Beginner’s Scarves in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F116

Beginner's Scarves in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F116

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company, pattern number F116, offers two beginner-friendly scarf designs worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn. Designed by JoAnne Turcotte, this pattern is an ideal starting point for new knitters who want to build foundational skills while creating a practical, wearable accessory. Both scarves are worked flat on straight needles and finish at approximately 6 inches wide by 60 inches long, making them a generous, classic scarf length suitable for all seasons.

The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF with yarn purchase, making it an excellent value for anyone picking up their first skein of Encore Worsted.

Materials and Gauge

• Yarn: 1 ball of Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted
• Needles: US size 10 straight knitting needles
• Gauge: Approximately 4 stitches per inch over stockinette stitch
• Finished Size: Approximately 6" x 60"

Plymouth Encore Worsted is a popular worsted-weight yarn well loved for its durability, wide color range, and ease of care, making it especially well suited to beginner projects. Working at a gauge of 4 stitches to the inch on US 10 needles produces a fabric that knits up quickly and shows stitch definition clearly — both important qualities when learning new techniques.

Design One: Garter Stitch Ridge Scarf

The Garter Stitch Ridge Scarf is the featured design shown in the pattern photography. It combines two of the most fundamental knitting techniques — garter stitch and stockinette stitch — to create a textured, ridged fabric with visual interest that belies its beginner-level construction.

The scarf begins and ends with several rows of garter stitch (knitting every row), which creates a neat, non-curling border at each end. The body of the scarf is worked in a simple four-row repeat that alternates between stockinette and garter rows, producing raised horizontal ridges across the fabric. This combination is an excellent introduction to understanding how knit and purl stitches interact to create different textures.

Stitches and Techniques – Garter Stitch Ridge Scarf

• Garter stitch – knitting every row, creating a squishy, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Stockinette stitch – alternating knit rows (right side) and purl rows (wrong side)
• Four-row repeat: Row 1 knit, Row 2 purl, Row 3 knit, Row 4 knit — repeated throughout the body
• Cast on: 24 stitches, worked loosely
• Bind off: knitwise
• Finishing: weaving in ends

The instruction to knit until almost out of yarn teaches beginners an important practical skill: managing yarn quantity to maximize the length of a project without running short before the finishing border.

Design Two: Mock Rib Scarf

The Mock Rib Scarf, while not shown in the pattern photography, offers a slightly different texture and silhouette. It uses a two-row repeat that mimics the look of traditional ribbing without the full elasticity of true rib stitch. This makes it a wonderful next step for a beginner who has mastered basic knit and purl combinations and wants to explore simple stitch pattern repeats.

The mock rib pattern creates a fabric with subtle vertical columns that give the scarf a neat, structured appearance. The garter stitch border stitches on each edge — three stitches on either side — prevent the edges from curling and add a clean, finished look without requiring a separate border treatment.

Stitches and Techniques – Mock Rib Scarf

• Mock rib stitch – a two-row repeat combining knit and purl stitches to simulate the look of ribbing