VERTICAL KEYHOLE SCARF
BY LAURA TREADWAY This pattern is all about being able to use every last drop of a yarn you love (especially when you don't have a ton of that yarn), and particularly the super-soft stuff that really should be reserved for being next to necks. It's a great pattern for that one braid of special handspun\* where you just didn't get the yardage you wanted, or to use that small ball of luxury fiber you couldn't pass up. Also, it's a really easy, 1 x 1 ribbed pattern, which keeps the scarf from curling and can add a nice extra bit of squooshiness to the scarf. Ideal for showing off the texture of handspun yarn and easily adjustable to any weight of yarn. You'll neec to experiment with your yarn to decide what needle size to use. Looks equally good - just different - in heavy or lace weight yarns. \* Note: I am a firm believer that all handspun is special.
Materials:
180-300 yards of yarn, depending on the weight. (l used 220 yards of fingering weight cashmere (the blue) and 240 yards of worstedish weight handspun.) Needles to get your preferred gauge. (l used US $\hat{\mathsf{o}}\mathrm{~/~}4.0\mathrm{~mm}$ on the blue, which resulted in an open, airy fabric, and US 7 / 4.5mm on the handspun, which resulted in a soft, squishy, thick fabric). One stitch marker, tape measure, stitch holder, and scale.
Gauge:
Experiment with your yarn to get fabric you like in the pattern stitch (k1, p1 rib). Measure your swatch to know how many stitches to cast on. Remember that ribbing will pull in, especially if there is wool content in your yarn. (l learned this the hard way).
Instructions:
Figure out your gauge and how wide you want the scarf to be. I recommend 5-6 inches. (My blue scarf is $5~\%$ inches; the handspun is 5). ·Weigh your yarn. Cast on an even number of stitches that will get you your desired width. (l cast on 28 st for the blue scarf which, being cashmere, did not pull in and remained lacy and open. I cast on 36 st for the handspun).
Scarf body:
Set up row: k2, \*p1, k1\* to end (end with k) All other rows: sl 1st st as if to p, $\star_{\mathsf{k}1}$ ，$p1^{\star}$ to end (end with k) Based on weight, place a stitch marker at the edge of your scarf once you've knit up half of your yarn. Knit 8 more inches in pattern.
Keyhole directions:
Row 1: Knit in pattern for exactly half of your stitches (i.e., 14 st if you cast on 28). Put remainder stitches on stitch holder. Row 2: Continue in pattern (slipping first st of each row) with only half of the original number of stitches. Continue knitting this half-width column for $2~\%$ to 3 inches, or about half of the width of your scarf. Break yarn, leaving a tail. Transfer stitches that have been in the holder to needles, and the stitches that have been on the needles to the stitch holder. Join yarn at the outside edge and repeat keyhole directions (labeled Row 1 & 2 just above) until the two columns are even. Next row: knit in pattern all the way across, and resume directions for scarf body. Repeat until yarn is almost used up and bind off in pattern. Sew in ends. Block if desired. · Wear with one end tucked through the keyhole to keep the shorter scarf around your neck. Look dashing and stay warm!
