The Reversible Winter Chill Checkerboard Scarf is a generously-sized, cozy accessory that seamlessly blends marled seed stitch with double-knit checkerboards, ensuring versatility in winter wear. Inspired by Anna Maltz’s innovative “marlisle” technique, this scarf utilizes double knitting to achieve a reversible design. To add a playful touch, the scarf is adorned with two-color fringe, enhancing its decorative appeal and making it a stylish and functional addition to any cold-weather wardrobe.
Time: Weekend Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 7” [18 cm] width x 72” [183 cm] length (excluding fringe)
Gauge: 12 sts and 22 rows = 4” [10 cm] in marled seed st
Materials
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy Bonus Bundle (100% Acrylic; 681 yards [623 meters] / 14.5 ounces [410 grams]): 104N Blush (MC 1 ball), 102W (CC 1 ball)
Needles: US size 11 [8.0 mm] needles
Notions: Tapestry needle, crochet hook (for attaching fringe)
Special Stitches
The seed stitch background fabric and selvedge edge stitches are always worked with the MC and CC yarns held together.
To transition from the marled seed stitch into the double-knit colorwork motif, treat each loop of yarn in the stitch on the left needle as though it were 1 stitch of a double-knitting stitch pair; work into the MC loop with the MC yarn by itself, and work into the CC loop with the CC yarn by itself.
Work the double knitting as described in the chart key. Each box of the chart represents 1 stitch pair. Knit and purl each stitch pair as indicated by the charted colorwork motif. Holding the yarns as for stranded knitting, move both the MC and CC yarn for each stitch, so that the unused color is carried invisibly between the layers of stitches. Keep both yarns in back when knitting, and bring both yarns to the front when purling.
Work left-leaning decreases to convert the double-knitting stitch pairs back into marled seed stitch:
SSK – slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loop
SSP – slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, purl these 2 stitches together through back loop
Pattern Notes
The scarf is worked flat from end to end.
The selvedge edge stitches are worked with the MC and CC held together throughout, and the first stitch of each row is always slipped knitwise.
As written, the scarf consists of 7 checkerboards. The length of the scarf may be altered by working fewer or more repeats of the checkerboard pattern until the desired length has been achieved.
Pattern
With dark MC and light CC held together, CO 22 sts.
[Work Rows 1-34 of Chart A.
Rep Rows 1-4 6 times to work 24 rows of plain marled seed st.
Work Rows1-34 of Chart B.
Rep Rows 1-4 6 times to work 24 rows of plain marled seed st.]
Rep this sequence 2 more times, or until scarf reaches approximately 6” [15 cm] short of desired length.
Work Rows 1-34 of Chart A once more.
BO in seed st pattern. Cut MC and CC, leaving a 6″ [15 cm] tail.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Block scarf as needed.
Cut 42 12″ [30 cm] strands of both MC and CC for fringe.
Divide strands into 2-strand bundles so as to have 21 bundles for each edge.
With crochet hook, attach fringe from alternate sides for each available st to maintain the scarf’s complete reversibility. Switch between MC and CC for each bundle.
Trim fringe as needed to neaten the edge.