Crochet Boyfriend Scarf
Crochet this soft and stretchy scarf in on-trend colors. This project uses a two by two rib stitch pattern made by alternating front post and back post double crochets. The Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca® Yarn makes it warm, washable and durable. Please enjoy this free pattern.
Inspiration —
I live in Minnesota and I wanted to make something as a special gift when the snow starts to fly. This project is called the Boyfriend Scarf because it makes a great gift for the partner in your life—that way it’s easily available for you to wear too—just sayin.’
Reminiscent of the look of a traditional varsity or campus scarf, this one uses a repeating stripe pattern then switches up the colors in the last stripe sequence to make it much more interesting (and also a great use of yarn). It looks sporty, smart and the colors are on trend. (Am I the only one seeing the Carhartt® gold color everywhere?) So, I knew I wanted to use a gold color and a dark gray (always looks good), the touch of pink brings the perfect softness to the look.
Design —
For this scarf, I wanted the stretch that ribbing provides. (The scarf is 4.5 inches wide, but stretches to about 6.5 inches.) Ribbing provides a soft and snuggly density, perfect for a scarf. Many crochet rib stitches are worked vertically, so I settled on the two by two rib stitch made by alternating front post and back post double crochets, as it is a horizontal rib stitch which allowed me to easily work color changes.
Front and back post stitches are worked around the post of next stitch, rather than the usual top “V” of the stitch. See the helpful video links in the instructions.
Further, the scarf is worked in rows, chaining three and turning work after each row; as is typical, turning chains are counted as a stitch. The pattern is created by alternating two front post double crochets with two back post double crochets. One double crochet is worked (into the turning chain from the previous row) as the last stitch in each row.
This pattern is easy, but probably not for very beginners. You should be familiar and comfortable with working chain stitches and double crochets. Knowledge of working in front and back posts is helpful, but if you’re new to the technique, this could be a fun challenge for you. Further, this yarn is somewhat hairy, so visually seeing your work, especially in the dark charcoal color, could present another challenge for very beginners.
I find the extra-long length of this scarf just about perfect. Looks great wrapped around the neck both once or twice. Also allows for other ways to wrap or tie a scarf, get creative.
Pointers —
Until you have the hang of the pattern, count your stitches after each row including the turning chain to ensure you have 22 stitches in each row.
Join a new color of yarn at the end of the row (before the row with the new color). Work the last double crochet with the current yarn until two loops remain on the hook, then complete the stitch with the new yarn. Pull ends of both yarns taut at join. Leave a 2-3 inch tail on each yarn end to weave in.
Selling points —
This scarf is stretchy. Squishy. Chunky. Cozy. Soft. Hairy. Extra long. Washable. Durable. Hip. Sporty. Smart. So attractive. Warm. But so cool. (Maybe that also describes the special person you’ll make this for?)
Yarn —
Here’s how Lion Brand describes their Touch of Alpaca® yarn: “Experience the soft, silky Touch of Alpaca®! Alpaca is similar to sheep’s wool but warmer, softer, and hypoallergenic. Our Touch of Alpaca® blend offers these top qualities of natural fiber combined with durability and washability…” Further, it is called “affordable luxury.”
I love this yarn. This yarn is the element that gives the scarf all the qualities mentioned above. The color choices were ample in this yarn and the combination used give the stripes their “pop” effect, while being perfectly on trend. I also love the slight heather in each of these colors. And it’s hairy without being fuzzy. I guess that’s the silk effect of the alpaca.
Another advantage of this yarn is that it hides those loose ends really well. Yeah, I know there are a lot of them. But it helps when they easily disappear when weaving in.
I did have some splitting when working with this yarn. I made sure I had good light and checked my work frequently to deal with the splitting. So worth it, the benefits of this yarn far outweigh this minor inconvenience.
Pattern
CROCHET | SKILL LEVEL: Easy
SIZE
approx 4.5 inches wide, 76 inches long
MATERIALS
Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca® Yarn (90% Acrylic, 10% Alpaca, 207 yds, 4 medium worsted weight)
Color A – 2 skeins Charcoal [674-152]
Color B – 1 skein Blush [674-104]
Color C – 1 skein Goldenrod [674-158]
Size J/10 (6 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Scissors
Stitch counter (optional)
ABBREVIATIONS
approx = approximately
BPdc = back post double crochet
ch = ch
dc = double crochet
FPdc = front post double crochet
rep = repeat
st(s) = stitch(es)
Pattern uses U.S. crochet terms.
GAUGE
18 sts x 11 rows on J/10 (6 mm) hook in pattern st (2 x 2 rib) = 4 inches
[4.5 sts x 2.75 rows = 1 inch]
NOTES
The scarf is worked in rows, chaining 3 and turning work after each row. Turning ch 3 counts as a stitch. The stitch used for the scarf is a 2 x 2 rib stitch made by alternating FPdc and BPdc.
SPECIAL STITCHES
FPdc = front post double crochet
(Insert hook on front side of work.)
Yarn over, insert hook on FRONT side of work, from front to back then to front again, going around post of next st one row below, draw up a loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times.
See Annie’s Attic for a helpful video and illustration of FPdc>>
BPdc = back post double crochet
(Insert hook on back side of work, reaching over top of piece and working on opposite side of the work.)
