Morning Surf Scarf - Free Pattern

 Photo above © BohoBerry 

Morning Surf Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer is a wonderfully adaptable knitted scarf featuring soft, undulating openwork inspired by waves moving across the sea.

The design uses dropped yarnovers to create long, flowing stitches and an airy lace-like fabric. It is particularly attractive in variegated and handspun yarns, but one of the great advantages of Morning Surf is its flexibility: the pattern can be adapted to many different yarn weights and scarf widths.

✓ Free Pattern Availability

Good news: Morning Surf Scarf is still available as a free knitting pattern. The pattern is associated with Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer and HeartStrings FiberArts and has also been published by Spin-Off / Interweave.

Morning Surf Scarf at a Glance

Pattern: Morning Surf Scarf

Designer: Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer

Original Publication: January 1998

Craft: Knitting

Category: Scarf

Yarn Weight: Adaptable to different yarn weights

Gauge: Flexible — choose a needle that produces good drape

Width: Adjustable in 10-stitch increments

Notable Technique: Dropped yarnovers

Construction: Worked flat

Current Availability: Free pattern

About the Morning Surf Scarf

Morning Surf is a scarf where the yarn can become just as important as the stitch pattern.

Instead of dense cables or complicated colourwork, the design creates long open stitches that move gently across the fabric. The result has a wave-like appearance that works especially well with yarns containing several colours or subtle changes in texture.

This makes Morning Surf an interesting choice for a special skein of hand-dyed or handspun yarn that you want to showcase rather than hide inside a very complicated stitch pattern.

The Story Behind Morning Surf

The scarf has an especially fitting origin.

Designer Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer was inspired by a morning walk along the beach while attending a spinning event in Florida. The colours and movement of the water influenced both her choice of fibre and the undulating stitch sequence that eventually became Morning Surf.

The original scarf was created to showcase handspun yarn whose variations in colour and texture became part of the character of the finished piece.

A Pattern Designed for Different Yarns

One of the most useful characteristics of Morning Surf is that it was not designed around one rigid yarn specification.

The pattern can be adapted to a wide range of yarn sizes. Rather than insisting on one yarn weight and one needle size, the designer provides guidance for selecting needles that create a fabric with attractive drape without becoming excessively loose.

This makes Morning Surf particularly useful for:

• Handspun yarn
• Variegated yarn
• Hand-dyed yarn
• Special single skeins
• Stash yarn
• Experimenting with different yarn weights

Adjusting the Width

The scarf width is also easy to customize.

The cast-on can be increased or decreased in increments of 10 stitches, allowing you to make a narrower scarf or a broader wrap-like version.

Remember that increasing the width also increases yarn consumption, so allow extra yardage if you plan to make a substantially wider or longer scarf.

The Dropped-Yarnover Effect

Morning Surf gets much of its distinctive appearance from dropped yarnovers.

Yarnovers create additional loops while knitting. In this design, selected loops are later released in a controlled way, allowing the surrounding stitches to lengthen and form the characteristic open, wave-like sections.

Although the finished fabric looks unusual, the underlying concept is approachable once you understand what is supposed to happen to the extra loops.

This is one of those techniques where a small practice swatch can make the full project much easier to understand.

Why Variegated Yarn Works So Well

Highly variegated yarn can sometimes hide elaborate textured stitches. Morning Surf takes almost the opposite approach.

The elongated stitches create enough visual space for changing colours to remain visible, while the repeating waves add movement without competing heavily with the yarn.

For this reason, the pattern can be particularly effective when you have a colourful skein that looks beautiful by itself but seems difficult to match with a conventional stitch pattern.

Needle Choice

Because Morning Surf is designed for different yarn weights, there is no single needle size that every knitter must use.

The goal is to choose a needle that produces a draping fabric without becoming sloppy.

Make a small swatch first. If the fabric feels stiff, try a larger needle. If the elongated stitches look excessively loose or unstable, try a smaller needle.

Straight or Circular Needles?

The designer specifically recommends straight needles for this project.

Circular needles can technically be used for flat knitting, but the multiple yarnovers used in Morning Surf may be less convenient to slide from the flexible cable back onto the needle tip.

If you normally prefer circular needles, this is worth considering before beginning the project.

Skills That Help

Useful skills for Morning Surf include:

• Casting on
• Knit stitches
• Purl stitches
• Working yarnovers
• Handling multiple yarnovers
• Dropping designated loops intentionally
• Following a repeating stitch sequence
• Binding off
• Blocking a knitted scarf

Use Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer's original pattern for the exact stitch sequence and row-by-row instructions.

A Good Handspun Yarn Project

Morning Surf has a particularly strong connection with handspinning. The original scarf was designed specifically to showcase the character of handspun fibre.

