When it's really cold outside, you don't want to mess around with a short or skimpy scarf. You need a scarf that will really keep you warm, a big, warm, wooly scarf.
It doesn't hurt when that scarf also looks good and is quick and easy to knit. That's what the basketweave scarf is all about.
Basketweave is an easy stitch pattern with many variations that combines knits and purls into a fabric that looks woven. This basketweave pattern is based on a simple eight-row repeat.
- about 200 yards of super-bulky wool or wool-blend (I used two skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Fisherman)
- size 13 needles
- scissors
- crochet hook or tapestry needle
Size
Finished scarf is 60 inches long and almost eight inches wide. Gauge is not critical.
- Cast on 19 stitches using your favorite method.
- Knit in the following pattern:
- Row one: Knit across.
- Row two: Knit four, purl three, knit five, purl three, knit four.
- Row three: Purl four, knit three, purl five, knit three, purl four.
- Row four: Repeat row two.
- Row five: Knit across.
- Row six: Purl three, knit five, purl three, knit five, purl three.
- Row seven: Knit three, purl five, knit three, purl five, knit three.
- Row eight: Repeat row six.
- Repeat pattern to desired length or 60 inches.
- Bind off.
- Cut excess yarn if needed and weave in ends.
Basketweave is a lovely stitch pattern, but it is not reversible. That means this scarf has an obvious front and back that aren't the same. The back isn't ugly by any means--it has an interesting pattern of raised squares that would make a nice scarf in its own right.
If you like the look of a scarf that looks the same front and back, don't make this pattern. Otherwise, it is a fun pattern that's easy to work and very satisfying in how quickly it knits up. Just one pattern repeat will give you about two and a half inches of scarf and takes 10 minutes or less to knit.
