Ridge Kerchief Knitting Pattern

Please note: this is a digital PDF. When you purchase this pattern, you will receive a download link, not a physical product.

This kerchief is named for the Appalachian ridge and valley systems of my childhood home in Northwest Georgia. The overall shape evokes a ridge in cross section, and the partial garter stitch pattern forms textural ridges on the fabric surface.

This kerchief is a quick knit and easy to modify. Because of the stitch structure, it stretches easily in all directions and is comfortable to wear. It can be tied or looped around the neck in a number of configurations, tied over the hair to cover the head, worn over the ears, or tucked into the collar of a shirt or sweater to form a detachable shawl collar.

It is knit flat from left tip to right tip, and only requires three cast on stitches and three bind off stitches (great for those who find casting on and binding off tedious or difficult), using yarn over increases and knit two together decreases to accomplish the shaping. Increases and decreases are only made on right side rows. The size and shape are easy to adjust or modify.

The pattern does not include a tutorial on how to make the stitches (knit, purl, slip, yo, k2tog), but it is beginner friendly by dent of using basic stitches about which information is widely available on the internet, and includes a few tips on how to reduce the labor of weaving in ends and cleverly manage color changes. It is really easy to modify the size of this kerchief by changing the gauge or working more or fewer increases and rows. The pattern includes many suggestions for modification of color, size, and shape.

Needle size: 3mm or size required to get gauge.

Yarn: two different colors of dk yarn (the yarn I used in the sample 16 wraps per inch).

You could also use a different weight yarn and the same stitch count to knit a larger or smaller piece. Knit as written, the kerchief uses 49 g/~200 meters of yarn. The yarn I used is a handspun, non-superwash merino wool dyed with nettles and madder. Tonal yarn is beautiful for this project.

Enjoy and get in touch by emailing Elaine at info@babbletuck.com if you have any questions. Happy knitting!

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