Knit a Sweet Kerchief Scarf in Two Weights

I’ve lately been drawn to little projects. I don’t know if that has to do with my complete lack of patience this time of year, or the fact that I’m deep into an involved project (an argyle vest) I’ve told myself I have to finish before I can start anything else, and maybe I’m wondering if I snuck in something little I would fail to notice breaking my own rule.

Whatever the reason, I’m thinking a lot about little kerchief style scarves that can be used as headbands or wrapped cutely around your neck for a little extra warmth. (The headband bit? Is because I’m growing out my bangs.)

Olga Putano Designs has a couple of cute projects of this sort in different yarn weights, called Distance.

The original version was worked in a fingering weight mohair yarn. The second iteration uses DK weight. They’re both charming little pieces that start at a point and expand into a long straightaway, then end in another point. The scarf is covered with a cable pattern that looks pretty easy even as the cables merge and change along the length of the project.

The fingering weight version comes in two sizes (the difference is actually in the width, but you can also adjust the length), while the DK weight version has three size options that vary in length and in width.

Project photos show the scarf wrapped up tight around the neck like a kerchief, or tied around the head to make a headband. The longest version is about 3.6 feet long, so it’s not standard adult scarf size, but it will still keep you warm, cozy and stylish, especially when we get to those days that are just a little warmer.

You can find the patterns on Ravelry: fingering | DK

And if you love Olga’s designs, check out my review of her book, Only Yoking.

[Photo: Olga Putano Designs]

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Linen stitch is one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns that, every time I use it in a project, I think about how I don’t use it often enough.

It’s an easy stitch to make, with slip stitches done with the yarn held to the front of the work on the right/front side and to the back on the wrong/back side, which makes the strand of yarn a visible part of the pattern.

It also makes a fabric that is thick and looks kind of like a woven fabric.

I recently used linen stitch to make a double-thick pot holder, which I worked in a kind of interesting way. I didn’t want to have to do any sewing on the project, so I started it from a crochet cast on and picked up stitches from the side of the cast on to make the hot pad all in one piece in the round with the edge sealed.

This requires working on two circular needles, which is another technique I don’t use that often and am always reminded how much I like it when I do.

The combination of double thickness and the stitch pattern makes for a hot pad that’s already pretty thick, but I also added a bit of old towel to the inside before I closed up the end to make it super thick and extra protective for your surfaces.

I found the engineering challenge of this construction method to be a lot of fun, but you could also just knit it as a tube (casting on twice as many stitches as I did) and sew up the ends by hand when the knitting is done. Either way you’ve got a useful and pretty addition to your kitchen, whether you work it in a solid color, stripes or as a stash busting project will all your cotton odd balls.

You can grab the pattern over at Our Daily Craft, or check it out on Ravelry.

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