Infinity Scarf in Ella Rae Lace Merino DK - ER6-02 - Downloadable PDF

Infinity Scarf in Ella Rae Lace Merino DK – Pattern ER6-02

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Ella Rae guides you through creating a beautifully textured infinity scarf — a seamless loop-style accessory that sits elegantly around the neck without the need for tying or pinning. The finished scarf measures approximately 22 cm (8¾ in) wide and 120 cm (47¼ in) in length before the ends are joined, making it a generously sized cowl-style wrap suitable for everyday wear.

What Is Being Made

The project is an infinity scarf, also commonly referred to as a circular scarf or loop scarf. Once knitted flat, the cast-on and cast-off edges are sewn together to form a continuous circle, giving the finished piece its characteristic infinity shape. The scarf is worked in alternating sections of two distinct stitch patterns, creating a striking contrast of textures that runs along its full length.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The design features two carefully constructed stitch patterns that alternate in 20 cm sections throughout the scarf. Together they produce a fabric that is visually dynamic, combining open lacework with a more compressed, ridged texture.

• Slanting Eyelets Pattern – worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2, this 8-row repeat creates a series of diagonal eyelet openings that travel across the fabric. The slanting effect is achieved through the strategic placement of yarn-over increases and paired decreases (p2tog) in alternating positions on each right-side and wrong-side row. Special yarn-over techniques — yfrn (yarn forward and around needle) used between a knit and purl stitch, and yon (yarn over needle) used between a purl and knit stitch — ensure clean, well-defined eyelets throughout.
• Ridge and Hole Pattern – worked over a multiple of 2 stitches plus 1, this 4-row repeat produces a compact, ridged texture punctuated by small, evenly spaced holes. The pattern uses an unusual construction: Row 2 halves the stitch count by working p2tog across, and Row 3 restores it by purling through the horizontal strand lying between stitches — a technique that creates a dense, gathered ridge. Row 4 then introduces a simple yrn, p2tog sequence to add the characteristic hole detail. Stitch counts should only be checked after Rows 1, 3, or 4 of this repeat.

The scarf is worked entirely flat on a single pair of needles, with the two pattern sections alternating from beginning to end. Minor stitch count adjustments — increasing by 1 stitch when transitioning into the Ridge and Hole Pattern, and decreasing by 1 stitch when returning to the Slanting Eyelets Pattern — ensure each pattern repeat begins and ends cleanly.

Key Knitting Techniques

• Lace knitting – both patterns rely on yarn-over increases paired with p2tog decreases to maintain stitch count while creating decorative openwork
• Yarn-over variations – the pattern distinguishes between yfrn, yon, and yrn depending on the surrounding stitches, ensuring the yarn is correctly positioned for the next stitch type
• Picking up horizontal strands – used in the Ridge and Hole Pattern to restore stitches after a decrease row, creating the characteristic gathered ridge effect
• Seaming – the finishing step joins the cast-on and cast-off edges together to form the infinity loop, requiring careful alignment of the two ends

Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Ella Rae Lace Merino DK yarn, a DK weight yarn sold in 100g hanks. The scarf requires 2 hanks in colour number 203. Knitted on 3.75mm (US 5) needles, the recommended tension is 22.5 stitches over 10 cm measured in pattern. The merino fibre content of the yarn lends the finished scarf a soft, drapey quality that complements the open lacework sections particularly well.