Equinox, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Equinox

beauty shot

by Merri Fromm

Tangy

There comes a time in every winter when I am desperate to see spring and wear spring clothes. And usually, even though the calendar may say that it is technically spring, the warm temperatures are a long way off. The answer is a wrap in happy spring colors.

Equinox is a long scarf with highly curved ends to wrap in various ways, and is the perfect thing to have in your transitional wardrobe.

spacer model: Merri Fromm

spacer photos: Gaius Nelson

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width/depth: 7 inches/18 cm at center
Length: 70 inches/178 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Coast Holst Garn [55% Lambs Wool, 45% Cotton; 383 yds / 50g skein];
[MC] Lime; 1 skein, approx. 195 yds/177 m used
[CC1] Sea Green; 1 skein, approx. 50 yds/46 m used
[CC2] Lemongrass; 1 skein, approx. 50 yds/46 m used
[CC3] Cantaloup; 1 skein, approx. 125 yds/115 m used
[CC4] Solar; 1 skein, approx. 50 yds/46 m used
[CC5] Candy; 1 skein, approx. 125 yds/115 m used

Yarn Characteristics
The sample uses a lightweight fingering blend of wool and cotton with a very light twist. Using a variety of yarns with different textures will add interest to your project, but try to keep them about the same weight. Use the needle size recommended for the yarn you choose.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1/2.25 mm circular needle, longer length such as 24-inch/60-cm or 32-inch/80-cm
US #1.5/2.5 mm circular needle, longer length such as 24-inch/60 cm or 32-inch/80-cm

Notions
US #B-1/2.25 mm crochet hook
yarn needle

GAUGE

28 sts/48 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
Note: Gauge is not crucial for this pattern, but working to a different gauge may result in a different finished size, or different yardage requirements.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method:
This scarf is knit flat, casting on and binding off on the long sides

Techniques:

Weave in ends as you go.
Unless the same yarn is used in the next row, yarn is cut and new yarn is started.
sl1wyif: slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front
sl1wyib: slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back

CHARTS

Equinox pattern
Row 1 [WS]: With CC5, *sl1wyif, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 [RS]: With CC5, knit.
Row 3: With CC5, purl.
Row 4: With CC5, knit.
Row 5: With CC5, *sl1wyib, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 6: With CC2, *sl1wyif, sl1wyib; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sl1wyif, k1.
Row 7: With CC3, *sl1wyib, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 8: With CC3, knit.
Row 9: With CC4, purl.
Row 10: With MC, *sl1wyib, sl1wyif; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sl1wyib, k1.
Row 11: With CC3, *p1, sl1wyib: rep from * until 2 sts remain, p2.
Row 12: With CC3, knit.
Row 13: With CC3, purl.
Row 14: With CC2, *sl1wyif, sl1wyib; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sl1wyif, k1.
Row 15: With CC5, * p1; sl1wyif; rep from * until 2 sts remain, p2.
Row 16; With CC5, knit.
Row 17: With CC5, purl.
Row 18: With MC, *sl1wyib, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 19: With MC, purl.
Row 20: With MC, knit.
Row 21: With CC4, *sl1wyif, sl1wyib; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sl1wyif, p1 .
Row 22: With CC1, * sl1wyif, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 23: With CC1, purl.
Row 24: With CC1, knit.
Row 25: With CC3, *p1, sl1wyib; rep from * until 2 sts remain, p2.
Row 26: With CC3, *sl1wyif, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 27: With CC1, purl.
Row 28: With CC1, knit.
Row 29: With MC, *sl1wyif, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 30: With MC, knit.
Row 31: With CC4, *sl1wyif, sl1wyib; rep from * until 2 sts remain, sl1wyif, p1
Row 32: With MC, knit.
Rep Rows 1–32

DIRECTIONS

Using smaller needle, in MC crochet cast on 480 stitches.
Work ribbing: (K1, p1) across.

Work 5 rows of ribbing as set.
Change to larger needle.

Row 1 [RS]: Work Equinox pattern across.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 1 purlwise, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 1 st decreased.
Row 3: BO 1 knitwise, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 1 st decreased.

Work as set by Rows 2-3 until you have completed 15 rows of the pattern. 466 sts.
Row 16 [WS]: BO 1 purlwise, p2tog, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 2 sts decreased.
Row 17: [RS]: BO 1 knitwise, k2tog, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 2 sts decreased.

Work as set by Rows 16-17 until you have completed 30 rows of the pattern. 436 sts.

Row 31 [RS]: BO 1 knitwise, k2tog twice, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 3 sts decreased.
Row 32 [WS]: BO 1 purlwise, p2tog twice, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 3 sts decreased.

At this point you will have completed the first repeat of the Equinox pattern.

Beginning again at Row 1 of the pattern, work another 12 rows in pattern. 44 rows worked total. 394 sts.

Row 45 [RS]: BO 1 knitwise, k2tog three times, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 4 sts decreased.
Row 46 [WS]: BO 1 purlwise, p2tog three times, work Equinox pattern to end of row. 4 sts decreased.
Work as set, continuing with 4 decreases per row, until you have completed 96 rows of the pattern (repeat the pattern 3 times total) – you will end on Row 32 of the pattern stitch.

Break yarn, leaving remaining sts on the larger needle. 186 sts.

EDGING
With smaller needle, starting at the lower right-hand edge of the right side of the piece, pick up and knit 80 sts (approximately 4 sts for every 5 rows) until you reach the held sts; knit across the held sts, and then pick up and knit sts another 80 st down second edge, (approximately 4 sts for every 5 rows). 330 sts.

Work 5 rows of ribbing as per first edge, then BO in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in any remaining ends. To block, soak in lukewarm water until fully saturated; roll in a towel to squeeze out most of the moisture and then lay flat to dry. Do not stretch or pin.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Merri lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she spends her days doing a little bit of wellness coaching and a lot of dreaming about what she's going to knit next, while working on her current knitting project. As a resident of Minnesota, she feels knitting is a required life skill. She lives with her husband and the crazy new rescue cat Trig.

You'll find more of her work on Ravelry.