The Design

This pattern takes linen stitch and throws it for a loop—literally! Worked in the round, this beloved stitch becomes just a little easier! For this Linen Stitch Scarf, we simply work the same two stitches over and over, always working on the right side. Then, we get a little adventurous. Using a spot of stockinette stitch as a guideline, or ‘steek’, we cut the loop into a fringed scarf! Of course, you can also leave the piece as a stylish loop if you like. Our pattern walks you through both the scarf and loop, along with instructions for two different edges and for a three-color or two-color version. Plenty of options to mix things up!

We love how the linen stitch texture looks woven—and how it tends to ‘pixelate’ variegated yarns. For this scarf, we picked three colors of Madelinetosh’s hand-dyed Tosh Merino Light! This 100% superwash merino wool is ethically sourced in South Africa, then spun into a single-ply, fingering-weight yarn. It then travels to Texas where it is dyed by hand. Whether the variegations are subtly tonal, with gentle specks, or a little more lively, each skein is a work of art.

The Details

FINISHED SIZE
Approx. 11 x 77"/28 x 196cm without fringe, after blocking.

YARN
Yardage given for I-cord edging.

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

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.

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