Valley Yarns Taiga Tubular Scarf Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Taiga Tubular Scarf

Project Overview

The Taiga Tubular Scarf is a seamless knit scarf designed by Kirsten Hipsky that showcases a striking striped pattern created through a unique color-rotation technique worked in the round. This beginner-friendly project produces a finished scarf measuring 8 inches wide by 60 inches long, making it an ideal accessory for adding warmth and visual interest to any wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a tubular scarf—a hollow, seamless cylinder of knitted fabric that requires no seaming. The tubular construction is achieved by working continuously in the round on double pointed needles, eliminating the need for joining separate panels. The finished piece features a sophisticated four-color striped design with colors that rotate in a specific sequence across the rounds.

Techniques Used

Seamless Construction: The scarf is worked entirely in the round using a set of five double pointed needles, creating a continuous tube without any seams to join. This technique produces a professional finish and allows the striped pattern to flow naturally around the circumference.

Stripes and Color Rotation: The pattern employs a clever color-rotation method where four different yarn colors (Deep Pine, North Sea, Natural, and Arctic) are worked in a repeating four-round sequence. Rather than carrying unused colors as strands up the side of the work, each color is picked up from the loose end of the previously worked round in that same position. This spiral technique eliminates jogs at color changes and creates clean, uninterrupted stripes that wrap around the tube.

Spiral Color Work: The directions guide you to work with one color until reaching the loose end of the color knit in the round below, then pick up that strand and continue knitting. This addictive technique prevents the typical visual jog that occurs when changing colors in circular knitting and works seamlessly with any number of colors.

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch: The entire scarf is worked in stockinette stitch (knit every round), creating a smooth, classic fabric with a V-textured appearance on the right side.
• Cast On: Project begins with a cast on of 80 stitches divided evenly among four double pointed needles (20 stitches per needle).
• Bind Off: The scarf is completed with a bind off in Color A, followed by fastening off all yarn ends.

Materials and Gauge

Yarn: The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Huntington, a blend of 50% merino wool and 50% tencel, offering a luxurious feel with excellent drape. One skein each of four colorways is required: Color A (0030 Deep Pine), Color B (0029 North Sea), Color C (0010 Natural), and Color D (0028 Arctic). Each skein contains 1540 yards and weighs 8.8 ounces, providing ample yardage for the 60-inch length.

Needles: The project uses a US size 6 (4.0mm) set of five double pointed needles. The five-needle set allows for even distribution of stitches and smooth, seamless circular knitting.

Gauge: The pattern is worked at a gauge of 5 stitches per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the finished measurements of 8 inches wide by 60 inches long.

Construction Notes

After binding off with Color A and fastening off all yarns, the pattern requires finishing the cast on and bind off edges by crocheting or sewing them shut to complete the tubular form. Any remaining loose ends should be sewn in to complete the scarf.