Crochet Project #6: Waffle Stitch Scarf

24 Mar Crochet Project #6: Waffle Stitch Scarf

A more perfectly matched yarn for a friend does not exist. Because of just how perfect this yarn is for the receiver, this is my favourite project of the year, so far. It was also super-fast to work up.

The yarn is Bernat Softee Chunky in the colour Shadow Ombre. It is a #6 Super Bulky. This is the second time I’ve worked with Softee Chunky–this first time being my V-Stitch blanket–and I love it. The reason why it’s the most perfect match to ever exist is because these colours are my friend’s favourite colours. She loves them so much, they are her hair colours and have been for decades. I asked my friends about their colour preferences for gifts and when she said these colours, I got so excited because I already had this yarn in my stash. It was meant to be!

Enough of the love story. Let’s get into the details.

The Pattern

The pattern is one from my brain. It’s nothing fancy. It’s a modified waffle stitch. Instead of a starting chain of a multiple of three plus two, my waffle stitch is chain with a multiple of three because I use a stacked single crochet in the first stitch instead of a chain three as the final double crochet before turning.

I used a 8.0 mm crochet hook for the body, with a 9.0 mm for the starting chain. My original pattern had a chain of 30, but after finishing 21 rows, I realised it was way too wide for any neck, frogged and started again with a chain 18.

The final pattern is so:

350 metres* #6 Super Bulky yarn. 9.0 mm hook for the chain. 8.0 mm hook for the body
Chain 18.
Row 1: 1 stacked single crochet. 17 double crochet, Turn. (18 stitches).
Row 2: 1 stacked single crochet. [Front post double crochet and two double crochet]5 times. Front post double crochet. Double crochet. Turn. (18 stitches)
Row 3: 1 stacked single crochet. [Double crochet and two front post double crochet]5 times. 2 Double crochet. Turn. (18 stitches).
Row 4 to desired length: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Final row: 18 single crochet.
*I used slightly more than 4 skeins at 70 metres per skein.

The Finished Waffle Scarf

Before I get to the finished dimension, let’s talk about the stacked single crochet. I really love the way I do them. It’s not like the other way people do them by starting the second single crochet in the left leg of the first single crochet. I promise I’ll have a tutorial up soon because the way the finished product looks is amazing.

Unlike the usual method of doing a stacked single where the finished stitch looks like two stiches side-by-side or a stitch with a turning chain, with my method, you can’t tell the difference between a regular double crochet and the stacked single. See the below image of the side of the work where every stitch looks the same. It’s a super clean edge.

The finished scarf is super dense and squeezable. It’s probably too warm for the climate we live in on Vancouver Island, but we can be surprised by cold days. And there is a whole entire country to visit where this scarf would be put to good use.

I think I could have gotten away with 15 stitches. It’s slightly too tall for my neck and the receiver is shorter than I am, so it will be even bigger for their neck. Because the finished fabric is so dense, it does not want to bend over on itself. Hopefully a wash will relax the fibres to make it easier to create a folded collar with it.

The finished product is 92 rows and measures 18 cm wide by 153 cm long (7 in by 60 in). It took 4 hours 57 minutes and 06 seconds to stitch. The retail value at B.C.’s minimum wage ($17.85/hr CAD) plus $24.95 CAD for the yarn is $96.35 CAD.

The way this variegated yarn worked up in the waffle pattern perfectly captures the friend who will be receiving it. I’m just so in love with it!

What WIP did you recently complete? Let me know in the comments!