SORCERESS SCARF

 

Sorceress is a stylish triangular scarf/baktus/shawl, modern and warm. Rows of Herringbone Stitch create beautifully textured dense fabric, that looks nice from both sides.

Scarf is knitted from corner to corner in a shape of an isosceles triangle. Tassels at the ends add a bit of spice to the overall look.

This pattern can be used as a base for experiments, as neither yarn weight nor gauge is critical. It can both unravel the beauty of hand-dyed yarn and make an unusual garment out of a solid-colored skein.

Step-by-step photos on how to knit the herringbone stitch are included in the pattern. There are also two video tutorial for RS and for WS on my Instagram page.

 
 
 

YARN

  • 3 skeins of Malabrigo Rios (100% merino wool, 3.5 oz./100g, 209 yd/192 m) in color Purpuras

  • Any other yarn in worsted weight will work fine. The pattern can be modified for another yarn weight and yardage.

NEEDLES

  • US10/6.0mm needles (can be 1-2 sizes up depending on knitting tension)

  • For any other yarn: use needles at least two sizes up from stated on the label to keep fabric not too dense

NOTIONS

  • Scissors
  • A piece of cardboard for tassels

  • Tapestry needle

GAUGE

  • 26 sts and 18 rows in 4”/10cm in Herringbone Stitch, blocked

  • Can be changed to fit the desired yarn

FINISHED SIZE

  • 73”/185cm long +tassels

  • 18”/45cm in the widest part
 
 

Notes

  • The scarf is knitted from the left corner to the middle (with increases at the end of every WS row), and from the middle to the right corner (with decreases at the beginning of every RS row). Defined angle in the widest part of the scarf is obtained by changing the number of these increases and decreases.

  • The neat edge of the scarf is created by slipping the first stitch of every row. On RS every first st is slipped as if to knit wyib. On WS, every first st is slipped as if to purl wyif.

  • Row count is included in the pattern, but is not crucial, and can be changed depending on the yarn/gauge/desired size of a scarf.

  • For color-changing yarn: if hand-dyed yarn is used, slight color difference will appear with the change of every skein. To make this less noticeable, knit several rows while alternating yarn from the two skeins. When there is appr. 10% left of a skein, k2 rows with the new skein, then switch back to the old skein for next 2 rows. Repeat this step once more (there’s no need to cut yarn when switching, just leave it at the beginning of the row and pick up when its turn comes). If solid-colored yarn is used (or if color difference is not critical), these directions have to be ignored.

  • Step-by-step photos on how to knit the herringbone stitch are included in the pattern. There are also two video tutorials for R and or W  on my Instagram page.

  • Save yarn for tassels in advance: 2 tassels require approximately 26ft (8m). Here is the Tassel Tutorial.

 

Pattern

 

SET UP

Cast on 4 sts.

  • R0 (WS): p4.
  • R1 (RS): sl1wyib:
 

k2tog tbl:

 

and slip only the first stitch off the left needle, leaving the second stitch on the needle:

 

Do this once more: k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on the left needle; k1tbl.

  • R2 (WS): sl1wyif:
 

p2tog:

 

and slip only the first stitch off the left needle, leaving the second stitch on the needle:

 

Do this once more: p2tog, leaving 1st on the left needle (l.n.); p1.  

R3 (RS) as R1: sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) twice, k1tbl
R4 (WS) as R2: sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) twice, p1
R5 (RS) as R3
R6 (WS) as R4

ROW COUNT

Rows 0-6: Set Up, no increases
Rows 7-24: 1 increase in each WS row
Rows 24-96: alternating 1 and 2 increases in every other WS row
Rows 97-150: 2 increases in each WS row
Rows 151-152: middle rows
Rows 153-206: 2 decreases in each RS row
Rows 207-278: alternating 1 and 2 decreases in every other RS row
Rows 279-296: 1 decrease in each RS row
Rows 297-302: final rows, no decreases

BODY OF A SCARF

R7 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl
R8 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, yo, p1  (5sts)
Repeat these two rows 8 more times until there are 13sts on the needle:
R9-23 (RS): as R7
R10-24 (WS): as R8  (13sts)

From Row 25 start alternating 1 and 2 increases in every other WS row:
R25 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl
R26 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 2sts, yo; p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.; yo, p1  (15sts)
R27 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl
R28 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, yo, p1  (16sts)
R29-96: repeat these four rows 17 more times until there are 67sts on the needle. (67sts)

From Row 97 make 2 increases in each WS row:
R97 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl
R98 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 2sts, yo; p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.; yo, p1  (69sts)
R99-150: repeat these two rows 26 more times until there are 121sts on the needle. (121sts)

Middle of the scarf:
R151 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl
R152 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, p1  (121sts)

From Row 153 make 2 decreases in each RS row:
R153 (RS): sl1wyib, k2tog tbl, k2tog tbl, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl (119sts)
R154 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, p1  
R155-206: repeat these two rows 26 more times until there are 67sts on the needle. (67sts)

From Row 207 start alternating 1 and 2 decreases in every other RS row:
R207 (RS): sl1wyib, k2tog tbl, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl (66sts)
R208 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, p1
R209 (RS): sl1wyib, k2tog tbl, k2tog tbl, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl  (64sts)
R210 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, p1
R211-278: repeat these four rows 17 more times until there are 13sts on the needle. (13sts)

From Row 279 make 1 decrease in each RS row:
R279 (RS): sl1wyib, k2tog tbl, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, k1tbl (12sts)
R280 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) until last 1st, p1  
R281-296: repeat these two rows 8 more times until there are 4sts on the needle. (4sts)

Final rows are knitted without decreases:
R297 (RS): sl1wyib, (k2tog tbl, leaving 1st on l.n.) twice, k1tbl
R298 (WS): sl1wyif, (p2tog, leaving 1st on l.n.) twice, p1
R 299-302: repeat these two rows 2 more times. (4sts)


FINISHING

Bind off:
R303 (RS): (k2tog tbl, slip obtained st back to left needle) until 1 st is left.
Cut yarn leaving appr.8”(20cm) tail and pull it through the loop of last stitch.
Make 2 tassels appr. 3.5”(9cm) long: Tassel Tutorial.
Secure them with the ends of working yarn at the beginning and end of the scarf.
Weave in ends.
Wash the scarf in luke-warm water and block it into shape.

 
 

This pattern has a page on Ravelry where you can get more inspiration and share your finished knits: