Garter Stitch Neck-warmer - Free Knitting Pattern

The neck-warmer is knit sidewards, flat, in rows back and forth, starting at the centre-back of the neck.


MEASUREMENTS

40cm/16 inches long at centre-front, 44cm/17.5 inches circumference

YARN  

2 x 50gram balls Zara, one ball main colour, one ball contrasting colour

Zara made by Filatura Di Crosa is extrafine marino wool, superwash, 8ply/DK, 50g/1.75oz, 125 metres/136.5 yards at standard condition.

 
If you choose to make your neck-warmer in one solid colour you will still need most of 2 balls of this yarn.


Suggested alternative yarn - Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Luxury (100% wool)


Plus a scrap of yarn in about the same thickness for provisional cast-on (approximately 1 metre/3.5 feet long).


NEEDLES

4.5mm/US size 7 knitting needles. Use circular or straight needles whichever you prefer.

If doing provisional crochet cast-on you will also need a crochet hook 4.5mm/US size 7

Note: This is larger than standard size recommended for this yarn to allow for softer drape of the knitted fabric.


TENSION/GAUGE

17 stitches and 36 rows to 10cm/4 inches worked in garter stitch.

Exact tension/gauge is not vital as this isn't a fitted garment.

ABBREVIATIONS

K - knit
K2tog - knit 2 together
sts - stitches
YO - yarn over


DIRECTIONS

Note: This pattern begins with a provisional cast-on and finishes with grafting (Kitchener stitch) to close up the centre back seam. If you don't want to do grafting, do a standard cast-on at the beginning and cast-off at the end, then sew up your neck-warmer's back centre seam.


Use whichever provisional cast-on you prefer. I used a crochet cast-on. knitting stitches through the back loops of a crochet chain.

When changing colours take care to keep the edge of the work neat, not too tight/not too loose, as it will be the top edge of your neck-warmer.

First Straight Section
Row 1 (cast-on row) - Using Yarn A, cast-on 36 sts
Row 2 - Knit
Rows 3 & 4 - Change to Yarn B and knit 2 rows
Rows 5 & 6 - Change to Yarn A and knit 2 rows
Rows 7 & 8 - Change to Yarn B and knit 2 rows
Continue working in garter stitch without shaping for another 8 rows, maintaining the colour changes for the stripes (ie repeat Rows 5 to 8 twice)

Increase Section
Row 1 - Change to Yarn A, knit until 2 sts remain on needle, YO, K2
Row 2 - Knit
Row 3 - Change to Yarn B, knit until 2 sts remain on needle, YO, K2
Row 4 - Knit
Repeat these 4 rows another 7 times (total 68 sts on needle)

Decrease Section
Row 1 - Change to Yarn A, knit until 5 sts remain on needle, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K1
Row 2 - Knit
Row 3 - Change to Yarn B, knit until 5 sts remain on needle, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K1
Row 4 -  Knit
Repeat these 4 rows another 7 times (total 36 sts remain)

Final Straight Section
Work 15 rows without shaping, maintaining the colour changes for the stripes, finishing with Yarn B.

Cut Yarn A leaving about 10cm/4" to allow for weaving in the end of the yarn.

You will need enough of Yarn B to graft (Kitchener stitch) the back seam of the neck-warmer - allow about 60cm/24" when you cut the yarn.


Release the stitches from the provisional cast-on, transferring them onto a needle ready for grafting/Kitchener stitching.

Graft the seam closed using Yarn B and then weave in the loose ends on the inside of the neck-warmer.

At the time of writing this there is a useful YouTube video demonstrating grafting garter stitch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAEIogIli6o


I hope you enjoy knitting and wearing your neck-warmer!


This design was inspired by the Baktus Scarf and the Bandana Cowl
http://www.flickr.com/photos/norwayneedles/2963651011
http://www.purlbee.com/bandana-cowl/

This pattern may be reproduced for personal use only.

If any errors in this pattern please advise by "Post a Comment" below.

Copyright Frances Lewis 2012

Photos by Frances Lewis 2012