The Not-Moss-Stitch Circle Scarf

Inspired by a scarf I found at Gap, I developed this knitting pattern to create a really warm, stretchy, soft scarf. The name comes from the fact that Gap called their version of the scarf the "Moss Stitch Scarf", yet it isn't not actually what I would consider a moss stitch (for a visual explanation, click over to my blog where I expand on this search for the stitch). Instead, I found the best mirror for the scarf is something called a syncopated brioche stitch.

Brioche knitting is apparently some sort of Middle Eastern knitting technique that produces a completely reversible fabric (same on both sides) and can be used to create single columns of color without having to carry them. It achieves all of this by a combination of knits, purls, and lots of yarn overs – basically knitting each row twice. That was one of the hardest things to learn, how to count what row I was on! Subsequently, this stitch makes a very warm and ‘fluffy’ material, which is just perfect for a scarf!

Here is what you'll need to make this scarf:

size 9 knitting needles (I recommend connected needles, but this is not knit in the round)
a soft worsted weight yarn, approx 250 yards

UPDATE: I figured out what yarn I used! It is called Shepherd's Wool by the Stonehedge Fiber Mill. This yarn is absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend using it to make this (or any other!) scarf! It comes in natural colors (I used 'Granite') but it is also dyed to create fantastic colors. 

The pattern is fairly simple, once you get the hang of the weird brioche knitting abbreviations:

yf: yarn forward. bring the yarn to the front of your needles like you were going to purl the next stitch (through the needles).

sl1yo: slip one yarn over. slip the next stitch purl-wise and bring the yarn over to the back side of your work again, though this time over the needle and not through the needles.

sl1yof: slip one yarn over then front. slip the next stitch purl-wise and then essentially wrap the yarn around the needed. The yarn over brings the yarn to the back of the needle and the front brings the yarn back to the front.

brk1: bark one. knit together the next stitch, with the yarn over created in the previous row.

brp1: burp one. purl together the next stitch, plus the yarn over created in the previous row. Generally, you’ll do this stitch after a sl1yo, which means that you’ll need to bring the yarn back through the needles to purl the stitches.

wyif: with yarn in front. literally, just make sure you start the row with your yarn in front of your needles.

(If all of that is too confusing to read, that are lots of youtube videos around (look for regular brioche knitting to get started) – just be forewarned that pretty much nobody knits this in the English style (which is how I knit) so the videos may be a tad confusing at first)


Pattern:

Loosely cast on 180 stitches

Set up Row: *yf sl1yo, k1; rep from *.
Rows 1-6: *yf sl1yo, brk1; rep from *.
Rows 7-12: wyif, *sl1yof, brp1; rep from *.
Repeat Rows 1-12 until you reach your desired width.

Cast off when it is as wide as you’d like, or if you start running out of yarn! Make sure to use a loose/stretchy cast off! Then just stitch up the seam and off you go! I chose not to make an infinity scarf (placing a twist in the scarf before seaming) but you could definitely do that for a different look!

The bottom picture is what this scarf looks like from a bit farther away, modeled with my plaid peplum jacket, though the color is a little paler than in real life!