Volver

To Return: by Debby Reece

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 Inspiration

This patter n, like all of the patter ns Ive designed, is

inspired by a family member. This time: my dad. Dad has
always been a strong, steady foundation in my life. Not only
has he demonstrated unconditional love and support, but he
has always been there to listen, provide his opinion and
guidance when I need a sounding board or advice. In times of
tur moil, confusion or simple indecision, I seem to retur n to him
for that quiet strength and wisdom. He has been such a
positive influence in how I navigate my life. I have named the
patter n Volver (To Retur n, in Spanish) because it represents my
repeated retur ns to connect with my Dad. Construction of the
scarf requires casting on a few stitches, increasing to nearly
the full width of the scarf,
and then tur ning and
retur ning, knitting back to
the starting point. This
construction further reflects
the name of the patter n,
Volver. The scarf is
designed to use multiple
colors, with the number
and sequence deter mined
by the creator. Us as many
colors as you like, and be
free to make this design
your own.

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 Materials
Yar n: Wool or wool blend in worsted weight or DK in 3 or 4
colors. 300-350 grams of worsted weight, or 350-400 grams of
DK weight.
Needles: US 8 for worsted, US 6 for DK
Finished Measurements: 72 - 78 long 10 wide - worsted,
approximately 60 long 10 wide for DK
Gauge: 4 st/in and 8 rows/in worsted, 5 st/in and 9 rows/in DK
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Construction
Construction: The scarf is knit along the short end of the scarf,
starting with a few stitches and increasing as you knit to the
full length, creating a long triangle (with squared off tip). The
work is then tur ned and knit back for the full length, picking
up stitches along the angled edge created by the first half.
The first two stitches on the right side are always knit (purl on
the wrong side) to create a mock i-chord along the outer
edges of the scarf for a smooth finish. Colors are switched on
the right side. I recommend you cut your yar n unless color
changes are short and you prefer to carry the yar n up the side.

Abbreviations:
CO - cast on K - knit P - purl
Sl1 - slip 1 stitch sts - stitches BO - bind off
Kfb - knit in the front and back of the same stitch, increasing 1
stitch

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 Patter n:
The first number in the
patter n is for worsted
weight, while the number
in ( ) is for the DK weight.

CO 5 (7) stitches. If you

are making a cowl
version, use provisional
cast on for grafting at the
end.

Row 1(RS): K all sts.

Row 2(WS): Sl1 (as to purl with yar n in front), K to last 2 sts,
P2.

Repeat these two rows 4 times more (10 rows worked). Repeat
Row 1 (11 rows worked). On the 12th row (WS) perfor m an
Increase Row as follows:
Inc Row (WS): Sl1, Kfb, K to last 2 sts, P2.
Continue in this manner, repeating Rows 1 and 2, and
increasing on the 12th row each time (this will be on a WS
row), until you have 44 (52) sts on the needle.

AT THE SAME TIME: switch colors along the way, as you wish,
creating stripes of varying width. It may be easier to start your
new color after knitting the first two sts of each right side row,
so you dont have to weave in ends along the mock i-chord
edge.

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 Making the Tur n

After the last increase row, 44 (52) sts on

the needle, repeat Rows 1 and 2 five
times more (10 rows worked).

Next RS row (SCARF VERSION):

BO 43 (51) sts, CO 1 st, then slip the last
st over the new CO st. CO 4 (6) more for
a total of 5 (7) sts on the needle. [Use the
knitted cast on for the COs in this
section.]

Next RS row (COWL VERSION):

Place 43 (52) sts on wast yar n or st holder. Cut working yar n
leaving a 24 tail. Using a provisional cast on method, CO 5
(7) sts on the needle.

Now tur n the scarf clockwise with the right side still facing
you, and start working back, parallel to the scarf triangle
already knit. (Cowl Version: on Row 1, work across sts just cast
on and connect to the existing scarf, as directed below)

Row 1(RS): K to the last st. Slip last st (as to knit), pick up 1 st
through both legs of the edge st on the triangle. Pass the
slipped st over the last picked up st. Tur n.
Row 2(WS): Sl1 (as to purl with the yar n in front), K to the last
2 sts, P2.

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 Continue in this manner, repeating Rows 1 and 2, and
increasing on the 12th row each time, until you have 44 (52)
sts on the needle. The increase rows should line up with the
increase rows on the first half of the scarf. No worries if they
dont match up exactly. If
youre within a row or two, it
wont matter after blocking.

Last WS row (SCARF

VERSION):
After you pick up the last edge
stitch at the beginning cast on
edge, tur n and BO all stitches
on the wrong side.

Last WS row (COWL VERSION):

After you pick up the last edge
stitch at the beginning cast on
edge, tur n and work last WS
row. Keeping stitches live,
pick up original 5 (7) sts from
beginning and place them on
the needle. Graft these live
stitches with the other end of
the scarf using the Kitchener
stitch for garter stitch.

Add fringe or i-chord edging along the short edges of the

scarf, or leave as-is. Weave in ends. Soak for 15 minutes and
lay flat to dry, blocking to desired measurements. Enjoy!

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 Modifications:
If you would like to modify the length and width of your scarf
or cowl, you will need to know your stitch and row gauge.
Once you knit a swatch in GARTER STITCH (knitting all rows),
measure the number of stitches per inch (SPI) and rows per
inch (RPI) and write them below.

SPI = ______
RPI = ______

In order to deter mine how often (on which row) to perfor m the
increase, you need to decide the total width of your scarf (W)
in inches. You will also need to decide how long (L) you want
your scarf to be. You decide, and fill in below.
W = ______ inches
L = _____ inches

Now calculate the following:

Total number of stitches: S = W x SPI = _______

Total number of rows: R = L x RPI = ________

I recommend you start with at least 5 stitches to cast on, two

mock i-chord stitches, and 3 regular garter stitches. So the
total number of stitch increases (SI) needed to go from 5 CO
stitches to the total number of stitches is:
SI = S - 5 = _______

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 Now take the total number of rows over which these increases
need to take place, divide by SI, and you have the number of
rows (N) (how often) you need to perfor m the increase.

N = R/SI N needs to be an even number so the increase row

always occurs on the WS row, as per the patter n. If N is an
odd number (or decimal) for your calculations, simply add or
delete1. This is the row on which
you need to perfor m the increase.

Example 1:
SPI = 4 stitches per inch
RPI = 8 rows per inch
W = 12 inches
L = 50 inches

S = 12 x 4 = 48 sts
R = 50 x 8 = 400 rows
SI = 48-5 = 43
N = 400/43 = 9.3 so use 10

Follow the patter n as written but

increase on every 10th row and you
will increase from 5 sts cast on until
you have 48 sts total. If you back-check the math, this wont
result in exactly 400 rows because you rounded up to 10, but
its pretty close and you can round down too, as long as N is
an even number.

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 Example 2:
SPI = 4.5 sts per inch
RPI = 9.5 rows per inch
W = 8 inches
L = 60 inches

S = 8 x 4.5 = 36 sts
R = 60 x 9.5 = 570 rows
SI = 36-5 = 31
N = 570/31 = 18.3 so
increase on every 18th
row

If you have any questions,

feel free to reach out to me
on Ravelry at debbyreece,
or on Instagram at
debbysreece. Id love to see
your progress so tag your
photos on Instagram using
the hashtag #volverscarf.
Thanks so much and I hope
you enjoy your finished
object!

A special thank you to all of my test knitters and to Amber

(@yar nhoarder) and Connie (@connie_knitz) for providing photos for
this patter n!

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