DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN : GATEWAY SCARF

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A PROJECT WEEKEND LEARN-TO-KNIT PATTERN

Our Learn-To-Knit patterns include easy to follow, fully detailed step-by-step pattern instructions, how-to video tutorials and illustrated technique diagrams.

 

 

One of the best styles for learning how to knit is a scarf pattern.  Why?  Because it's simple.  You don't have to worry about creating shape or how it will fit, it's just a big beautiful rectangular piece of fabric designed to cocoon you in soft-as-a-kitten warmth.  

 

 

Beginning with a simple project allows you to get into a rhythm so that your brain and your hands learn to work together with the needles and yarn.  At the heart of it, repetition helps build confidence. Our Gateway Scarf is knit using the basic knit stitch making it a quick and easy project to master.  

 

 

The Gateway Scarf pattern is just the right width and length to wrap beautifully around your body to keep the winter chill out.  We love throwing it on with our biggest coziest sweater to curl up on the front porch and read our favorite book. 

 

 

NATURALLY SOFT, NOT CHEMICALLY SOFTENED

We created our LOLL yarn with a special blend of premium Merino and Baby Alpaca fibers to create soft-as-a-kitten warmth and squishiness. Sustainably grown and 100% naturally soft, (not chemically softened).  LOLL is grown in the beautiful highlands of Peru and Argentina, and spun in a Fair Trade Certified facility. 

PROJECT SKILL LEVEL : LEARN TO KNIT

This pattern is designed for anyone picking up knitting needles for the very first time. We guide you step-by-step on how to get yarn onto your needles, teach you the foundational knit stitch and how to finish your work in a way that looks ultra professional.

TECHNIQUES YOU WILL LEARN

  • How To Hold Your Needles & Yarn
  • Making a Gauge Swatch
  • The Slip-Knot
  • Casting-On Stitches (using the Longtail Cast-On Method)
  • The Knit Stitch
  • Binding Off 
  • Weaving In Loose Ends

    TIME TO MAKE 

    7-10 Hours

    PATTERN SIZE

    One Size

    PROJECT MEASUREMENTS

    Finished Length: 60"
    Finished Width : 7"

    GAUGE

    8mm Needles : Garter (knit) Stitch 
    13 stitches x 22 rows = 4" x 4" square

    MATERIALS & TOOLS REQUIRED

    TECHNIQUE TUTORIAL VIDEOS & ILLUSTRATIONS

    We've made learning easy!  Easily reference our library of tutorial videos and  step-by-step illustrations with just a click of your mouse.  Look for tutorial links embedded throughout the pattern, and when in doubt, just click and learn!

    LET'S BEGIN

    Let's familiarize ourselves with how to hold our needles and yarn. 



    GAUGE SWATCH
    WHAT IS IT & WHY MAKE ONE

    A gauge swatch is a little test square of fabric that you knit before each project using the exact stitches in your pattern. Once complete, it will tell you if your knitting tension is too tight or too loose for the pattern that you are creating.  This is a great tool because it helps you make sure that what you are knitting will measure out perfectly to the pattern you are creating and ultimately fit right.

    Gauge swatches only take a half hour of time to make... many times less.  Yet, a lot of people either rush through this process or skip it all together because they're so excited to get into knitting their project. 

    Please learn from our experience.....there is nothing more frustrating than knitting something only to realize (after many invested hours) that if only we had made a gauge swatch, our beautiful piece wouldn't have ended up fitting two sizes too small. 

    If you are new to knitting, think of the gauge swatch as a great opportunity to learn how to knit stitches before starting your main project.

    GETTING GAUGE

    Every knit project will have gauge swatch instructions. The pattern details and materials list will indicate what size needle you need for each project and it will state how many stitches per row by how many rows you need to knit in order to create your swatch and achieve the correct gauge.

    As you can see in the Project Details section above,  The Gateway Scarf requires a 8mm sized knitting needle and you will need to cast-on 13 knit stitches and knit 22 rows to achieve gauge. Once you complete this, your finished swatch should measure 4” x 4” (10cm x 10cm).

    STEP-BY-STEP : HOW TO MAKE A GAUGE SWATCH 

    1. With a yarn tail approximately 20” long, create a SLIP-KNOT and place it onto one of your knitting needles. This slip-knot is considered your first stitch.   

    HOW TO MAKE A SLIP-KNOT

    2. Holding that needle in your right hand, CAST-ON another 12 more stitches using the LONG-TAIL CAST-ON METHOD. You should now have 13 stitches on your needle.

    HOW TO CAST-ON USING THE LONGTAIL CAST-ON METHOD

    3. Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. KNIT into each of the loops across the 13 stitches. This is row 1.   

    HOW TO KNIT THE KNIT STITCH

    4. Switching needles again, hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. This is called turning your work and you will do this each time you knit to the end of each row.

    TIP: A trick to keeping your swatch edges looking nice and even, snug up your yarn a bit at the beginning of each new row to make sure the edge stitches are the same tension as the rest of your knitting. When you're turning your work, the tension on these first stitches can get a bit loose, so remember to keep them snug!

