The Design

We delight in the texture and color-blending brilliance of linen stitch. Worked in the round, this beloved stitch becomes just a little easier! For this Linen Stitch Scarf & Loop, we simply work the same two stitches over and over, always working on the right side of the fabric. We can choose to get a little adventurous —using a spot of stockinette stitch as a guideline, or ‘steek’, we cut a longer loop into a fringed scarf! Of course, we can also choose to knit a stylish loop. Our pattern walks through both the scarf and loop, along with instructions for two different edgings and for three-color or two-color versions. Plenty of options to mix things up!

We chose to knit versions of the Linen Stitch Scarf & Loop in two wonderful, hand-dyed fingering-weight yarns—Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light and Manos Alegría. We love to see how this stitch’s woven texture ‘pixelates’ and blends the stunning colorways!

This 4 page pattern includes:

• Color photography by Laura Gehring
• Special Techniques
• Provisional Cast-on: Crocheted Over Needle
• Tips for choosing and alternating colors
• Guidelines on cutting and unraveling fringe for scarf version
• Instructions for finishing and blocking your piece

See more linen stitch projects!

The Details

FINISHED SIZES
Scarf: Approx. 11 x 77"/28 x 196cm without fringe, after blocking.
Loop: Approx. 49½"/126cm around x 9½"/24cm deep, after blocking.

YARN
Details given for scarf; loop in parentheses ( ). If one number is given, it applies to both. Yardage given for I-cord edging; for welted edging add approx. 80 (55) yds/73 (50)m in Color A.

Use a fingering-weight hand-dyed yarn as follows:

3-Color Versions: Approx. 420 (210) yds/384 (192)m in Color A and 380 (185) yds/347 (169)m each in Colors B and C.

3-color Scarf shown with I-cord edgings in 3 skeins Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (420 yds/384m each): 1 skein each in variegated Colors A = Bittersweet, B = Newshire, and C = Dried But Not Forgotten.

2-Color Versions: Approx. 655 (300) yds/599 (274)m in Color A and 615 (275) yds/562 (251)m in Color B.

2-color Loop, shown with welted edgings in 2 skeins Manos Alegría (445 yds/405m each): 1 skein each in solid Color A = 2530 Nickel and variegated Color B = 9010 Manglar.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 6 (4mm) 24–32"/60–80cm circular needle, or size to obtain gauge.
12 (7) stitch markers, one contrasting for beginning of round.
Blocking wires and/or fork blocking pins.
Darning needle to finish.

I-cord edging: US G/6 (4mm) crochet hook, smooth fingering-weight waste yarn, and locking marker for provisional cast-on.
US 5 (3.75mm) needle, or one size smaller than gauge needle for bind-off.

Welted edging: US 3 (3.25mm) 24–32"/60–80cm circular needle, or three sizes smaller than gauge needle.

GAUGE
Approx. 28 sts = 4"/10cm in linen stitch, after blocking.