678 Traveling Scarf - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Colrain

Pattern 678 Travelling Scarf – Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Colrain

The 678 Travelling Scarf is a knitted scarf pattern designed by Kathy Elkins and published by Valley Yarns. This beginner-friendly project produces a cozy, textured scarf measuring 6 inches wide and 60 inches long — a generous length perfect for wrapping up warmly on chilly commutes, whether by car, plane, or train. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for knitters eager to cast on right away.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a classic rectangular knitted scarf worked flat from cast-on edge to bind-off. The finished dimensions of 6" wide by 60" long make it a versatile accessory suitable for year-round wear. The design features a visually appealing travelling stitch texture — a rhythmic interplay of knit and purl columns that shift position across a ten-row repeat, giving the fabric a dynamic, almost woven appearance without requiring any complex cable needles or stitch markers.

Techniques Used

The 678 Travelling Scarf is worked flat (back and forth in rows), making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic row-by-row knitting. Key techniques include:

• Long-tail or standard cast-on of 32 stitches to begin the scarf
• Working right-side (RS) and wrong-side (WS) rows with distinct stitch arrangements on each
• Ten-row pattern repeat that travels knit and purl columns diagonally across the fabric, creating the signature textured effect
• Blocking after completion to even out the stitches and open up the texture of the fabric
• Weaving in ends for a clean, polished finish

The concept of travelling stitches refers to the way the ribbed columns of knits and purls shift one stitch to the side with each wrong-side row, creating a subtle diagonal movement across the fabric. This is achieved purely through strategic placement of knit and purl stitches — no cable needle or slip stitches are required — making it an excellent introduction to textured stitch patterns for beginner and advancing knitters alike.

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern relies entirely on the two most fundamental knitting stitches, making this a wonderfully approachable project:

• Knit stitch (k) — used on every right-side row and integrated into the wrong-side pattern rows
• Purl stitch (p) — used on wrong-side rows to build the travelling column effect

The specific wrong-side row sequence is as follows, each row shifting the knit-purl arrangement by one stitch to create the travelling effect:

• Row 2 (WS): [P2, k3] to last 2 sts, p2
• Row 4 (WS): K1, [p2, k3] to last st, p1
• Row 6 (WS): K2, [p2, k3] to end
• Row 8 (WS): [K3, p2] to last 2 sts, k2
• Row 10 (WS): P1, [k3, p2] to last st, k1

All odd-numbered rows (right-side rows) are simply knitted across, giving the knitter a restful, easy row between each patterned wrong-side row. This alternating structure makes it easy to track progress and keeps the project enjoyable even for those new to textured stitch patterns.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for 3 skeins of Valley Yarns Colrain, a worsted weight yarn with a beautiful fiber blend of 50% Merino wool and 50% Tencel. Each skein contains 50g / 109 yards, giving a total yardage of approximately 327 yards