A One Skein Scarf Knitting Pattern!

The Simplicity Scarf

Who says you need a lot of yarn to knit a beautiful scarf? My latest pattern, the Simplicity Scarf, uses just one skein of chunky yarn. It’s a quick project that’s perfect for using up a single skein or making a last-minute gift!

A Chunky Scarf with Tapered Ends

I love wearing chunky scarves in the winter, but sometimes all that extra fabric can feel a little bulky when you’re trying to tuck it under your coat. So, I designed this scarf with tapered ends that make it easy to wrap around your neck without having a ton of extra fabric to deal with.

The scarf is knit flat in rows. It begins with just five stitches and gradually increases in width to create the first tapered end. Once you’ve reached the full width, you’ll work a section of stockinette stitch before decreasing back down to five stitches to create the opposite end. I also added a pretty slipped-stitch edging along both sides to help with preventing the sides from curling inwards too much.

Beginner Friendly Video Tutorial

I think this is a great project for anyone who’s comfortable with the basics of knitting and wants to practise their increases and decreases. You’ll be using M1R and M1L increases to widen the scarf, followed by K2tog and SSK decreases to shape the opposite end. Don’t worry if these techniques are new to you! I’ve also put together a step-by-step video tutorial where I walk you through the entire pattern, including how to block your finished scarf so that it drapes nicely.

Knit a Quick and Easy One Skein Scarf!

You can find the free knitting pattern below, along with all the materials and instructions you’ll need to get started.

The Simplicity Scarf Free Knitting Pattern

What You’ll Need (Yarn, Needles, and Notions)

• MODE at Rowan Chunky Wool
  • Approx. 109 yds / 100 m
  • Weight: Bulky
  • Colour: Bondi (19)
  • Fibre Content: 100% Wool
• US 10.5 / 6.5 mm knitting needles
• Scissors
• Yarn/tapestry needle

Abbreviations

K: Knit.

P: Purl.

M1l: Make 1 left-leaning increase. Lift the horizontal strand between two stitches onto your left-hand needle from front to back, then knit through the back loop.

M1r: Make 1 right-leaning increase. Lift the horizontal strand between two stitches onto your left-hand needle from back to front, then knit through the front loop.

Sl1pwyf: Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn held in front.

K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together.

Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops.

St / sts: Stitch / stitches.

Gauge

13 stitches, 14 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in stockinette stitch after blocking.

Finished Measurements

Finished scarf measures 46″ / 117 cm long and 6.5″ / 16.5 cm wide (at the midpoint).

Pattern Instructions

Cast on 5 sts using the long-tail cast-on method and then complete the setup row below.

Setup Row: K1, p3, k1.

Continue to Part A.

Part A (Increasing Section)

Row 1: K2, m1r, k1, m1l, k2. (7 sts)

Row 2: K1, sl1pwyf, k1, p1, k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 3: K3, m1r, k1, m1l, k3. (9 sts)

Row 4: K1, sl1pwyf, k1, p3, k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 5: K all sts.

Row 6: K1, sl1pwyf, k1, p3, k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 7: K3, m1r; k to last 3 sts; m1l, k3. (11 sts)

Row 8: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 9: K all sts.

Row 10: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Rows 11-14: Repeat Rows 7-10. (13 sts)

Row 15: K3, m1r; k to last 3 sts; m1l, k3. (15 sts)

Rows 16, 18, 20, 22: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Rows 17, 19, 21: K all sts.

Repeat rows 15-22 four more times (23 sts total). This will bring you to Row 55. Complete Rows 55 and 56 and then continue to Part B.

Row 55: K3, m1r; k to last 3 sts; m1l, k3. (25 sts)

Row 56: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

PART B (Worked Straight)

Row 1: K all sts.

Row 2: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for a total of 48 rows.

Continue to Part C.

PART C (Decreasing Section)

Row 1: K3, k2tog, k to last 5 sts, ssk, k3. (23 sts)

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Rows 3, 5, 7: K all sts.

Repeat rows 1-8 four more times (15 sts total). This will bring you to Row 41.

Row 41: K3, k2tog, k to last 5 sts, ssk, k3. (13 sts)

Row 42: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 43: K all sts.

Row 44: K1, sl1pwyf, k1; p to last 3 sts; k1, sl1pwyf, k1.

Rows 45-52: Repeat Rows 41-44. (9 sts)

Row 53: K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2. (7 sts)

Row 54: K1, sl1pwyf; p to last 2 sts; sl1pwyf, k1.

Row 55: K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1. (5 sts)

Continue to Finishing.

Finishing

Cast off the remaining 5 stitches in pattern (K1, P3, K1) to match the setup row.

Weave in any loose ends using a yarn needle.

Wet or steam block to finished measurements.