by Jan

Looking for a nice cozy winter craft that takes so little concentration you can do it while watching television? Then learning to knit is just the thing.

There are plenty of websites that will provide you with basic knitting instructions. Check out our sidebar for some craftygal recommended links for learning this practical craft. Or, if you’d rather use printed instructions, you should be able to find an inexpensive pamphlet at your local craft store or yarn shop. Cheaper still, your local library should also offer books on the topic.

Don’t worry that the published instructions often offer ugly, dated projects. You just need help learning the basic steps. Craftygal is here to provide you with a funky, chunky pocket scarf that’s an ideal first project. Tie this baby around your neck and you’ll be calling out "Bring it on, sister!" to winter happy mother nature.

We won’t worry about gauge or blocking or any of those serious knitting techniques with this project. The object is to gain some experience with the basic stitches while creating a fun and useful scarf.

Supplies:

4-5 skeins of Super Chunky Weight yarn for the body of the scarf. We used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick

1 skein of complimentary yarn for stitching the pockets on and adding fringe.

#11 US 8.0 mm knitting needles

Big eyed sewing needle (an upholstery needle works well)

Scissors

Cast on 36 stitches

First row: k4, p4, k4, p4 k4, p4, k4, p4, k4

Second row: p4, k4, p4, k4, p4, k4, p4, k4, p4

Third row: k4, p4, k4, p4 k4, p4, k4, p4, k4

Fourth row: p4, k4, p4, k4, p4, k4, p4, k4, p4

Continue alternating rows in this fashion, knitting and purling away.

When you run out of yarn in a skein, simply create a double knot with the end of that skein and the beginning of the next skein. Trim excess yarn (but not too close) and tuck the knot in once you’ve created a few new rows.

Keep on knitting and purling.

As the scarf gets longer, you’ll want to measure its length. Put the scarf over your shoulders and, with your arms at your sides, check to see how far past your hands it hangs. You’ll want the scarf to continue at least 7 inches past your hands to allow for the pockets you’re going to create.

Once your scarf is the desired length, cast off.

Now you’re ready to create the pockets.

Fold the scarf up on one side to create a pocket, as seen here:

Thread a length of the complimentary yarn on the needle. Knot the end and use it to stitch up one side of the pocket. Knot the end and cut the yarn. Do the same to sew up the other side of the pocket. Your pocket should look like this:

Follow the same steps to create a pocket of the same size on the other end of the scarf. Or, if you’d like, you can leave the other end plain and have only one pocket.

Now you’re ready to add some fringe to the end of the scarf. Cut 3 to 5 9-inch lengths of the complimentary yarn and the main yarn (if you have any left). The scarf has a ridged appearance because of the way you alternated stitches. You’ll add fringe to each ridged section, and for each section, you’ll want 3 to 5 pieces of yarn.

Once you have your fringe yarn all cut, take 3 to 5 pieces of yarn and fold them in half like this:

Now, put your hand inside the pocket. In the first ridged section, right at the fold, use your finger to poke up one stitch, as seen here:

Take the fringe yarn in your other hand and push the folded end through the stitch, like this:

Then, take the ends of the fringe yarn and pull them through the loop created by the folded end:

Pull the ends tight:

Continue adding fringe to each ridged section. Once you’ve finished adding the fringe, you can trim it all to the same length.

Now you’re ready to wrap your creation around your neck, get up off the sofa, and head out to meet old lady winter. Just tell her craftygal sent you.

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