Berroco Toledo Scarf Knitting Pattern

Berroco Toledo Knit Scarf Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Toledo is a striped knit scarf designed by Amy Christoffers. This finished scarf measures approximately 7 inches wide by 65 inches long after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for various styling occasions. The scarf is worked on the bias, creating a dynamic diagonal construction that adds visual interest to the finished piece.

Craft and Skill Level

This is a knitting project classified as Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience. The straightforward stitch work and clear construction method make it an excellent choice for those looking to expand their knitting repertoire without excessive complexity.

Techniques Used

The Toledo scarf employs several key knitting techniques that work together to create its distinctive appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The scarf is knit from the bottom upward, beginning with a single stitch and building the fabric progressively.
• Bias knitting: The scarf is worked on the bias, meaning the rows are worked diagonally across the fabric rather than straight across, creating a slanted grain that adds elegance to the finished piece.
• Stripes: Multiple color changes create horizontal stripes throughout the scarf, with colors carried loosely up the side of the work and twisted together on alternating rows to prevent long loops.
• Worked flat: The scarf is constructed on straight needles in flat rows rather than in the round, allowing for easy color changes and straightforward construction.

Stitches Used

The Toledo pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches that create a textured, durable fabric:

• Garter stitch: The primary stitch throughout the scarf, created by knitting every row. This produces a bumpy, reversible fabric with excellent drape and elasticity.
• Kfb (knit front and back): Used during the increase section to add stitches one at a time, building the scarf from a single cast-on stitch to full width.
• K2tog (knit two together): Employed in both the straight section (to maintain stitch count while creating the bias effect) and the decrease section (to reduce stitches back to a single stitch at the end).

Construction Sections

The Toledo scarf is divided into three distinct construction phases:

• Increase Section: Beginning with a single cast-on stitch, stitches are increased using the kfb technique until 65 stitches are on the needle, creating the left edge of the scarf.
• Straight Section: Once full width is achieved, the scarf is worked in a repeating pattern of color stripes while maintaining stitch count through balanced increases and decreases. This section is repeated five times total, creating the main body of the scarf with 72 rows of striping in each repeat.
• Decrease Section: Using the final color (Midnight), stitches are decreased using k2tog until a single stitch remains, creating a tapered endpoint.

Stripe Pattern Details

The color work follows a specific sequence within each straight section repeat: 2 rows in Twilight, 4 rows in Dawn, followed by two sets of 4-row stripes alternating between Twilight and Dawn, then three sets of 4-row stripes alternating between Midnight and Twilight, and finally three sets of 4-row stripes alternating between Midnight and Dawn. This creates a sophisticated color progression throughout the scarf.

Materials and Gauge

The Toledo scarf is designed to be knit with Berroco Mykonos Stonewash yarn, a specialty yarn that provides the intended drape and appearance. The pattern calls for 2 hanks each of three colorways: #8590 Dawn, #8592 Twilight, and #8595 Midnight, with each hank weighing 50 grams.

The recommended needle size is US Size 6 (4.00 mm) straight needles, though knitters should adjust needle size as needed to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern gauge is 19 stitches and 34 rows equals 4 inches in Garter stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished scarf meets the intended dimensions.

Finishing

After completing all construction, the sc