Pioneer Braid Scarf

Specifications:  As written, requires approximately 300 yards (272 m) of worsted weight yarn (approximately 20 stitches per 4 inches/20 cm in stockinette stitch) to make a scarf 5 1/2 by 63 inches (14 x 160 cm)

Gauge in pattern stitch (garter stitch) : 18 stitches per 4 inches/20 cm.  Gauge is not critical.

Pattern gives suggestions for adapting to lighter or heavier weight yarns.

Scarf shown below is knit in Twisted Fiber Art (www.twistedfiberart.com) Lotus yarn, a limited edition colorway, “Fortune”.  Any hand-dyed yarn is likely to work well.

Base triangle:

Cast on one stitch by any method.

Increase by knitting into front and back (kf&b) of stitch.  (2 stitches)

Kf&b, k. (3 stitches)

Kf&b into first stitch, k to end of row.

Repeat last row (Kf&b, k to end of row) until 36 stitches are on the needle.*

This completes the base triangle and won’t be knit again.

Set-up for Braid Sections:

Kf&b into first stitch, then SSK (slip one stitch as to knit, slip a second stitch as to knit, knit two slipped stitches together).  [If desired, you can substitute (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) for SSK.] Turn work and knit back to end of row.

Kf&b into first stitch, k1, then SSK.  Turn work and knit back to end of row.

Kf&b into first stitch, k2, SSK.  Turn work and knit back to end of row.  Notice you are always performing the SSK ‘across the gap’ between the new knitting and the old knitting.

Continue in this manner, knitting until there is one stitch left before ‘the gap’, then SSK, then turning the work and knitting back, UNTIL at the BEGINNING of the row as you are ready to start knitting, there are 24 stitches (2/3 of the total stitches) before ‘the gap’ and 12 stitches (1/3 of the total) after ‘the gap’.

For this last row, knit as usual to one stitch before the gap (kf&b, k 22 assuming 36 stitches as written), SSK, but now continue knitting forward to the end of the row instead of turning the work (k11, or 1/3 of the stitches minus 1).

Braid Sections (you will repeat this section until the scarf is desired length)

Turn work, ready to begin on the other side.  There is no right or wrong side to this pattern as such.

Kf&b, k10 (because of the kf&b, there will actually be 12 stitches, 1/3 of the total number, on the right needle at this point, which is how I remember what to do next.   12 is the magic number for this scarf at worsted weight!).  SSK and TURN work, knit back.

Now resume as previous:

Kf&b, knit to one stitch before ‘the gap’, SSK, turn work, knit back to end of row.

Continue in this manner, knitting until there is one stitch left before the gap, then SSK, then turning the work and knitting back, UNTIL at the BEGINNING of the row as you are ready to start knitting, there are 24 stitches (2/3 of the total stitches) before ‘the gap’ and 12 stitches (1/3 of the total) after ‘the gap’.

For this last row of the section, knit as usual to one stitch before the gap (kf&b, k 22 assuming 36 stitches as written), SSK, but now continue knitting FORWARD to the end of the row instead of turning the work (k11 or 1/3 of the stitches minus one).   Now begin another braid section as above.

TO END:

When scarf is approximately desired length, start a new braid section in the usual way.  However, knit only six repeats (1/6 the number of stitches) of  *Kf&b, knit to one stitch before ‘the gap’, SSK, turn work, knit back to end of row*.  After doing this, you should have 18 stitches (1/2 the total number of stitches) on each needle at the beginning of the row.

Now, *SSK (decrease instead of increase on first stitch), k to one stitch before the gap, SSK, turn work and knit back to end of row*. (34 stitches remain, 17 on each needle: 1/2 the original number of stitches minus one on each needle).

Repeat between * and * above until 6 stitches remain, 3 on each needle at the beginning of the row.

SSK,  SSK, turn, k2. (4 stitches remain)

Slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over; k1, turn. (2 stitches remain)

K2tog. Break yarn, pull through single remaining stitch.  Weave in ends.

Scarf will benefit from gentle steam blocking.

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*To modify scarf for heavier or lighter yarn, or for a different size:

Knit first triangle until either side of the triangle (not the side on the needles) measures approximately the desired width of the scarf, and at the same time the number of stitches on the needles is a multiple of 6. (such as 30, 42, etc.) Follow the pattern as written, except where the pattern states a number of stitches followed by a specification such as “(2/3 the stitches)”, substitute the appropriate number for your total number of stitches.

Copyright 2008 Catherine Ryan, Hither and Yarn.  All rights reserved.  Permission granted for personal use or for benefit of charity.  Neither this pattern nor items made from it may be sold for personal profit. 

Revised with minor correction 9/13/2010.