Penn State Scarf & Hat in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F416

Penn State Scarf & Hat in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F416

This free Plymouth Yarn Design Studio pattern (F416) delivers a classic collegiate color-blocked set perfect for game-day spirit. The collection includes two projects — a Penn State–inspired scarf and a matching knit hat — both worked in the iconic navy and white color combination that makes them instantly recognizable on the bleachers or around campus. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is offered free with yarn purchase.

About the Projects

The set is designed to coordinate seamlessly, sharing the same yarn, the same two colors, and a unified aesthetic rooted in bold stripe work. Each piece is sized generously for comfort and visibility:

• Hat dimensions: approximately 23 inches in circumference by 8 inches tall
• Scarf dimensions: approximately 8 inches wide by 50 inches long

Materials Required

Both the scarf and the hat are knitted using Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted, a popular worsted-weight yarn well known for its durability, easy care, and wide color range. For this pattern, two specific colorways are called for:

• Color 848 (navy) — referred to in the pattern as Color A
• Color 208 (white) — referred to in the pattern as Color B

Each project — the hat and the scarf — requires one ball of each color, meaning a total of two balls of Color A and two balls of Color B if you plan to knit the complete set. Plymouth Encore Worsted is a wool-acrylic blend, making it a practical choice for accessories that will see regular wear and frequent washing.

Needles

Because the hat and scarf are worked in the round and flat respectively, a small collection of needle sizes and types is needed:

• US 11 circular needle, 24-inch cable — used for the scarf
• US 10½ circular needle, 16-inch cable — used for the body of the hat
• US 10 or US 10½ double pointed needles (DPNs) — used for the crown decreases of the hat as the stitch count reduces and a circular needle becomes impractical

Gauge

The stated gauge for this pattern is 12 stitches equal 4 inches in garter stitch on a US 11 needle, or the size needed to achieve gauge. Because accessories like scarves and hats are not fitted to a body in the same way a sweater is, gauge is somewhat forgiving here, but matching it will ensure the scarf reaches the intended 50-inch length and the hat fits a standard adult head comfortably.

The Penn State Scarf — Techniques and Construction

The scarf is a beautifully simple yet visually striking piece built entirely around single-row color striping in garter stitch. Here is how the construction works:

• Stitches are cast on very loosely with Color A (navy), leaving an 8-inch tail at each end of the cast-on row.
• The yarn is then cut, and Color B (white) is attached — also leaving an 8-inch tail.
• Only one row is knitted with each color before the yarn is cut and the next color is attached.
• This single-row alternation continues for the full length of the scarf, creating a dense, two-color garter stripe fabric.
• Every color change leaves an 8-inch tail at both ends of the row, which ultimately becomes part of the decorative fringe along both short ends of the scarf.

This technique is clever in its simplicity — there is no carrying yarn up the side, no complex intarsia, and no weaving in of ends in the traditional sense. Instead, the tails are intentionally left long and become an organic, built-in fringe that reinforces the Penn State color palette. Garter stitch — produced by knitting every row — gives the fabric a squishy, reversible texture with horizontal ridges that highlight the color changes beautifully.

The Penn State Hat — Techniques and Construction

The hat is worked in the round on circular needles, transitioning to double pointed needles as the crown shaping begins. Like the scarf, it features the same navy and white