Checker Board Scarf

Believe it or not, there is still time to knit a scarf for a Christmas gift… or, be self indulgent like me  😉 and knit one for yourself to help keep you toasty warm over the winter months. This scarf is an easy pattern to knit, suitable for beginners that know how to knit and purl. It is a basic checkerboard pattern, with blocks made up of 4 stitches and rows. It matches our Checkerboard Mitten (coming soon) pattern. It would look lovely made up in soft wools. I, unfortunately, am allergic to wool, so I made mine out of an acrylic. This scarf is best knit with solid yard. Patterned and self striping yarn would camouflage the pattern. Whether you make the scarf and mittens or just the scarf, it’s sure to keep you warm!

Checkerboard Scarf
(Finished length: approximately 74”)

2 skeins (5oz – 140g – 256yd – 234m) worsted weight (4) yard
(I used Red Heart – Soft Yarn – Color 9770 – Rose Blush)
#8 knitting needles
Tapestry needle

Size:
Finished scarf is 74 inches long and 7 ½” inches wide. Gauge is not critical. (NOTE: Make the scarf as long or as short as you want. 60” is often considered a good scarf length but I wanted the scarf to wrap around my neck and still offer chest warmth so I made mine longer than many.)

Instructions:
Cast on 38 stitches.

Rib (38 stitches)
Row 1: (K2, P2) repeat across row ending with K2.
Row 2: (P2, K2) repeat across row ending with P2.
Rows 3, 5, 7, and 9: repeat Row 1.
Rows 4, 6, and 8: repeat Row 2.
Row 10: repeat Row 2 adding 2 stitches evenly spaced across row. (40 stitches)

Scarf Body (40 stitches)
Rows 1 – 4: (K4, P4) 5 times across row.
Rows 5 – 8: (P4, K4) 5 times across row.
Repeat these 8 rows until scarf measures 72” or 2” less than desired length. (NOTE: End with a row 4 or Row 8, decreasing 2 stitches evenly spaced across row. (38 stitches)

Rib (38 stitches)
Row 1: (K2, P2) repeat across row ending with K2.
Row 2: (P2, K2) repeat across row ending with P2
Rows 3, 5, 7, and 9: repeat Row 1
Rows 4, 6, 8, and 10: repeat Row 2
Bind off.