Pine Trees and Cones Scarf or Scoodie

Pine Trees and Cones Scarf or Scoodie by LoisLeigh

Project Overview

The Pine Trees and Cones Scarf or Scoodie is a versatile knitted accessory designed by LoisLeigh Anderson for AndersonsCreations. This intermediate-level pattern creates a warm, protective garment inspired by the natural beauty of pine trees and pine cones. The design offers dual functionality, allowing knitters to construct either a traditional scarf or convert it into a scoodie—a hybrid scarf-hoodie that provides additional head coverage and weather protection.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a rectangular knitted scarf measuring 10 1/2 inches wide by 80 inches long (27 cm × 203 cm). The finished piece is designed to be warm and protective against harsh weather conditions. The pattern includes specialized instructions for transforming the basic scarf into a scoodie, which extends the garment's functionality by creating a hood-like covering for the head and neck area.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The pattern incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork sections that form the pine tree and pine cone motifs
• Stockinette stitch: Used as the foundation stitch for much of the fabric
• Shaping techniques: Strategic increases and decreases create the visual pine tree and cone patterns throughout the scarf
• Scoodie construction: The pattern includes seaming instructions using a tapestry needle to convert the flat scarf into a three-dimensional scoodie with head coverage

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches suitable for intermediate crafters:

• k (Knit): The basic knit stitch forming the primary fabric structure
• p (Purl): Creates reverse stockinette sections and texture variation; wrong-side rows are worked in purl
• yo (Yarn over): Creates decorative eyelet holes essential to the pine tree and cone motif design
• k2tog (Knit 2 together): A right-leaning decrease that shapes the pattern
• sl1 k psso (Slip 1, knit, pass slipped stitch over): A left-leaning decrease that complements the k2tog for balanced shaping
• RS/WS (Right side/Wrong side): Pattern notation indicating which side of the fabric is facing outward

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn totaling 436 yards across 4 skeins. The original design uses Misti Alpaca Suri Silk in Hunter Green, a luxurious blend of 80% baby Suri Alpaca and 20% silk. This fiber combination provides exceptional softness, warmth, and a subtle sheen. Knitters may substitute any DK weight yarn of comparable yardage and gauge.

Needles and Tools

• Size 5 US (3.75mm) sharp pointed knitting needles: One pair required for working the fabric. Sharp points facilitate working yarn overs and decreases with precision
• Tapestry needle: Essential for finishing the scoodie, used to seam sections together and weave in yarn ends

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The working gauge is 9 stitches and 14 rows per 2 inches (5 cm) in stockinette stitch. Achieving accurate gauge is critical for obtaining the intended finished dimensions of 10 1/2 inches wide by 80 inches long. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated Intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace techniques and garment construction. The combination of yarn overs, decreases, and scoodie assembly requires comfort with reading charts and following shaping instructions, but remains accessible to experienced beginners.

Design Inspiration

The Pine Trees and Cones Scarf or Scoodie celebrates the natural world through fiber art. The lace motifs represent the silhouettes of pine trees and the geometric forms of pine