Want to Knit an Easy Scarf in a Weekend?

You can knit this lovely little scarf, even if you're a total newbie!

The other day I was looking for something to knit with one skein of gorgeous hand-dyed yarn. Something that would really let the yummy variegated colors of the yarn shine.

Then I found this One-Row Scarf on the  Yarn Harlot's blog site and I was intrigued. Stephanie knit it in hand spun fiber, which is lovely. But having no hand spun fiber and not possessing the tools or ability to spin any myself... my mind immediately went to the delicious hand-dyed yarn I have in the shop. I knew it would be so beautiful in some Dream In Color fiber. And besides, this simple elegant pattern ticked so many of the elements I look for in knitting projects.

Easy, check. Unique, check. Really attractive, check. And last but not least - useful, check. It's completely reversible, it looks exactly the same on both sides! And, you can knit one up with just one dreamy skein of  Dream In Color's hand-dyed fiber.

Be serious, I'm just a beginner, how easy is this really?

Here's all you need to know:

• How to cast on
• How to make a knit stitch
• How to make a purl stitch
• How to knit into the back of a knit stitch loop

It's ok if you don't yet know how to knit into the back of a knit stitch loop, here's a tutorial.

What if I'm more experienced?

That's the beauty of this scarf - it's so attractive that you'll want one for yourself or for a friend. It's so easy that you can use a lovely, very special skein of hand-dyed yarn and whip one up in a few hours. The feeling of this scarf wrapped around your neck is one you just have to experience to believe!

And since I always have several projects in the works at a time, I love to have one "palate cleanser" going along with the more complex projects. There are times I don't want to think, I just want my hands to feel the rhythm and enjoy the moment when my brain relaxes into a blissful knitting trance!

So now you're wanting to know how I made the scarf, here is the pattern adapted from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee:

Yarn: Light worsted weight. I used this really scrumptious hand-dyed yarn.

Needles: US 8 (straight are fine, I used 16" circular since I knit everything on circulars)

Gauge: I got 28 stitches + 29 rows to 4" in pattern, however, another big plus about this design - the gauge is not essential.

Size: Mine is about 5 inches wide, and 57 inches long. I used up the entire skein of Classy Merino. If you want your longer or wider, use two skeins!

Start: Cast on 32 stitches (to make it wider or narrower add or remove stitches in groups of 4 )

Row 1: *Knit 2, knit into the back of the next stitch, purl 1. Repeat from * until there are 2 stitches left. Knit 2.

Repeat that row, every row, until your yarn runs out or it's the size you want!

Cast off - I cast off by loosely knitting the knit stitches and purling the purls.

Voila c'est magnifique! 

You can gift it if you can bear to part with it. However be warned - if you do, you might be compelled to make another for yourself!

PS - It would be lovely with a few tassels on the ends but I got carried away and knit up the entire skein... oh well, next time.