Non-Binary Scarf

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Non-binary Asymmetric Scarf

This is a shawl I made for my niece, who is non-binary (I think);  it’s adapted from May I Borrow This, Please?, a free pattern on ravelry.com originally devised by Lorraine Waitman (2019).

Gauge is not all that important, so long as you make a fluid fabric.  I used 4.5mm needles and…

Main color:  Chroma Fingering in (color) Wednesday, from Knitpicks.com;  100g = 396 yards

Contrast color:  Carnival, color #1, from Hobbii.com;  100g (3.5oz) = 240m (262 yards)

The main differences from the original pattern are…

  1. After the first section, I alternated four rows of the grey yarn with two rows of the contrast yarn.  You can, of course, add in the contrast stripes from rows 5 and 6 if you choose.  Next time, I will probably do that!
  2. The garter section consists of eight repeats of four main-color rows followed by two garter rows in the contrast color. It works best with a long color change yarn, as you can see!
  3. Instead of eyelet chain stitch sections, I developed stocking stitch and garter stitch sections. In the first, there are four rows in grey in stocking stitch, then two rows of contrast yarn.  The contrast yarn rows are always in garter stitch – that is, they always make a ridge. The garter stitch section has all knit rows, both main and contrast colors.

Instructions

Setup:

  1. Cast on 3 stitches using your preferred method.
  2. (WS): K3
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K2tog
  4. (WS): Sl1, kfb, K1 (count = 4 stitches)

Section 1 in stocking stitch:

  1. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog
  2. (WS): Sl1, P to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.

Repeat rows S1 and S2 until there are 30 stitches on the needles.

Optional:  you can do this in the same way as the stocking stitch section, if you prefer – that is, you can start the contrast rows at rows 5 and 6.

Garter stitch section:

  1. (RS): Using main color, K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  2. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  4. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch to contrast color
  5. (RS): Using contrast yarn:  K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  6. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch back to main color.

Carry the contrast yarn up the side as you go.  Repeat these six rows eight times, ending with contrast yarn.

Stocking stitch section:

  1. (RS): Using main color, K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  2. (WS): Sl1, PURL to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  4. (WS): Sl1, PURL to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch to contrast color.
  5. (RS): Using contrast yarn:  K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  6. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch back to main color.

Carry the contrast yarn up the side as you go.  Repeat these six rows eight times, ending with contrast yarn.

Garter stitch section (reprise):

  1. (RS): Using main color, K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  2. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  4. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch to contrast color
  5. (RS): Using contrast yarn:  K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  6. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch back to main color.

Carry the contrast yarn up the side as you go.  Repeat these six rows eight times, ending with contrast yarn.

Stocking stitch section (reprise):

  1. (RS): Using main color, K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  2. (WS): Sl1, PURL to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  4. (WS): Sl1, PURL to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch to contrast color.
  5. (RS): Using contrast yarn:  K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  6. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch back to main color.

Carry the contrast yarn up the side as you go.  Repeat these six rows eight times, ending with contrast yarn.

Garter stitch section (final time):

  1. (RS): Using main color, K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  2. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1.
  3. (RS): K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  4. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch to contrast color
  5. (RS): Using contrast yarn:  K1, yo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog,
  6. (WS): Sl1, K to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. Switch back to main color.

Carry the contrast yarn up the side as you go.  Repeat these six rows four times, or as many times as you wish – with 100g balls, you should have plenty of yarn for up to eight repeats.  Finish with four rows (two garter ridges) of the main color.

Cast off loosely or use a stretchy bind off.

Sew in any ends… and you’re done!

Here is a printable .pdf file:  Non-Binary Asymmetric Shawl.