BFL Forever Keyhole Scarf

BFL Forever Keyhole Scarf by Stefanie Goodwin Ritter

Project Overview

The BFL Forever Keyhole Scarf is a knitted neck accessory designed to fit a 16-inch circumference neck with a keyhole opening feature. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a practical and stylish scarf approximately 4 inches wide and 24 inches long. The design is fully customizable, allowing knitters to adjust the finished measurements to suit individual needs and available yarn quantities.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a fitted keyhole scarf—a hybrid accessory that combines the comfort of a traditional scarf with the convenience of a keyhole opening. The keyhole construction allows the scarf to be worn securely around the neck without requiring fastening, making it an elegant solution for layering under coats or wearing as a standalone neck warmer. The scarf can be easily modified for different neck sizes by adjusting the length before the keyhole section begins.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The BFL Forever Keyhole Scarf employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level crafters. The primary stitch pattern used throughout the project is K2, P2 rib, which creates a textured, elastic fabric that provides excellent recovery and drape. This ribbed construction is worked in alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, creating vertical columns of texture.

The keyhole feature is created through strategic stitch placement and division. After knitting the initial body of the scarf to the desired length (typically 18 inches before adjustments), half of the stitches are placed on a holder while the remaining stitches continue to be worked separately. This technique creates the opening characteristic of keyhole scarves, allowing the two sides to be worked independently before being rejoined or bound off.

The gauge for this project is 7.5 stitches and 6 rows over 2 inches in K2, P2 rib. However, the designer notes that strict gauge adherence is not critical for this project, as the finished dimensions can be verified through measurement during the knitting process rather than relying solely on gauge calculations.

Materials and Tools

The BFL Forever Keyhole Scarf requires 4 ounces of fiber spun and plied to approximately 5.5 wraps per inch (wpi). The pattern specifically recommends Kitchen Sink Dyeworks' BFL Roving as the featured yarn, though the designer provides flexibility by noting that any bulky or super chunky weight yarn can be substituted if hand-spinning is not preferred. This accommodation makes the pattern accessible to knitters who do not spin their own yarn.

US size 13 needles are required for this project. The needle size pairs appropriately with the super chunky yarn weight to create the intended fabric density and drape for the finished scarf.

Pattern Flexibility and Customization

A key feature of this pattern is its built-in flexibility for customization. Knitters can adjust the scarf length before beginning the keyhole section by measuring the desired neck circumference and adding 2 to 3 inches to determine the total length needed. This adaptability ensures the scarf fits properly regardless of individual neck size variations. Additionally, knitters concerned about yarn quantity can ensure sufficient fiber remains by reserving enough yardage to knit an additional 7 to 8 inches, including the bind-off, before committing to the keyhole construction.