PALADIN by Natalia Kolasa
Cast on by "knitting on" the number of stitches to the length you would like your scarf. First, check your gauge and multiply the number of stitches per inch by the number of inches you would like your scarf to be. Then, keeping in mind that the pattern calls for a multiple of 4 stitches +1, add or subtract the number of stitches required. (My swatch had a gauge of 5 stitches per inch and I wanted a 6 ft long scarf so I cast on 360 stitches and then added an extra stitch per the pattern for a total of 361 stitches.) I used three colors in the striping, for a cycle of 2 rows of Color A, two rows of B, and one row of Color C, so that the transition rows would alternate between sides and preventing there being a distinct "right side" and "wrong side" to make the scarf truly reversible. Should you want to avoid having to darn in a lot of ends, however, you may want to simply do two colors with two rows each. Or, breaking the yarn at each row, use the ends as fringe, rather than making a separate fringe of one color. Simply remember to leave the desired fringe length at the beginning and end of each row and then tie two or more ends together for a multi-colored fringe. Row 1: After casting on with Color A, using color A, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 2: Change to Color B and k1, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 3: Continuing with Color B, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 4: Change to Color C and k1, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 5: With Color A, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 6: k1, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 7: With Color B, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 8: k1, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Row 9: With Color C, repeat (p1, k3) to end. Continue cycling through the three colors in this manner until you have your desired width, keeping the stitch pattern as set. End with one row of Color A and use Color A to do a decrease bind off by knitting through the back loop for more flexibility. Darn in ends and/or finish off with a fringe. In the scarf pictured, I used the main color for a dense, one-ply, 3 inch fringe. The final measurements are 6.5" by 6', excluding the fringe.