Yarn over, insert hook on BACK side of work, from front to back then to front again, going around post of next st one row below, draw up a loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times.
See Annie’s Attic for a helpful video and illustration of BPdc>>
INSTRUCTIONS
Final stitch count for all rows is (22).
With Color A ch 24
[Foundation row]
Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch to end. ch3 (counts as first st in row 2), turn.
(also count the first 3 ch sts you skipped at the beg of the row as a st.)
[Pattern rows – remainder of scarf is worked by repeating rows 2 and 3, making color changes as indicated in the instructions below or use the list of rows by color]
Row 2: FPdc in next st. [BPdc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next 2 sts] rep to end of row working last st as a dc (counts as last FPdc) around the 3 turning chains from the previous row. ch 3 (counts as first BPdc in next row), turn.
Row 3: BPdc in next st. [FPdc in next 2 sts, BPdc in next 2 sts] rep to end of row working last st as a dc (counts as last BPdc) around the 3 turning chains from the previous row. ch 3 (counts as the first FPdc in next row), turn.
Rows 4-17: rep rows 2-3.
POINTER: Join a new color of yarn at the end of the row (before the row with the new color). Work the last double crochet with the current yarn until 2 loops remain on the hook, then complete the stitch with the new yarn. In other words, in the last double crochet of the row before the color change, pull new color through the last 2 loops on the hook as you work the second half of the double crochet. Pull ends of both yarns taut at join. Leave a 2-3 inch tail on each yarn end to weave in.
Row 18: rep row 2, changing to Color B in last dc. (row is Color A)
Row 19: rep row 3, changing to Color A in last dc. (row is Color B)
Row 20: rep row 2, changing to Color C in last dc. (row is Color A)
Row 21: rep row 3. (row is Color C)
Row 22: rep row 2. (row is Color C)
Row 23: rep row 3. (row is Color C)
Row 24: rep row 2. (row is Color C)
Row 25: rep row 3, changing to Color A in last dc. (row is Color C)
Row 26: rep row 2, changing to Color B in last dc. (row is Color A)
Row 27: rep row 3, changing to Color A in last dc. (row is Color B)
Rows 28-135: [rep rows 2-27] 4 more times.
Rows 136-153: rep rows 2-3, changing to Color C in last dc of row 153. (rows are Color A)
Rows 154-171: rep rows 2-3, changing to Color A in last dc of row 171. (rows are Color C)
Row 172: rep row 2, changing to Color C in last dc. (row is Color A)
Row 173: rep row 3, changing to Color B in last dc. (row is Color C)
Row 174: rep row 2. (row is Color B)
Row 175: rep row 3. (row is Color B)
Row 176: rep row 2. (row is Color B)
Row 177: rep row 3. (row is Color B)
Row 178: rep row 2, changing to Color C in last dc. (row is Color B)
Row 179: rep row 3, changing to Color A in last dc. (row is Color C)
Row 180: rep row 2, changing to Color C in last dc. (row is Color A)
Row 181: rep row 3. (row is Color C and all remaining rows are Color C)
Rows 182-196: rep rows 2-3.
Row 197: rep row 2.
Row 198: BPdc in next st. [FPdc in next 2 sts, BPdc in next 2 sts] rep to end of row working last st as a dc (counts as last BPdc) around the 3 turning chains from the previous row.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends.
CARE
Machine wash, lay flat to dry.
Rows by Color
Here’s the color pattern:
18 rows Color A [charcoal]
1 row Color B [blush]
1 row Color A [charcoal]
5 rows Color C [goldenrod]
1 row Color A [charcoal]
1 row Color B [blush]
rep above color sequence 4 more times (27 rows x 5=135 rows)
18 rows Color A [charcoal] (153 rows)
18 rows Color C [goldenrod]
1 row Color A [charcoal]
1 row Color C [goldenrod]
5 rows Color B [blush]
1 row Color C [goldenrod]
1 row Color A [charcoal]
18 rows Color C [goldenrod] (198 rows)
Here’s the color breakdown row by row:
Rows 1-18: Color A [charcoal]
Row 19: Color B [blush]
Row 20: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 21-25: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 26: Color A [charcoal]
Row 27: Color B [blush]
Rows 28-45: Color A [charcoal]
Row 46: Color B [blush]
Row 47: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 48-52: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 53: Color A [charcoal]
Row 54: Color B [blush]
Rows 55-72: Color A [charcoal]
Row 73: Color B [blush]
Row 74: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 75-79: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 80: Color A [charcoal]
Row 81: Color B [blush]
Rows 82-99: Color A [charcoal]
Row 100: Color B [blush]
Row 101: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 102-106: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 107: Color A [charcoal]
Row 108: Color B [blush]
Rows 109-126: Color A [charcoal]
Row 127: Color B [blush]
Row 128: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 129-133: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 134: Color A [charcoal]
Row 135: Color B [blush]
Rows 136-153: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 154-171: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 172: Color A [charcoal]
Row 173: Color C [goldenrod]
Rows 174-178: Color B [blush]
Row 179: Color C [goldenrod]
Row 180: Color A [charcoal]
Rows 181-198: Color C [goldenrod]
