Nightbird – a diagonal knit scarf pattern in contrasting colors

Nightbird is a diagonal knit scarf that uses garter stitch, short rows and stockinette stitch in order to create a unique look. It’s actually a pretty easy scarf to make, but it’s listed as intermediate due to the short rows. The scarf is very long, so it can be wrapped in a variety of ways.

Nightbird

A Diagonal Knit Scarf Pattern
Intermediate Skill Level
Designed by Jessie Rayot

As my friend Pia said when she came up with the name for this, “and the summer became the fall. I was not ready for the winter…so I knit myself a shawl, in shades of sapphire and wine.”

Size:
90″ x 13″

Yarn:
Lisa Souza Hardtwist: 100% Superwash Merino, 160 g / 500 yds
Persephone: Color A
Blackbewwie: Color B

Needles: Clover Takumi Interchangeable used
US-4, 3.5mm

Gauge: Learn about gauge HERE
20 sts x 40 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stockinette

Other supplies:
yarn needle

Stitches and Abbreviations: Click on highlighted sts to see tutorials
k – knit
kfb – knit front and back
k2tog – knit two stitches together
p – purl
p2tog – purl two stitches together
w&t – wrap and turn
st(s) – stitch(es)

Getting Started:
Yarn is carried in a way that will make a dashed line across the top, so do not cut yarn util instructed to. Be sure to leave the line of yarn loose when changing color.
Note that Row 40 does not have any increases or decreases.
Here’s a video that shows short rows in garter stitch (w&t): https://www.garnstudio.com/video.php?id=440&lang=en

Pattern:

First Color Block

Cast On 110 with Color A
Row 1: K2tog, k until 1 st remains, kfb.
Row 2: Kfb, k until 2 sts remain, k2tog.
Rows 3-10: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 four more times.

Switch to Color B
Row 11: K2tog, k until 1 st remains, kfb.
Row 12: Kfb, k2, w&t. – {4 sts on right needle, 107 sts on left needle}
Row 13-25 odd: K until 1 st remains, kfb. {112 sts}
Row 14: Kfb, k6, w&t. – {8 sts on right needle, 105 sts on left needle}
Row 16: Kfb, k10, w&t. – {12 sts on right needle, 103 sts on left needle}
Row 18: Kfb, k14, w&t. – {16 sts on right needle, 101 sts on left needle}
Row 20: Kfb, k18, w&t. – {20 sts on right needle, 99 sts on left needle}
Row 22: Kfb, k22, w&t. – {24 sts on right needle, 97 sts on left needle}
Row 24: Kfb, k26, w&t. – {28 sts on right needle, 95 sts on left needle}
Row 26: K2tog, k26, w&t. – {27 sts on right needle, 96 sts on left needle}

Row 27-37 odd: K until 2 sts remain, k2tog. {122 sts}
Row 28: K2tog, k22, w&t. – {23 sts on right needle, 98 sts on left needle}
Row 30: K2tog, k18, w&t. – {19 sts on right needle, 100 sts on left needle}
Row 32: K2tog, k14, w&t. – {15 sts on right needle, 102 sts on left needle}
Row 34: K2tog, k10, w&t. – {11 sts on right needle, 104 sts on left needle}
Row 36: K2tog, k6, w&t. – {7 sts on right needle, 106 sts on left needle}
Row 38: K2tog, k2, w&t. – {3 sts on right needle, 108 sts on left needle}
Row 39: K1, k2tog. {110 sts}
Row 40: K all.

Switch to Color A.
Row 41: K2tog, flip unused Color yarn from front of needle to back of needle, k until 1 st remains, kfb.
Row 42: Kfb, k until 2 sts remain, flip unused Color from front of needle to back of needle, k2tog.
Row 43: P2tog, flip unused Color from front of needle to back of needle, p until 1 st remains, (p, k) in last st.
Rows 44-49: Repeat rows 42 & 43 three more times.
Row 50: Repeat Row 42.

Switch to Color B.
Rows 51-80: Repeat Rows 11-40.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 81-90: Repeat rows 41-50.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 91-120: Repeat Rows 11-40.
Switch to Color A.
Row 121: K2tog, flip unused Color yarn from front of needle to back of needle, k until 1 st remains, kfb.
Row 122: Kfb, k until 2 sts remain, flip unused Color from front of needle to back of needle, k2tog.
Row 123: P2tog, flip unused Color from front of needle to back of needle, p until 1 st remains, (p, k) in last st.
Rows 124-139: Repeat rows 122 & 123 thirteen more times.
Row 140: Repeat Row 122.

Second Color Block

Switch to Color B.
Rows 1-20: Repeat rows 121-140 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 21-50: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 51-60: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color A.
Rows 61-90: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 91-100: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 101-130: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color B.
Rows 131-150: Repeat Rows 121-140 of First Color Block.

Third Color Block

Switch to Color A.
Rows 1-20: Repeat rows 121-140 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 21-50: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 51-60: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color B.
Rows 61-90: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 91-100: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 101-130: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color A.
Rows 131-150: Repeat Rows 121-140 of First Color Block.

Fourth Color Block

Repeat Second Color Block

Fifth Color Block

Repeat Third Color Block

Sixth Color Block

Switch to Color B.
Rows 1-20: Repeat rows 121-140 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 21-50: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 51-60: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color A.
Rows 61-90: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color B.
Rows 91-100: Repeat rows 41-50 of First Color Block.
Switch to Color A.
Rows 101-130: Repeat Rows 11-40 of First Color Block .
Switch to Color B. Cut Color A.
Row 131: K2tog, k until 1 st remains, kfb.
Row 132: Kfb, k until 2 sts remain, k2tog.
Rows 133-140: Repeat Rows 131 & 132 four more times.
Bind off all stitches knit wise.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Wet block flat. Unicorn Rinse used for sample in photos.

Wear or give and enjoy!

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