How to Knit Scarves in the Round

A long, circular-knit scarf is very warm.

A good scarf is reversible; that is, it looks the same on both sides, or is at least presentable on both sides. This poses a bit of a problem if you like stockinette stitch, where one side is the smooth, knitted side and the other side is purl bumps. The scarf has a wrong side, and the knitting won't lie flat. But there is a solution: knit the scarf in the round so the purl side is hidden on the inside. The scarf lies flat, and it is a very warm scarf, as it has a double layer of knitting. It can also be worn as a stocking cap.

Things You'll Need

• 16-inch circular knitting needle, size 3 or 4
• Fingering or DK weight knitting yarn
• Yarn darning needle

Instructions

1. Plan your scarf first. If you plan to put any color patterns in it, for an even warmer scarf with 2 colors per row, count the number of stitches in each repeat of the pattern. Plan to cast on an even multiple of that number, somewhere between 100 and 150 stitches. For example; if the pattern has 12 stitches per repeat, cast on 144 stitches, or 12 repeats of the pattern.

2. Cast on the number of stitches you need for your pattern and join the knitting into a circle, being careful not to twist the cast on edge. Before you join, check that the cast-on bumps are all on the same side of the circular needle. Join, and place a marker where you joined. Knit a few rows plain, then begin to insert your color patterns if desired.

3. Continue to knit in the round, alternating plain areas of knitting with color patterns. Continue to knit until the scarf is the desired length. Now, begin to decrease for the "toe" of the scarf.

4. Place another marker exactly half-way around the knitted circle opposite the first marker. On the next round, at the beginning of the round, knit 2, then slip the next stitch to the right needle without knitting it. Slip the following stitch as well. Insert the left needle into the fronts of the two slipped stitches and knit them together. This is a left-leaning decrease called slip, slip, knit, or SSK in knitted abbreviations. Continue knitting around until you are 4 stitches from the marker. Knit 2 stitches together, knit 2.

5. Slip the marker to the right needle. Knit 2 stitches, and make another slip, slip, knit. Knit to 4 stitches before the first marker. Knit 2 together, knit 2. Knit the next round plain. Continue in this manner, decreasing by 4 stitches every other row right before and after the markers. In effect, you are making a giant sock toe. Continue decreasing every other row until you have 50 stitches left. Now you will graft, or weave, the remaining stitches together.

6. Get out another circular needle and put half the stitches on one of the needles and half on the other. Divide the stitches so all the stitches between the 2 markers are on one needle, and all the other stitches are on the other. Break off the yarn, leaving at least 20 inches. Thread the yarn needle. One knitting needle is the front needle (closest to you) and the other is the back needle.

7. Pull the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle, inserting it as if to knit. Take it off the needle. Insert the yarn needle into the second stitch on the front needle, as if to purl. Pull it through, but don't take the stitch off. Take the yarn needle to the back needle and insert it in the first stitch on the back needle, as if to purl. Pull that stitch off. Insert it into the second stitch on the back needle as if to knit, pull the yarn through, and leave the stitch on. Continue in this manner across all the stitches until they are all grafted together.

Tips & Warnings

• One end of the circular scarf is now open, and the other end is grafted together. You can turn the cast on edge to the inside and hem it, thereby making that end into a useful cap that you can wear on your head, while the rest of the scarf is wrapped around your head and neck. Or you can sew the open end closed.

References

• Kathryn's Favorite Knitting Patterns: Long Scarf Knitted in the Round
• "Knitting Without Tears"; Elizabeth Zimmerman; 1971