Hank Scarf in Plymouth Kudo - F456

Plymouth Yarn F456 – 2-Hank Scarf (and 4-Button Cowl) in Plymouth Kudo

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio, designated F456, offers two elegant project options worked in the same stitch pattern using Plymouth Kudo yarn: a generously sized 2-Hank Scarf and a 4-Button Cowl. Both pieces showcase a flowing, lace-influenced wave or chevron stitch pattern that creates beautiful diagonal movement across the fabric, making either accessory a striking addition to any wardrobe.

Projects Included

• 2-Hank Scarf: A long, elegant scarf measuring 68 inches long by 8 inches wide, requiring 2 hanks of Plymouth Kudo.
• 4-Button Cowl: A versatile cowl measuring 31 inches long by 8 inches wide, worked from a single hank and finished with up to 4 buttons for a customizable closure.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Kudo — a 100-gram hank containing 198 yards per hank. The colorway #53 is shown in the sample. The scarf requires 2 hanks; the cowl requires 1 hank.
• Needles: US Size 7 straight or circular knitting needles.
• Optional: 4 buttons for the cowl version, if the button closure is desired.

Gauge

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch over the stitch pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is important to ensure the finished scarf or cowl meets the stated measurements.

Stitch Pattern and Techniques

Both the scarf and the cowl are worked in the same 9-row repeating stitch pattern on a multiple of 10 stitches plus 2. The pattern uses a combination of knit, purl, yarn-over, and decrease stitches to create a graceful, shifting diagonal lace effect. This type of pattern is sometimes referred to as a traveling lace or wave pattern, where yarn-overs and corresponding decreases are offset across successive rows to produce a sense of diagonal movement without changing the overall stitch count.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) — the foundational stitch used throughout the right-side rows.
• Purl (P) — used throughout the wrong-side rows to maintain the fabric structure.
• Yarn Over (yo) — creates an intentional eyelet or open stitch, adding the lace quality to the pattern and compensating for each decrease to keep the stitch count consistent.
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) — a right-leaning decrease worked on right-side rows, pairing with yarn-overs to shape the diagonal wave.
• P2tog (Purl Two Together) — a decrease worked on wrong-side rows, continuing the diagonal movement through the purl rows.

Pattern Construction

The 9-row pattern repeat is structured so that the yarn-over and decrease pairings shift position by two stitches with each successive row, causing the lace column to travel diagonally across the fabric. This technique is accessible to confident beginner and intermediate knitters who are comfortable with basic lace mechanics — specifically yarn-overs and simple decreases — but does not require complex cable techniques or stitch markers beyond basic row tracking.

The scarf is worked flat (back and forth in rows), making it straightforward to execute on standard straight or circular needles. The cowl version is similarly worked flat and then fastened with buttons, giving it a neat, tailored finish without the need for seaming or working in the round.

About Plymouth Kudo Yarn

Plymouth Kudo is the featured yarn for this design, chosen to complement the open, lace-influenced stitch pattern. Each hank contains 198 yards at a 100-gram weight. The yarn's characteristics make it well suited to a pattern that relies on drape and stitch