feel that I'm stitching a completely different pattern by accident Is there somewhere I could upload a close up photo? I'm wondering if it's the yarn I've chosen to test with or if I'm reading an instruction wrong... feeling a little disappointed :(
thanks!
I am sorry you are disappointed. I am not sure which step of the pattern is causing the problem. Is your yarn machine spun? Hand spun yarns look quite different in this stitch. Is your gauge correct? When knit loose, the fabric can have gaps or holes. I do not have more zoomed in image.
Please let me know if I can help you out in any other way.
Laura