Handspun yarn does not always have the absolute uniformity of commercially produced yarn, but in a design like this those variations can become part of the visual effect rather than something that needs to be hidden.

The pattern later appeared in Spin-Off, making that relationship with spinning even more appropriate.

Blocking Morning Surf

Blocking helps the elongated stitches settle into position and allows the wave-like structure to become more visible.

Follow the washing instructions appropriate for your chosen fibre, especially when working with handspun or unusual blends.

Shape the damp scarf gently and allow it to dry completely before removing it from the blocking surface.

Is Morning Surf Scarf Still Free?

Yes. Morning Surf Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer is still listed as a free knitting pattern.

The pattern has a long history, having first appeared in the late 1990s and later being published in Spin-Off.

Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted row-by-row instructions. Instead, we provide project information and direct knitters to the legitimate pattern listing.

Get the Free Morning Surf Scarf Pattern

Ravelry currently lists Morning Surf Scarf as a free pattern and provides the pattern information and source details.

Get the Free Morning Surf Scarf Pattern →

More Free Knitted Scarves

If you enjoy adaptable scarf projects, continue exploring the Amazing Knitting archive for more free patterns and stitch ideas.

Explore Free Scarf Knitting Patterns →

You can also browse lace scarf patterns, handspun knitting projects, and projects for variegated yarn.

Before You Start

Choose the yarn you would like to showcase and make a small swatch before deciding on your final needle size and scarf width.

Pay particular attention to the dropped-yarnover technique. Once you understand how the elongated stitches are created, the repeating pattern becomes much easier to recognize as you knit.

Pattern credit: Morning Surf Scarf was designed by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer of HeartStrings FiberArts. The existing photograph on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to BohoBerry. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted row-by-row knitting instructions.

7 Free Scarf Knitting Patterns for Cozy, Beautiful Projects

Looking for a beautiful free scarf knitting pattern for your next project? Scarves are one of the most versatile things you can put on your needles: they are easy to customize, useful for experimenting with new stitches and perfect for turning special yarn into something you can actually wear.

This collection brings together 7 free scarf knitting patterns from the Amazing Knitting archive. You'll find quick keyhole scarves, beginner-friendly garter stitch, lace, cables, colorful chevrons and patterns that work beautifully with hand-dyed or gradient yarn.

Most importantly, each pattern below has been reviewed for current availability. Every link first takes you to our detailed Amazing Knitting guide, where you can find yarn, needle, sizing and construction information together with the legitimate current pattern source.

✓ All 7 patterns in this collection currently have a legitimate free pattern source.

7 Beautiful Free Scarf Knitting Patterns

1. ZickZack Scarf

ZickZack Scarf by Christy Kamm is a wonderfully colorful scarf built from simple chevron shaping and self-striping fingering-weight yarn.

Despite its dramatic appearance, the zigzag pattern uses straightforward increases and decreases rather than complicated colorwork techniques. Two different color-changing yarns alternate throughout the project, allowing the yarn itself to create the striking striped effect.

The finished scarf measures approximately 9 × 63 inches and uses about 831 yards of fingering-weight yarn on 3 mm needles.

Best for: Color lovers, self-striping yarn and an impressive project that is easier than it looks.

See the Free ZickZack Scarf Pattern →

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2. Cherry Pie Scarf

Cherry Pie Scarf by Yucca is a short keyhole scarf featuring beautiful star-stitch texture.

Instead of wrapping long ends around your neck, one end of the scarf slips through a knitted opening, helping the scarf stay neatly in place under a coat or jacket.

It uses approximately 208 yards of DK yarn and measures about 6 inches wide by 36 inches long. The original pattern also includes a photo tutorial for the star stitch.

Best for: Quick gifts, textured knitting and anyone who wants a compact scarf that stays securely in place.

See the Free Cherry Pie Scarf Pattern →

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3. Birch Trees Scarf

Birch Trees Scarf by Julia Marsh is a graceful DK-weight lace scarf with branching motifs that resemble slender trees.

Five lace panels run along the length of the scarf, framed by a moss-stitch border. The result is decorative enough to feel special while still relying on a manageable set of lace techniques.

The scarf uses approximately 380–400 meters of DK yarn and measures about 64 × 10 inches when finished.

Best for: Knitters ready to practice lace while still working a traditional rectangular scarf.

See the Free Birch Trees Scarf Pattern →

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4. The Simple Thing

The Simple Thing by Melina Brell sits somewhere between a small scarf and a tiny shawl, which is exactly what makes it so useful.

It is worked sideways in relaxing garter stitch from one narrow point to the other, with tidy I-cord edges along the sides.

The original version uses only one skein of DK yarn—approximately 219–273 yards—but the designer makes the construction easy to adjust. You can knit it longer, shorter, wider or narrower depending on the amount of yarn you have.

Best for: One special skein, simple garter stitch and a lightweight scarf-style accessory.

