Bluesy Scarf in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Paints - Downloadable PDF

Bluesy Scarf in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Paints – Knitting Pattern by Marilyn Losee

The Bluesy Scarf is a free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern designed by Marilyn Losee and worked in two complementary Caron yarns: Simply Soft and Simply Soft Paints. The finished scarf measures approximately 8 inches wide by 72 inches long (excluding fringe), making it a generously sized, wearable accessory with a rich textural stripe effect and a playful fringe finish. The color combination of Dark Country Blue (9711) from the Simply Soft line and Oceana (0006) from Simply Soft Paints creates a cool, tonal blue palette with the added visual interest of the variegated painted yarn.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a long, wide knitted scarf suitable for everyday wear. The design is ideal for knitters who are new to colorwork techniques, as it introduces a simple two-color slip stitch pattern without requiring complex color management. The scarf is finished with seed stitch borders at each end and a knotted fringe made from the contrast yarn, adding a bohemian, textured edge detail.

Techniques Used

• Two-color slip stitch knitting: The main body of the scarf uses a slip stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2. Only one color is worked per row, while the other is slipped, creating a woven, interlocking visual effect without stranding or carrying yarn across the row in the traditional colorwork sense.
• Carrying yarn up the side: The unused color is carried along the side edge of the work rather than cut and rejoined, keeping the project tidy and reducing the number of ends to weave in.
• Seed stitch borders: A three-row seed stitch border is worked at the cast-on and bind-off edges using the main color (Color A, Dark Country Blue), providing a neat, non-curling frame for the scarf.
• Wet blocking: The finished piece is laid flat, sprayed with water, and allowed to dry to even out the stitches and ensure the edges lie flat — an important finishing step for any knitted accessory.
• Knotted fringe: Lengths of Color B (Oceana) are cut to 18 inches, grouped into bundles of 6 strands, and attached in each knit-2 Color B space along the cast-on and bind-off edges, then trimmed evenly for a polished finish.

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch: Worked by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, then knitting the purl stitches and purling the knit stitches on subsequent rows. This creates a bumpy, reversible fabric that lies flat and resists curling — perfect for scarf borders.
• Slip Stitch Pattern: A four-row repeat worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2. Rows 1 and 2 are worked with Color B, knitting or purling 2 stitches and slipping 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in back (or front on purl rows). Rows 3 and 4 are worked entirely in Color A as plain knit rows. The slipped stitches from Color A create elongated vertical columns that visually blend the two yarn colors into a cohesive, textured fabric.

Materials

• Yarn A: Caron Simply Soft in Dark Country Blue (9711) — 1 skein (170 g / 6 oz; 288 m / 315 yds). This is a smooth, worsted-weight acrylic yarn known for its soft hand and easy care.
• Yarn B: Caron Simply Soft Paints in Oceana (0006) — 1 skein (113 g / 4 oz; 190 m / 208 yds). Simply Soft Paints is a variegated version of the Simply Soft line, offering long color repeats in coordinating tonal shades that complement the solid colorway beautifully.
• Needles: