I have been knitting since I was seven years old. I learned to make things long before I could read a pattern.
Slippers, hoods, blankets, ponchos, scarves and more flew from my needles. My family and friends loved receiving everything I made. I learned patterns from friends long before I learned to read knitting patterns in books. From there, the “world” of yarn and needles opened up wide. I make everything and anything.
For this winter, I received a down jacket as a gift. The hood was missing, but that is not a problem for me. I have decided to make a hooded scarf that will work much better than a snap-on hood. You see, hoods do not conform to the neck and face area; wind blows in and makes my neck cold. A hooded scarf will fit inside the neck of the jacket and conform to my face and head. I can also wear a knit cap inside the scarf for added warmth.
You will need:
- ·:
Decide how wide and long you want your scarf to be. I like to have mine about six feet long. I can drape this over my shoulders, tuck the ends inside the jacket or wrap them around my neck for additional warmth.
Measure around your head to find out how wide you need your hood to be. Measure from your neck to the top of your head so that you will know the height of your hood.
Obtain your gauge by knitting a swatch and measuring how many stitches horizontally and rows vertically make an inch. Armed with this information, you can calculate the number of stitches you need. Keep in mind that if you want to incorporate lace or cable stitch patterns, your swatch will be slightly narrower than if you used garter stitch alone.
Step Two:
Cast on your stitches and knit your scarf. You can knit it along the entire length using circular needles, or from one end to the other.
If you are knitting along the length, you can place stitches on a holder to pick up and knit your hood. Find the middle stitch and hold enough stitches to equal your hood measurements. Finish the scarf, pick up your stitches and knit your hood.
For scarves knitted along the width measurement, find and mark the center stitch. Pick up stitches along the knitted edge using your favorite method. Knit your hood.
Sew the top together or join with knitting stitches according to your favorite method. You can find these methods in knitting books or on the internet.
You can crochet an edge around your scarf, attach fringe or other embellishments to the ends or attach a drawstring around the face of the hood. You can custom finish your design any way you choose.
Step Three:
Block your new scarf and hood by washing it by hand. Lay it out to dry flat, occasionally stretching it here and there so that it fits the measurements you desire.
For lace hoods and scarves, you will need to attach the item to a taut sheet or stretching frame. As it dries, the lace holes will open and the results will be beautiful.
Notes:
- · Experiment and have fun. Use different sizes of needles and yarns for completely different effects.
- · If your hooded scarf inspires you, you can get a little more creative. Make your scarf long enough to reach your fingertips. Lay it out on the bed. Knit panels that will allow you to sew pieces together to create a hooded sweater or jacket lining.
Hooded scarves make wonderful gifts for any time of year.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects, RV’ing and more.
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