This sweater scarf is a bold, multi-function piece perfect for a stylish look and keeping warm.
I was wandering the internet when I came across the idea of a scarf sweater and I was enthralled by the look and style. This scarf has sleeves and then wraps around you to become a unique style. This project had a lot of ups and downs, but I love how it turned out!
Some knitting projects go by quickly and then there are the kind that take forever. This scarf sweater (or sweater scarf?) is one of the forever ones. I think it took me over a year to finish this project. This was due to numerous reasons including working on it sporadically and the fact that the project is so long.
The standard length for a scarf is typically the wearer’s height. If that isn’t known then it’s between 60 and 80 inches. However, longer and shorter scarves are also around since it’s mainly a guideline. Scarfs are fun because you can just do what you want, how you want to.
Because this scarf needed to wrap around a person instead of a neck, it ended up being on the longer side. In total the scarf sweater ended up being about 115 inches. This is one of the reasons it took me so long. The scarf portion of the sweater is 15 inches wide meaning that 1,275 sq. inches (8.8 sq. ft) of knitting!!
Check out the Craft section of MCG for more fun patterns in strings and things or more unlimited ideas.
Supplies
For this project, I wanted to use some of the yarn I had in my collection. Using “old” materials versus buying new is something I really must start doing more. I am so close to becoming a hoarder but everything being organized is at least preventing that part.
Anyway, I decided to use a color-changing yarn that went through various shades of blue and gray. These colors appeal to be on a base level, so it seemed like a good way to go. I also chose a softer yarn but the importance of that was determined later. Then I grabbed US size 6 needles and started knitting.
Process
The Sleeve
I started on double-pointed needles (DPNs) because I wanted to have a semi-sleeve on the ends of the scarf to get a more sweater-like look. Then, I cast on 32 stitches and spread them over 4 needles. I have come to realize there are multiple cast-on methods as I explore more. The method I was taught was to make a series of twisted loops and then knit those to create the first row. Some methods create the first row as you create more stitches.
Anyway, I decided to do a RIB stitch for the rounds. This is a stitch that alternates between knit and purl stitches to create a rib-like pattern. I knitted 30 rounds which gave me about 5 inches. Then I did an increase for 2 per DPN and continued to knit in the RIB pattern.
Doing an increase on a RIB pattern is always a bit difficult because the increase is very noticeable. But arms get bigger…. I think that’s why a lot of sweaters use the RIB pattern for only the cuff.
The Scarf
The scarf section of the scarf sweater is most of the work (surprise, surprise). It’s also where I made some bold choices that I wasn’t sure how they would turn out. I did a 40 stitch increase in stitches and went from DPNs to straight needles. Well, that was the intention. What ended up happening was going from 4 DPNs to 2 DPNs to a straight needle. The yarn did not want to do a full stretch.
Then I just started knitting. I repeated two rows for the entire rection. One row was just completely knitted. The second had 5 knitted stitches on each end with the center stitches being purled. Using the knitting stitches on the end created a nice border and helped prevent some curving (but not all).
I did not count this section by row. This was a lot of mindless knitting for me so it’s something I didn’t always notice. My main measurement for this section was length. I would wrap the scarf around my body every so often to see where it was. When it reached 85 inches, I thought the scarf sweater was long enough.
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Then it’s time to reverse the process by using a knit 2 together (k2tog) stitch to reduce the number of stitches from 80 to 40 and transferring it back to the 4 DPNs. Again, the knitted fabric was not exactly happy with what I was trying to do. But I soldiered on.
I know 10 inches of rounds with the larger size before doing another reduction and doing another 30 rounds. The opposite of how it was started). Then I used a needle to sew all the loose ends into the fabric and hide them.
Blocking
With the scarf sweater still having some curvature, I decided that doing a bit of blocking would be a good idea. I have not really used blocking as I just never really felt it necessary. The quick summary is that blocking is using water and pinning to help shape a knitted piece. This loosens the fiber a bit and then allows them to resettle into a position that is more of what I wanted.
Reflections
This project took me the better part of a year to finish but I love the result. It’s a little less traditional in terms of shape but I think it is a striking piece. The bigger issue is trying to figure out what shirt to wear underneath the sweater. Either way, I love the colors and the way that it turned out! I think I only wished I made the sleeves a little less tight but I am not great about that. I measure and forget to add so I get quite a tight fit at times.
Lessons
Dropping Stitches
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I am not perfect. Obviously. Dropping stitches is the easiest mistake you can make while knitting. Sometimes I don’t even find the dropped stitched until after the project is done. Luckily there is a good way to fix this to use an extra piece of yarn. After pulling the stitch as tightly as possible, I threaded a loose string through the dropped stitch and made a skinny knot around it. Then I threaded the loose string into the piece. This helps prevent the piece from unraveling under stress due to the loose stitch.
Pattern
Knitted Sweater Scarf
Ingredients
- 2 Skeins Color Changing Yarn any color
- 4 US 6 Double Pointed Needles
- 2 US 6 Standard Knitting Needles
Instructions
- CO: 32 stitches on 4 DPNs [8 stitches per DPN] or circular needles to make a round.
- Rnd 1: *K1, P1* repeat for the entire round. Repeat this round for 5 inches.
- Rnd 2: *K1, INC1, K6, INC1, K1* repeat four times [40 stitches].
- Rnd 3 *K1, P1* repeat for the entire round. Repeat this round for 10 inches
- Row 4: *K1, INC1* for the entire round [80 stitches] – this take it out of round knitting and goes to flat knitting?
- Row 5: K5, P until the last 5 stitches, K5
- Row 6: K all row
- Repeat rows 5 and 6 until the scare wraps around the body twice (about 85 inches).
- Row 7: K5, P until the last 5 stitches, K5
- Row 8: *K2tog* [40 stitches] transfers to DPNs or circular needle to switch back to round.
- Rnd 9: *K1, P1* repeat for the entire round. Repeat this round for 10 inches
- Rnd 10: *K2tog, K6, K2tog* repeat 4 times [32 stitches]
- Rnd 11: *K1, P1* repeat for entire row. Knit for 5 inches. Cast Off.
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