Knitted merino wool neck warmer with a unique twist—decorate with leftover yarns
This merino wool neck warmer is a fun project that makes use of leftover yarn in a playful way. After finishing the solid-color base, decorate the neck warmer with any yarns you like and leave the ends on the sides to make casual fringes.
Size: One size.
Merino wool neck warmer: materials
Yarn: Säiewool Merino Aran (100% merino wool, 115 g/skein). Color: After the Storm. Amount used in the sample: 176 g.
leftover yarns according to your preference
needles size 4.5–5 mm (US6–7) or according to personal gauge
a blunt needle for threading leftover yarns
Stitch patterns:
- 1x1 ribbing: *k1, p1*, repeat from * to *; on the following row, knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches.
- Stockinette stitch: Knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side.
Gauge: 18 sts × 24 rows = 10 × 10 cm.
Abbreviations:
- m1l: make one left, left-leaning increase; lift the strand between stitches from the front onto the left needle and knit it through the back loop.
- m1r: make one right, right-leaning increase; lift the strand between stitches from the back onto the left needle and knit it through the front loop.
- k: knit, knit stitch
- p: purl, purl stitch
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease, 1 st decreases)
- RS: right side of the work
- ssk: slip, slip, knit: slip two stitches knitwise, one by one, return them to the left needle, and knit them together through the back loops (left-leaning decrease, 1 st decreases).
- st(s): stitch(es)
Merino wool neck warmer: instructions
First, knit the front piece flat from the bottom up. Then, knit the back piece from the top down. Finally, knit the ribbing at the neckline and weave in the leftover yarn.
Front piece
Cast on 47 sts and work 1x1 ribbing for 4 cm. Switch to stockinette stitch. Always knit the first and last stitch (i.e., on both right and wrong sides). Begin the increases:
Increase row (RS): k1, m1r, knit until 1 st remains, m1l, k1.
Continue working stockinette stitch and repeat the increase row every 8th row. Work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 30 cm. On the next RS row, bind off 23 sts in the center for the neckline and work the right side of the neckline first (when you put the neck warmer on, this side is on your right) as follows:
Decrease row (RS): Ssk, knit to the end of the row (at the same time, continue making increases along the outer edge every 8th row).
Repeat the decrease row a total of 7 times (7 sts decreased). Continue until the piece measures 37 cm and you have 15 sts on the shoulder. Leave these 15 sts on hold.
Next, knit the left side of the neckline (when you put the neck warmer on, this side is on your left). Attach the yarn on the RS.
Decrease row (RS): Knit on the RS until 2 sts remain, k2tog (at the same time, continue making increases on the outer edge every 8th row).
Repeat the decrease row a total of 7 times (7 sts decreased). Continue until the piece measures 37 cm and you have 15 sts on the shoulder.
Do not cut the yarn. On the next RS row, knit the 15 shoulder sts, single cast on 37 sts (for the center back neckline), and knit the 15 sts left on hold. You now have 67 sts in total.
Back piece
Continue working stockinette stitch with all sts, always knitting the edge st, until the back piece measures 17 cm. Then work 1x1 ribbing for 4 cm and bind off in ribbing.
Collar
Pick up and knit 80 sts from the neckline. Knit 1 × 1 ribbing for about 25 cm and bind off loosely.
Tip!
The collar of the neck warmer is well-fitted, so if you prefer a looser collar, pick up more stitches. Remember to always pick up an even number of stitches.
Finishing
Soak the neck warmer and let it dry flat. Thread two scrap yarns through every other row so that the yarn pair passes under every other stitch and over the next, as shown in the picture. Tie the scrap yarns at the ends of the rows so that the yarns from two rows are tied together.
