Red Herring Scarf Knitting Pattern
This handsome, unisex scarf features a herringbone stitch with a moss stitch border. This pattern is suitable for beginning knitters.
FREE! Download (pdf, 244K)
- 01/11/2009: New pattern template, but no major changes to the instructions.
- 09/23/2008: I seem to have overridden the corrected version of the pattern by accident during an update. If you downloaded this pattern between 07/11/2008 and now, please download and use this version instead. I’ve also updated the link to KnittingHelp.com.
- 01/06/2007: Error in herringbone stitch w/moss stitch border pattern fixed.
- 01/05/2007: Notes added for clarity.
Although this pattern is available free for non-commercial use, please consider making a small donation in support of the time and effort that went into this design. Thank you!
Skill Level: Beginner
Size: 8" (20 cm) wide x 60" (150 cm) long w/o fringe
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK (50% extra-fine merino wool, 40% microfiber, 10% cashmere; 142 yds/130 m per 1¾ oz/50 g), shown in #521; 4 skeins
A note on yarn selection: This pattern uses a stockinette-based stitch and thus has a strong tendency to curl. If using Rowan Cashsoft DK, you may wish to block and iron the finished scarf to reduce this tendency.
If substituting yarn, it’s recommended to choose a yarn that is mostly natural fiber. In addition, the zigzag/striping effect will show up best in a yarn with good stitch definition and a bit of sheen.
This pattern is simple enough to be a first or second project for a new knitter or a quick, easy knit for a more advanced knitter. The combination of the moss stitch and herringbone stitch would make a good exercise for learning how to read your knitting. This pattern includes:
- Increasing
- Decreasing
- Blocking
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Knitting, crocheting, and designing keep her sane in Houston, TX. 
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I am doing this pattern for the first time and the numbers dont add up. Am I doing something wrong? I casted on 49 stitches. I did the herringbone stitch w/moss stitch row 1 and there was one stitch remaning. What am i doing wrong?
seema
Hi seema,
I don’t know exactly what you’re doing, but hopefully this will help you work the numbers out.
When you start the herringbone w/moss stitch border pattern you should have 49 stitches.
p1, k1, p1 (3 stitches worked)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — the k2tog and the inc 1 offset each other — 9 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 15 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 21 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 27 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 33 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 39 stitches total)
[k2tog, k2, inc 1, k2] (6 more stitches worked — 45 stitches total, 4 stitches left)
k1, p1, k1, p1 (4 stitches worked — 49 stitches total)
You’ll be doing the six-stitch repeat 7 times total, for 42 stitches, and make sure not to forget the k1 after you finish the repeats before you go back to the moss stitch border.
I’m just about to start the pattern but I have a question about the fringe. I might have missed it but I couldn’t find anything on how to add the fringe in the pattern. Should it be added before you start the scarf or after the scarf’s been finished, and how do you add it?
Hi. I’m just about to start this project and had a question. What blocking method did you use? In your pictures the scarf looks almost completely flat. Most of what I have read has been wet and steam press blocking.
What am I missing. If the border is moss stitch and the last four stitches of row 1 are:
k1, p1, k1, p1
how can the first four stitches of row four be:
k1, p1, k1, k1
How does that continue the Moss Stitch pattern? Any thoughts? Is there a correction? Am I just not getting it?
Hi Joe,
I think you’re mis-reading the pattern — it’s a 4-row repeat and row
4 (all WS rows, actually) is purled all the way across. The second
line of the pattern is for both rows 2 and 4.
Row 1 (RS) starts with p1, k1, p1 and ends with p1, k1, p1
Row 2 (WS) is purled all the way across.
Row 3 starts with k1, p1, k1 and ends with k1, p1, k1, which continues
the moss stitch border.
Row 4 is also purled all the way across.
Hope that helps,
~Yvonne
Is this the revised pattern? I’ve tried to follow the pattern, but no herring bone pattern appears.
I believe there is an error in the pattern but it is in row 3 of the Herringbone w/ moss stitch. In order to truly reverse the pattern of row 1, row three should end with, P1,K1,P1, K1. (i.e. FOUR stitches not three)
Hi scott,
That is not an error. The moss stitch border only encompasses the first THREE and last THREE stitches of each row.
Row 1 ends with k1, p1, k1, p1. The first k1 in that belongs to the herringbone panel. The p1, k1, p1 belong to the moss stitch border.
Row 3 ends with k1, p1, k1 to finish the moss stitch border.
Do you think that this scarf would be best using a wool acrlic blend or you think that a 100% alpaca (baby) in dk would work as well. I’m only starting in knitting, teaching myself, and it is hard for me to judge yarn to patterns to how something will wear when done (drape/sage/hold shape). Any help would be nice. Thanks. I’m really excited to make this for a good friend for Christmas.
Hi Jamie,
I wouldn’t consider either of those yarns to be ideal for this pattern. You’ll have a hard time blocking the wool/acrylic blend if it’s more than 20% acrylic. Since this scarf is a stockinette-based pattern, that means it will want to keep curling up on itself.
The 100% alpaca would be easier to block flat, but alpaca is fuzzy and I’m afraid that might obscure the pattern. This pattern really works best with a smooth and a bit shiny yarn.
I hope that helps.
Is the Rowan Cashsoft DK very soft? I live in the boonies so I would have to order it on-line and have no retail outlet near here where I could “feel” for myself. I really would like the scarf to be super soft and not scratchy.
I just opened my Knitpicks e-mail for their new “gloss” DK it is 70% Merino and 30% Silk, looks nice *smiles*.
Knitpicks Gloss DK
Mod edit to fix link
Jamie –
Out of those two yarns, I’d go with the Knitpicks gloss DK. The Rowan Cashsoft is very soft, but it’s also 40% microfiber and doesn’t block well.
I’m knitting this scarf right now. I’m using Caron Simply Soft and #8 needles and its turning out great. Thanks for the beautiful pattern!
If the last row of the moss stitch is WS purl, shouldn’t step 6 be RS knit, bind off? Am I missing something? Thanks, love the pattern.
Ooh, you’re right! I think I actually meant that to be (RS) Purl, so that the bind-off row would create a row of purl bumps to match the purl bumps created by the long-tail cast-on. Though (RS) Knit would be just fine.
Thanks for letting me know!
Hi,
I love your pattern but am confused about one thing.
In row 3 of the moss border and herringbone stitch I only count 48 stitches. Row 1 worked fine for me because after the herringbone repetition there were 4 stitches to wrap it up, but on row 3 as there are only 3 stitches I wind up short. Should it maybe be P1 to finish the herringbone pattern, and then k1,p1,k1 to finish the moss border?
Thanks so much!
Hi Keely,
There are 49 stitches in row 3. There are 4 sts before the bracketed part (k1, p1, k2), then 42 sts in the bracketed repeats (6 sts repeated 7 times) and then 3 sts to finish it off.
Wow. All of that figuring and retrying things and it was a simple oversight. I had been starting row 3 with k1,p1,k1, instead of k1,p1,k2. Thanks so much for your help!
This scarf has a great texture, I love herringbone stitch, I think I might give this one a try!