How to Knit a Winter Scarf

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Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

Scarves come in many different weights and styles, but a winter scarf is usually long and thick to protect your neck from the chilly winter air. You can easily knit a winter scarf using a bulky or super bulky yarn and a pair of knitting needles. Try making a basic winter scarf using the garter stitch for a quick and easy project.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Starting a Basic Winter Scarf

1
Choose a bulky or super bulky yarn for a thick, quick project. This will make it faster and easier to knit your winter scarf, and your final product will be thick and warm. You can go with any color you like for your winter scarf, use a multi-color yarn, or use more than 1 color of yarn. You will need 1 to 2 skeins depending on the length of the scarf you want to create.^{[1]
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- Try using variegated yarn that transitions between different shades of blue, use a solid white yarn, or pair 2 colors, such as red and green or blue and silver for a winter holiday look.
2
Opt for a pair of needles in the size recommended by the yarn label. Using the right size knitting needles will help to ensure that your stitches are snug and attractive. The label should include a suggested size on it, so check it before you get started.^{[2]
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- For example, if you are using a bulky yarn, then the suggested needle size might be between 9 and 11 US (5.5 and 8.0 mm). If you opt for a super bulky yarn, then the recommended size could be anywhere from 11 to 17 US (8.0 to 12.75 mm).
3
Make a slip knot and slide it onto your right-hand needle. Make a loop with the yarn about 8 in (20 cm) from the end of the yarn. Then, bring the section of yarn just beside the loop through to form the slip knot. Tug the tail of the yarn to tighten the slip knot around your finger and then slip it onto your right-hand needle.^{[3]
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- The slip knot counts as 1 cast on stitch.
4
Cast on a total of 22 stitches. Make a loop with the working yarn right next to the slip knot and slide it onto the right-hand needle. Then, tug on the working yarn to tighten the stitch around the needle. Repeat this until you have a total of 22 stitches on your knitting needle.^{[4]
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- The slip knot counts as 1 cast on stitch, so you only need to cast on 21 more stitches for a total of 22.
5
Knit across the first row. Hold the needle with the stiches on it in your non-dominant hand (left if you are right-handed) and the empty needle in your dominant hand (right if you are right-handed). Insert the tip of the empty knitting needle into the first cast on stitch on the full needle. Then, loop the yarn over the tip of the needle and pull this loop back and through the cast on stitch. Let the cast on stitch slip off as the new stitch replaces it on the empty needle.^{[5]
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- Continue to knit all of the stitches in the row in the same way until you reach the end of the row.
6
Knit the second row in the same manner to continue in the garter stitch. If you want to continue working your rows in a simple stitch, the garter stitch is a good option. All you have to do is knit across every row until your scarf is finished.^{[6]
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- Make sure to switch the needle with the stitches on it to your non-dominant hand after every row.
- You could also follow a pattern from a pattern book or look up free winter scarf knitting patterns online. Select a pattern that matches up with your skill level and that will allow you to create the desired type of scarf.
- Alternatively, you might also want to incorporate some more advanced techniques to add a decorative flair. For example, you could use a special stitch and a cable needle to create cabling throughout the scarf.
Tip: If you want to create a textured appearance throughout your scarf, then you might use an advanced stitch, such as the brioche stitch or the rice stitch.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Finishing Your Scarf

1
Continue knitting until your scarf measures 60 in (150 cm). A common length for winter scarves is 60 in (150 cm) because then you can wrap it around your neck multiple times. Keep knitting until the scarf reaches this length, or make it a little longer or shorter if you prefer. Measure the scarf with a soft tape measure once it looks like it is getting close to the desired length.
- Some patterns will provide an exact number of rows to knit, but with most scarf patterns you can just keep knitting until your scarf is the desired length.
Tip: You can also hold the scarf up to your body to measure it. For example, if you are 68 in (170 cm) tall, then the scarf should be long enough to go from your shoulder to the floor.
2
Cast off in the knit row when the scarf is the desired length. Hold the needle with the stitches on it in your non-dominant hand. Then, knit the first 2 stitches onto the empty needle. Lift the first stitch you knit onto the needle up and over the second stitch, and then knit another new stitch. Lift the new first stitch up and over the stitch you just knit.^{[7]
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- Continue to knit 1 and lift 1 up and over until you reach the end of the row.
3
Cut and tie off the final stitch in the row. When you finish binding off the last stitch, pull the yarn through to create a loop that is about 3 in (7.6 cm) long. Then, cut the working yarn about 8 in (20 cm) from the last stitch. Tug on the loop to pull the tail of the yarn through it.^{[8]
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- It’s important to leave at least 10 in (25 cm) of yarn so that you will be able to weave in the end of the yarn.
Thread the tail of yarn through the eye of a yarn needle. Insert the yarn needle into the edge of the scarf near the last stitch. Pull the needle and yarn all the way through the stitch. Then, insert the needle through the next stitch going from the other side of the scarf and pull this yarn taut. Repeat until you cannot sew any further. Then, cut the excess yarn about 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the scarf.^{[9]
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Tip: If you want to accentuate your scarf when you finish it, try adding fringe to the short edges on either end, or knit or crochet a border along the edges of the scarf.

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Can you explain the 6th step?

LibraryMouse

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Here's a link to the How to Cast Off page, which will explain how to finish your scarf.

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I did one row knit, one row purl and the edges now curl. Is there a way to fix this or uncurl them? I also did 2 of the opposite stitches on each edge and I think this is why they are curling.

Eye of the liger

Community Answer

First: don't do the opposite stitch if you don't need to. Second: blocking (washing the finished project) usually helps with any unevenness.

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How do I get the edges of the scarf to not curl? I've been having that problem for some time now.

Eye of the liger

Community Answer

I think this pattern might be the issue; someone else had the same problem. However, blocking (washing the finished scarf and pinning down any uneven edges) tends to help flatten things out.

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This project is perfect for beginners. It is an easy practice, but also adds a handmade scarf to your wardrobe or to give as a gift.

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Knit with a light color yarn if you’re a beginner. Dark color yarns are hard for a beginner to count stitches or see mistakes.

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You can make the scarf long or short. If you knit it for yourself, just make it long as you want. If you want it to give as a gift, ask how long they’d like their scarf to be.

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