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KnittingDK (Double Knitting)
Terminology
Cosy Garter Stitch Scarf
The perfect first scarf — worked entirely in garter stitch, so there is nothing to do but knit every row. Soft, squishy and warm.
Yarn needed
3 x 100g balls
~270g · ~800 metres
Time
A few evenings
Absolute BeginnerFinished size
Approx. 20cm wide x 150cm long
What you'll need
- 3 x 100g balls of DK yarn (one colour, or mix two for stripes)
- A pair of 4mm (UK 8 / US 6) knitting needles
- A wool/darning needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
Tension: Tension is not critical for a scarf. Roughly 22 stitches and 44 rows to 10cm in garter stitch on 4mm needles.
Abbreviations
kknit
st(s)stitch(es)
cast oncreate your starting stitches on the needle
cast offfinish and secure your stitches (also called bind off)
Step-by-step instructions
1. Cast on
- 1Cast on 44 stitches using 4mm needles. This gives a scarf around 20cm wide — cast on more or fewer stitches (in multiples of 2) to make it wider or narrower.
2. Knit every row
- 1Knit every single stitch of every row. This is garter stitch — it creates the lovely ridged, stretchy fabric.
- 2Keep going until your scarf measures about 150cm, or until you have almost used all your yarn (leave enough to cast off — about 1 metre).
- 3For a striped scarf, simply change colour at the start of a row every 10-20 rows.
3. Cast off and finish
- 1Cast off all stitches loosely so the end does not pull in.
- 2Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm tail, thread it through the last stitch and pull tight.
- 3Use the wool needle to weave all loose ends into the fabric, then trim. Add a tassel fringe to each end if you like.
Top tip: Struggling with uneven edges? Give the first stitch of every row a gentle tug — a neat selvedge comes with practice.