Plymouth Yarn Striped Shawl & Scarf Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Striped Shawl & Scarf Pattern Overview

Pattern No. 3333 presents the Viento Striped Shawl & Scarf, a collection of two coordinating knit accessories featuring bold color blocking and straightforward construction. Both pieces are worked seamlessly from the bottom up in stockinette stitch, making them ideal projects for knitters seeking simple yet visually striking results through strategic yarn color changes.

Viento Striped Shawl

The shawl measures approximately 54 inches wide by 24 inches deep, offering generous coverage for layering or wrapping. This piece showcases the versatility of the Viento yarn through three distinct color blocks, with the sample shown in Plymouth Yarn Viento colors 31, 21, and 02.

Construction Technique: The shawl is worked flat and seamless using the bottom-up method. Knitters begin by loosely casting on 160 stitches using a size 15 or 17 needle, then switch to a size 13 needle to work the body. The entire piece is executed in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows. This classic stitch produces a smooth, refined surface ideal for displaying yarn color and texture.

Stripe Pattern Method: Rather than following a predetermined row count, the pattern employs a yarn-quantity-based approach. Knitters work in the first color until nearly depleting that yarn hank, noting the exact number of rows completed. The second color is then attached and worked for the same yardage, creating an even stripe. The third color is attached and worked for an identical row count, ensuring balanced color distribution across the finished piece. This intuitive technique allows for natural variation while maintaining visual harmony.

Materials: The shawl requires six 50-gram hanks of Plymouth Yarn Viento total—two hanks each in three coordinating colors. Viento is a specialty yarn that showcases beautifully in striped designs.

Gauge & Needles: The pattern is worked at a gauge of 12 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. A 32-inch circular needle in size 13 serves as the primary working needle, while size 15 or 17 needles are used exclusively for the initial cast-on and final bind-off rows. Using larger needles for these edge rows creates a loose, elastic edge that prevents the piece from puckering or becoming too tight.

Viento Striped Scarf

The scarf is a narrower companion piece measuring 62 inches long by 10 inches wide, perfect for draping around the neck or shoulders. The sample features Plymouth Yarn Viento in colors 6, 4, and 26, creating a coordinated yet distinct look from the shawl.

Construction Technique: Like the shawl, the scarf is knit seamlessly from the bottom up in stockinette stitch, worked flat on straight or circular needles. The scarf begins with a loose cast-on of 180 stitches using size 15 or 17 needles, then transitions to size 13 needles for the body work. The stockinette stitch base provides a smooth canvas for the striped color work.

Stripe Pattern Method: The scarf follows the same yarn-quantity-based striping technique as the shawl. Knitters work the first color in stockinette stitch until nearly exhausting the yarn, recording the row count. The second color is attached and worked for the same number of rows. The third color is then attached and worked to match the first color's row count. This method ensures consistent stripe widths and balanced color presentation throughout the 62-inch length.

Materials: The scarf requires three 50-gram hanks of Plymouth Yarn Viento—one hank in each of three colors. This economical yardage makes the scarf an accessible project for stash-busting or quick gift-making.

Gauge & Needles: The scarf maintains the same gauge as the shawl: 12 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Construction uses size 15 or 17 needles for cast-on and bind-off, with size 13 needles for the body rows. The loose edge treatment ensures the scarf drapes elegantly without edge distortion.

Finishing Techniques

Both pieces are bound off very loosely using the larger needles (size 15 or 17), a critical step that maintains the elastic quality of the edges and prevents the bind-off from becoming a tight, restrictive line. This finishing approach is essential for accessories that require comfortable wear and graceful drape.

Yarn & Fiber Characteristics