Monday, October 13, 2008

Heelhead Scarf

While brain-storming ways to add a hood to a scarf, I had an epiphany. Why not use short-rows to make the scarf flare out for the hood and then narrow again afterward? Like the heel of a sock, but for your head. Brilliant! It shall be done.

Now available as a free pdf!
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Materials:
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted [20% wool, 80% acrylic; 197yds/180m per 3oz/85g skein]; three skeins in color of your choice
[Sample was knit with three skeins of 107 Blue Heather]
Pair of US #9/5.5mm straight needles or one circular needle
Two stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Finished Measurements:
Scarf Length = 45in/114cm
Scarf Width = 4in/10cm
Hood Width = 13in/33cm at widest point, 6in/15cm at top

Gauge:
17 sts/24 rows = 4in/10cm in stockinette stitch

Click here for Abbreviations

Special Abbreviations:
s2sk = sl2 tog as if to knit, sl1 as if to knit, k3tog tbl = insert right needle into next 2 stitches as if to knit them together, but just slip them to right needle, insert right needle into next stitch as if to knit, but just slip it to right needle, insert left needle from left to right through all three stitches and knit all together through back loop
m1L = make 1 left-leaning = insert left needle from front to back under bar between next two stitches and knit it through back loop
m1R = make 1 right-leaning = insert left needle from back to front under bar between next two stitches and knit it
m1Lp = make 1 left-leaning = insert left needle from front to back under bar between next two stitches and purl it through back loop
m1Rp = make 1 right-leaning = insert left needle from back to front under bar between next two stitches and purl it

Pattern:
First Tail:
CO 23 sts.
Rows 1-5, 7, 9: sl1, p21, k1.
Rows 6, 8: sl1, p4, k4, p5, k4, p4, k1.
Row 10: sl1, p4, FC4, p5, BC4, p4, k1.
Repeat Rows 5-10 49 more times, or until scarf reaches from shoulder to desired length. Repeat Rows 5-7 once more.

Increase Rows:
Row 1: sl1, p4, k4, m1Lp, p5, m1Rp, k4, p4, k1 - 25 sts.
Even Rows: sl1, p to last st, k1.
Row 3: sl1, p4, FC4, m1Lp, p7, m1Rp, BC4, p4, k1 - 27 sts.
Row 5: sl1, p4, k4, m1Lp, p4, pm, k1, pm, p4, m1Rp, k4, p4, k1 - 29 sts.
Rows 7, 11: sl1, p4, k4, p5, sm, m1L, k to next marker, m1R, sm, p5, k4, p4, k1 - 2 sts inc'd each time.
Row 9: sl1, p4, FC4, p5, sm, m1L, k to next marker, m1R, sm, p5, BC4, p4, k1 - 2 sts inc'd each time.
Repeat Rows 7-12 until there are 75 sts total, ending after Row 10.

Decreasing Short-Rows:
Row 1: sl1, p4, k4, p5, sm, k46, turn.
Row 2: yo-b, p45, turn.
Row 3: yo, k44, turn.
Row 4: yo-b, p43, turn.
Row 5: yo, k42, turn.
Row 6: yo-b, p41, turn.
Row 7: yo, k40, turn.
Row 8: yo-b, p39, turn.
Continue in this manner, knitting/purling one fewer st each row, until...
Row 21: yo, k26, turn.
Row 22: yo-b, p25, turn.

Increasing Short-Rows:
Row 1: yo, k25, am, k2tog, turn.
Row 2: yo-b, p26, ssp, turn.
Row 3: yo, k27, am2, k3tog, turn.
Row 4: yo-b, p28, sssp, turn.
Row 5: yo, k29, am2, k3tog, turn.
Row 6: yo-b, p30, sssp, turn.
Row 7: yo, k31, am2, k3tog, turn.
Row 8: yo-b, p32, sssp, turn.
Continue in this manner, knitting/purling one more st each row, until...
Row 21: yo, k45, am2, k3tog, turn.
Row 22: yo-b, p46, sssp, turn.
Row 23: yo, k47, am, p2tog, (remove marker & replace before p2tog), p4, k4, p4. k1.
Row 24: sl1, p to 1 st before second marker, ssp (remove marker & replace before ssp), p to last st, k1.
You should now have only 75 sts again.

Decrease Rows:
Row 1, 5: sl1, p4, k4, p5, sm, k2tog, k to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, sm, p5, k4, p4, k1 - 2 sts dec'd each time.
Even Rows: sl1, p to last st, k1.
Row 3: sl1, p4, FC4, p5, sm, k2tog, k to 2 sts before next marker, ssk, sm, p5, BC4, p4, k1 - 2 sts dec'd each time.
Repeat Rows 1-6 until there are 31 sts remaining, ending after Row 2.
Row 45: sl1, p4, FC4, p5, remove marker, s2sk, p5, BC4, p4, k1 - 29 sts.
Even Rows, 46-52: sl1, p to last st, k1.
Row 47:sl1, p4, k4, p2tog, p7, ssp, k4, p4, k1 - 27 sts.
Row 49: sl1, p4, k4, p2tog, p5, ssp, k4, p4, k1 - 25 sts.
Row 51: sl1, p4, FC4, p2tog, p3, ssp, BC4, p4, k1 - 23 sts.

Second Tail:
Rows 1, 3: sl1, p4, k4, p5, k4, p4, k1.
Even Rows: sl1, p to last st, k1.
Row 5: sl1, p4, FC4, p5, BC4, p4, k1.
Repeat Rows 1-6 49 more times, or until scarf reaches same length as first tail.
Repeat Rows 1-2 once more.
Repeat Row 2 three more times.
BO all sts and cut yarn. Weave in ends. Block if desired.
Modification Ideas:
- Add fringe
- Exchange the simple cable for a more intricate design
- For a pointy-er hood, work more short-rows; for a less pointy hood, work fewer short-rows
- Add a pom-pom on the top of the hood
- Make the tails shorter, tie them together, turn it upside down and you've got a shoulder bag

Feel free to comment here with questions.

This pattern is intended for personal use only. Please do not try to sell it or any product made from it. Thank you.