    5. Repeat Knitting each row until you have completed a total 22 rows  

    6. BIND-OFF your stitches (Do not cut yarn after binding off, you'll be using this yarn for your main project.)

    HOW TO BIND-OFF (CAST-OFF)

    7. Lay your swatch flat and measure the length and the width.

    SWATCH TOO SMALL
    If your swatch comes out smaller than 4”x4”, it means you are knitting too tightly, so unravel your swatch and start again, this time loosening up your stitch tension a bit.

    SWATCH TOO BIG
    If your swatch comes out larger than 4”x 4”, you are knitting too loosely, so tighten up your stitch a little bit when knitting.

    SWATCH IS JUST RIGHT
    Once you create a swatch that measures 4”x 4”, Congratulations! you have found your gauge tension for this project.  So go ahead, unravel that swatch (you're going to need that yarn for your scarf!)  and begin your knit project. 

    WHAT IF MY MEASUREMENTS ARE OFF BY A TINY BIT?
    No stress! When you’re working on beginner projects like this, it’s normal to be a bit off on your stitch gauge measurements. If you're within +/- 0.25", go ahead and unravel that swatch (you're going to need that yarn for your scarf!) and begin your knit project. 

    LET'S BEGIN!

    THE GATEWAY SCARF KNITTING PATTERN

    1. With a yarn tail approximately 20” long, create a SLIP-KNOT and place it onto one of your knitting needles. This slip-knot is considered your first stitch.

    2. Holding that needle in your right hand, CAST-ON  another 21 more stitches using the LONG-TAIL CAST-ON METHOD. You will now have 22 stitches on your needle.

    3. Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. KNIT across the 22 stitches.

    4. Switching needles again, hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. This is called turning your work and you will do this each time you knit to the end of each row.  

    5. KNIT across the 22 stitches and turn your work.

    Reminder: Keep the tension on the first stitch of each row nice and snug so that the edges of your scarf stay neat and straight.

    6. Repeat this process of knitting across the row and turning your work until you reach the last 10” of yarn of your first ball.   

    TIP: When you Knit each row over and over,  you are creating a stitch pattern commonly referred to as GARTER STITCH. 

    7. Join your new ball of yarn using the Magic Knot Method and continue knitting each row until your work measures 60” (or continue on and finish up the entire 2nd ball!)

    8. BIND-OFF your stitches and leave a yarn tail approximately 8"-10" long

    TIP: When binding off, keep the tension on the looser side than tight. If the tension along this edge is too tight, it will gather the end of your scarf and it won’t lay flat.

     

    9. Weave in loose ends & proudly sew on your Project Weekend x Me. woven label.

    HOW TO MAKE YOUR PROJECT LOOK ULTRA PROFESSIONAL:

    BLOCKING YOUR PROJECT

    Congratulations on completing your scarf! How does it look? Is it laying perfectly flat? Is the width consistent throughout? Are any stitches noticeably looser or tighter than others? Or perhaps you see a bit of a wave along the edges and some areas that are narrower than others?

    Don’t worry if your scarf isn’t perfect right off the needles. Most knit pieces have some irregularities at first.

    That’s where blocking comes in. It’s a transformative process that corrects tension issues and evens out stitches, turning your homemade project into something that looks professionally crafted.

    It’s almost like magic!

    For this scarf, we’ll use spray or steam blocking, which is the best method for Project Weekends' LOLL yarn. This technique will help your piece achieve that polished, finished look.

    BLOCKING MATERIALS

    • Large flat soft surface (ironing board, yoga mat or carpet)
    • Clean Towel
    • Spray Bottle (with mist setting) or you can use an Iron (must have steam function)
    • Measuring Tape
    • Pins (optional)  

    1. Place a towel over the ironing board, yoga mat, or carpet. Lay your project flat on top of the towel, ensuring that any surfaces susceptible to heat and water are protected or avoided.

    2. Fill a spray bottle with water. If you’re using an iron, fill the steam reservoir with water and plug it in.

    3. Gently stretch and adjust your scarf to the desired measurements. For the Gateway Scarf, the finished size should be 7” x 60”. You can use straight pins to hold the piece in place if needed, but it’s optional.

    **Note:** If you’re using an iron, be cautious of the steam to avoid burns. Keep your fingers away from the steam and handle the iron carefully.

    4. If using a:

    **SPRAY BOTTLE:** Start at one end of the scarf and mist water evenly across the entire piece, working your way to the other end. The goal is to make the scarf thoroughly damp.

    **IRON:** Hold the iron about an inch above the scarf and continuously pump the steam button, allowing the steam to penetrate the fabric without touching the iron to the yarn. Move the iron steadily along the length and width of the scarf to ensure the entire piece becomes completely damp. Be careful not to scorch, burn, or flatten the texture of your scarf.

     

    5. As the yarn absorbs moisture, you’ll notice the stitches softening, loosening, and relaxing.

    6. Gently shift, tug, and adjust the scarf as needed to help it lay flat and reach its final measurements.

    7. Allow your scarf to dry completely in place, which may take a few hours. This drying process helps to set the stitches, correct tension issues, tighten loose areas, and ensure a beautifully consistent width.

    8. Once your scarf is fully dry, put it on and show off your hard work!