Colourful Winter Scarf

This is what I need right now: CoIourful and cosy accessories that actually make me look forward to the cold and chase away first signs of grey weather blues.

I made this scarf from yarn I spun on my spinning wheel, but of course you can use any beautiful yarn (pure wool or alpaca is best). Just in case you spin too I mixed sheep’s wool with bamboo (for extra shine) and a hint of angelica (for a bit of sparkle).

The colours I chose are dark red, two shades of violet, burned orange, pink, cream and teal.

The scarf is crocheted using the small shell stitch, it’s surrounded by a cluster lace edging. None of the stitches are difficult to make, the edging is a little more challenging than the shell stitch.

The stitches you need to know are single, double and treble crochet.

At least 200g of wool in your favourite colours, depending on how long and how wide you want your scarf to be

Crochet hook, size depends on the wool you use

Large eye wool needle

Abbreviations

ch chain

dc double crochet

sc single crochet

tr treble

tog together

Decide on how wide you want your scarf to be.

Make a foundation chain of a multiple of 3 ch plus an extra 2 ch.

To make the foundation row sc into 2nd ch from hook, then 1 sc into each ch to the end.

Row 1: 3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into same place *miss 2 sc, 3 dc into next sc, repeat from * to the end of the row, ending with 2 dc into the last sc.

Row 2: 1 ch, 1 sc into each dc to the end, 1 sc into 3rd of 3 ch.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until your scarf is as long as you want it.

A note on changing colours

To get a neat change of colour, the last stitch of a row should be completed in the new colour. To do this work the final stitch in the old colour up to the last step than pick up the new colour and complete the stitch.

Cut off the old colour and continue with the next colour.

I like to stop once in a while to sew yarn ends in, so I don’t have to do it all at the end.

Row 1: With a contrasting colour sc in each stitch around the whole edge of the scarf. Work 2 to 3 extra stitches into the corner spaces to make a neat corner.

Row 2: 3ch, (1dc, 5ch, tr3tog into top of dc, 1dc) all into first sc * 3ch, miss 5sc, (1dc, 5ch, tr3tog into top of dc, 1dc) all into next sc, rep from * to end.

How to tr 3tog: Work three treble into the space, leaving the last loop of each treble on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all four loops on the hook.

Fasten off.

Sew in all the yarn ends with the needle.

That's it, the scarf is ready to wear!