Knit a Simple Scarf with Knits and Purls

The other day I was talking about how much I love knitting because you can do so much with a few basic techniques, and how it can be used to make things dramatically detailed or basic but ever so useful.

This one falls in that second category. The Yarrow Scarf from Mirella Moments is made with just knits and purls, so it’s a great project for a newer knitter. But the simple switch up from solid garter stitch makes this project look interesting and can hold the attention of more experienced knitters looking for a fast and easy project.

The scarf is worked with DK weight yarn (though you could also use worsted and either cast on fewer stitches or just make a wider scarf; you’ll need multiples of four plus one stitches if you want to change the stitch count) and has a two row repeat.

Because the scarf is still mostly knit, it won’t curl up on the edges and should keep you nice and warm, whatever weight of yarn you want to use.

This stitch pattern is so simple I don’t think there’s even a name for it (at least not in the first volume of Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns), but it does serve as a good reminder that there are a lot of different simple stitch patterns than can be done with just knits and purls, whether that’s ribbing or moss and seed stitch (do you know the difference?), broken rib or simple chevron designs to name just a few.

Do you have a favorite simple combination of knit and purl stitches? I’d love to hear about it! I think my favorite might be seed stitch, but if you ask me again tomorrow I’ll probably give you a different answer!

[Photo: Mirella Moments]

Next Pattern:

There’s just something about stripey socks that makes me smile. It’s not really any more difficult to knit socks with stripes as it is to work in a single color, but for me, the payoff is pretty big in terms of added cuteness. Let’s take a peek at some fun striped socks you can knit.

I have to start with the Rainbow Panda Socks from Sheila Toy Stromberg because I was one of her test knitters and these socks are delightful. Not only do they have stripes on the toe and the leg above the ankle, they also include duplicate stitch panda faces on the backs of the legs and ears you knit into the bind off at the top. They are so cute and fun to make and sized for everyone from infants to adult XL, so you’ve got no excuse not to knit them for everyone you know. Get the pattern on Ravelry.

Those socks are totally ’80s in their coloring, but if you want to step back to the ’70s, try Jeff’s Groovy Socks by Anne Vally. These athletic style socks have a ribbed body and stripes of two contrasting colors on the leg and you can pick one (or both) of the contrasting colors to use for your heels and toes. These come in three sizes for different widths, and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

If you’d rather have allover stripes, check out the Easy Striped Socks pattern from Knitgrammer on Etsy. These sweet socks can be worked toe up or top down using whatever needle configuration you prefer. Either way you can make a custom fit sock, but toe up makes it a lot easier to fit your foot (without swatching!).

Add a little more color while maintaining allover stripes with the Hunky Guy sock from Long Beach Designs, which adds a contrasting color for the cuff, heel and toe. These are worked in worsted weight yarn for great hiking socks, and despite the name the pattern says it’s sized for adults and teens.

Summer Lee’s sock patterns are synonymous with happy to me, and her Classic Ribbed Socks are a great example of that. They use three colors and I love the bold red and white, which makes them look perfect for spring. And they come in five sizes.

If you want to add even more colors to your socks (or use a colorful self-striping yarn) try the Collection of Columns socks from Nancy Wheeler (on Ravelry). This one is a pretty standard sock with six different charts for “columns” of stitch patterns you can add to make the knitting a bit more fun. There are mock cables, textured stitches and eyelet options, and the sock pattern comes in three sizes.

And we can’t talk about stripes without adding some rainbow stripes, so be sure to check out the Happy Friends Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry from Monika Soltysik. These fun socks use crocodile stitch worked flat for the cuff, which is then joined in the round to knit the body of the sock with two-round stripes. Use any leftover yarns if you don’t have rainbow colors handy.

The Perfect Socks to Knit for Fall

Knit Socks on a Circular Knitting Machine

Learn to Knit Socks with this Easy Ribbed Sock Pattern

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