Little Me - kids basketweave patterned scarf
This is a simple kids scarf designed to use a smooth yarn to show off the basketweave stitch pattern. Cotton or similar yarns that are washable would be ideal. You only need to know how to knit, purl, cast on and bind off to complete this design. The size pictured was made to be plenty long enough to wrap twice around on a 2 year old. The tassels are optional and there are instructions at the end to adjust the width of the scarf to suit.
Materials:
$1\mathrm{~x~}100\mathrm{g}$ ball of Patons Smoothie DK or Patons $100\%$ cotton DK (shown here in Smoothie shade 1085) Size $4\mathrm{mm}/\mathrm{US}\ 6$ needles. 5mm crochet hook - or similar, for adding the tassels.
Size:
Scarf pictured measures $4.5^{\circ}$ by 41" (11.5cm by 104cm) - excluding tassels.
Gauge:
22 sts per $10\mathrm{cm}$ in basketweave pattern (although it is not critical to this design)
Definitions:
$\mathbf{k}=\mathrm{knit}$ p = purl
Before you begin:
If you want to add the tassels, cut off $18\mathrm{m}$ of yarn from your ball before you start. If you are widening your scarf, add an extra $4\,\mathrm{m}$ to this total, per multiple of 6 sts you add to the width.
Instructions:
Cast on 27 sts. Row 1: k3, \*p3, k3 repeat from \* to end. Row 2: p3, $^{*}\mathrm{k}3$ , p3 repeat from \* to end. Row 3 and 5: as row 1
Row 4: as row 2 Row 6: k3, \*p3, k3 repeat from \* to end (row 1 again) Row 7 and 9: as row 2 Row 8 and 10: as row 1 Rows 1-10 form basketweave pattern. Continue in pattern as set until scarf measures 41’' - or as close as you can get ending with either row 5 or 10 of the pattern. Bind off all stitches.
Finishing off:
Weave in all ends. To add tassels, cut the previously set aside yarn into 1m lengths. Each of these should, in turn, be cut into thirds (approximately, you can trim ends after they are secured). Line them up together, then fold in half and hold just below the fold to create a loop. Using the crochet hook, pull a short length of the loop through the middle stitch of the first square of the basketweave pattern at the short end of the scarf. Thread all the long ends of the tassel through the loop and pull tight to secure. Repeat along both short edges of the scarf. Trim the lengths to create a neat edge along the bottom of the tassels.
Adjusting the size:
The scarf can be made wider by adding multiples of 6 to the number of stitches that you cast on. Be sure to allow extra yarn to complete the scarf length you require.
