How to Finish Off a Tapered Yarn Scarf
Basic knit scarf patterns are simply long rectangles, providing an ideal opportunity for beginning knitters to practice the knit stitch -- without having to understand decreasing and increasing the number of stitches in each row. If you have surpassed this step in learning to knit and would like to practice increasing and decreasing stitches, creating a tapered yarn scarf is a good option. Tapered yarn scarves end in a point, at which you can affix pom poms, fringe or other embellishments.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 pair of size 8 straight knitting needles
- 1 skein of worsted-weight yarn
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Instructions
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1
Cast on 10 stitches loosely. If you cast on too tightly, the beginning end of your scarf will pucker and not match the finished end in width.
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2
Knit one stitch. To simulate tapering on the beginning end of your scarf, you will increase the number of stitches on this end. In the next stitch, knit in both the front and back of the stitch. Continue knitting the rest of the row, stopping when there are only two stitches on the left needle. Knit in both the front and back of this stitch, and then knit the last stitch.
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3
Turn your work. By knitting in both the front and back of two stitches in the previous row, you have increased the number of stitches in the row by two, resulting in 12 stitches in the row. Knit all stitches in this next row.
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4
Repeat step 2 to increase the number of stitches again. Then knit all stitches in the following row. Continue knitting in this way, alternating an increase row with a static row, until the scarf is as wide as you prefer. Stop knitting increase rows at this point and knit each row until the scarf is as long as you like it.
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5
Begin tapering the end of your scarf by knitting every other row as a decrease row. Knit one stitch, decrease one stitch by slipping the next two stitches onto the right needle as if to knit, and then knitting both of these stitches together through the back loop. Knit the rest of the row until there are three stitches on the left needle. Knit the next two stitches together by inserting the right needle into both at the same time and pulling the working yarn through both. Knit the last stitch in the row. You have decreased the number of stitches in the row by two. Turn your work and knit each stitch in the next row.
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6
Alternate knitting decrease rows with static rows until you have 10 stitches on the needle. Cast off all stitches loosely. Cut the yarn and weave in loose ends.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
