I really don’t know what to call this yet. . . is it a pattern? Probably. This fun scarf was my first attempt at my new way to knit stockinette. Really! Knit a row, purl a row. The trick is to knit on circular needles because you will be slipping the stitches back and forth. It’s much easier to do than to write about. . .try it, you’ll like it!

Both sides of the fabric are the same and no rolling edges!

Maybe I should call this my corn row technique because I first tried it on this scarf knit in Corntastic from Kollage – 100% corn fiber! It is really soft and has a beautiful drape! It knits a bit like linen in that it doesn’t have much stretch and it did tend to split if I wasn’t careful.

Here is the free pattern for this scarf: You can knit this in any 2 colors of yarn and get a great result. I’m finding that high contrast colors show off the pattern best.

Corntastic from Kollage 105 yards/50 grams

1 skein each of Amethyist and Citrine

Size 5 circular needle – (can be any length)

Scarf size:40″ long x 5″ wide

Cast on 30 stitches.

For the braided look on the edge I did this (but you don’t have to of course) (An even number of stitches is requried.)  Row 1 *Knit 1 A, knit 1 B*  repeat from *

Row 2 Knit 1 with B, *pick up A under B and knit 1 with A, pick up B under A and knit 1 with A* repeat from *

Row 3 *Pick up B over A and knit 1 B, pick up A over B and knit one A* repeat across.

The yarn will be twisting around itself but I think untangling it is well worth the beautiful edge it creates. I first learned this technique from Anna Zilboorg in her book Magnificent Mittens.

Now for the main part of the pattern:

Pick up A and bring it over B (always do this when starting with A)

Row 1 Knit across with A. Slide stitches to the other end of the needle. (do not turn work around as usual)

Row 2 Purl across with B. (now you can turn to the other side)

Repeat these two rows. That’s it. Really. Work these two rows to desired length, then work rows 1 to 3 of the braid and bind off.

If you want to change which one is “in the valley” as I think of it, or “on top of the row” switch colors. You can see the difference in the closeup below: The scarf on top has Citrine as A (it seems more on top) and Amethyst is B. For the part of the scarf that is shown underneath, I switched A and B – so now A is the amethyst and Citrine is B (or in the valley). The stitches will be closer together (and on top) for color  A. The B color stitches are lower, or in the valley. I hope you have as much fun knitting in this way as I do. And be sure to catch my fingerless gloves class at Shepherd’s Harvest, May 8th.