See The Simple Thing Free Knitting Pattern →

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5. Wainscot Scarf

Wainscot Scarf by Pauline Walpole is a simple, unisex bulky-weight scarf with a beautifully textured repeating stitch.

One of its biggest advantages is the rhythm of the pattern: the same stitch sequence is worked repeatedly, making it an excellent choice when you want relaxing knitting without ending up with a plain garter-stitch scarf.

The original scarf uses two skeins of Ewe Ewe Baa Baa Bulky, approximately 260–264 yards in total, and measures around 7 × 68 inches.

Best for: Easy winter knitting, gifts for men or women and quick projects in bulky merino.

See the Free Wainscot Scarf Pattern →

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6. Chestnut Street Scarf

Chestnut Street Scarf by Alexandra Davidoff for Lion Brand brings classic cable texture to a straightforward rectangular scarf.

The design uses Fishermen's Wool and a traditional cable motif, producing a warm, substantial accessory with a timeless look.

Because the basic shape remains simple, the project lets you concentrate on cable technique without having to manage garment shaping at the same time.

Best for: Classic cables, wool yarn and a traditional cold- weather scarf.

See the Free Chestnut Street Scarf Pattern →

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7. Morning Surf Scarf

Morning Surf Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer is a highly adaptable lace-style scarf designed to work with many different yarn weights.

Its undulating openwork pattern is particularly effective with variegated, hand-dyed or handspun yarn because the stitch structure allows the yarn's colors to remain visible.

The pattern can also be adjusted easily: the cast-on count can be changed in multiples of ten, letting you make the scarf wider or narrower to suit your yarn and preferred finished size.

Best for: Handspun yarn, variegated skeins and knitters who like easily customizable patterns.

See the Free Morning Surf Scarf Pattern →

Which Free Scarf Should You Knit First?

The best choice depends on the kind of knitting you enjoy and the yarn already waiting in your stash.

• For dramatic color: ZickZack Scarf
• For a quick gift: Cherry Pie Scarf
• For lace practice: Birch Trees Scarf
• For one special skein: The Simple Thing
• For easy bulky knitting: Wainscot Scarf
• For classic cables: Chestnut Street Scarf
• For hand-dyed or handspun yarn: Morning Surf Scarf

Choosing Yarn for a Knitted Scarf

Scarves are particularly forgiving projects for experimenting with yarn because you do not usually have to match body measurements as precisely as you would with a sweater.

That does not mean yarn weight is unimportant. Changing from fingering to DK or bulky yarn can dramatically alter the width, length, drape and amount of yarn required.

For textured stitches and cables, smooth solid or lightly tonal yarns usually show the stitch pattern most clearly. Self-striping and gradient yarns are especially effective in simpler designs such as ZickZack, where the color changes become part of the visual effect.

Scarves Are Great Skill-Building Projects

A scarf can be one of the easiest ways to learn a new knitting technique without also worrying about sweater fit or complicated shaping.

This collection gives you several skills to explore:

• Garter stitch and I-cord edges
• Star stitch
• Lace increases and decreases
• Chevron shaping
• Textured knit-and-purl patterns
• Cable knitting
• Working with self-striping and variegated yarn

Don't Skip Blocking

Blocking can make a noticeable difference to the appearance of a finished scarf, particularly when lace or cables are involved.

Lace may look compressed directly from the needles. After appropriate washing and blocking, the openwork can relax and the motif becomes much easier to see.

Always use a blocking method appropriate for the fiber content of your yarn and follow the original designer's recommendations when available.

More Free Knitting Collections

If you'd like a larger neck-and-shoulder accessory, explore our separate shawl collection:

Explore 7 Free Shawl Knitting Patterns →

Or if you have only one skein waiting in your stash, we also have a collection built specifically around small-yarn projects:

Explore 7 Free One-Skein Knitting Patterns →

Free Pattern Availability

All seven patterns in this collection were reviewed as currently available through legitimate free sources when this article was prepared.

Pattern availability can change over time. A designer or publisher may move a pattern, discontinue it or change it from free to paid.

For that reason, every project in this collection links first to its corresponding Amazing Knitting guide. Those pages identify the designer, provide useful project information and direct readers toward the current authorized pattern source.

Read Our Pattern Availability & Editorial Policy →

Amazing Knitting is an independent pattern discovery and project-guide site. The knitting patterns featured in this collection remain the intellectual property of their respective designers and publishers. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce their complete copyrighted row-by-row instructions or charts.

Pfeilraupe - Free Pattern

Pfeilraupe by Alpi Alpenrose is a distinctive asymmetrical knitted shawl that combines simple garter stitch with a clever construction detail: a series of openings that let you thread one end of the shawl through the fabric.

Those slots are more than decorative. They help hold the shawl in place and make it possible to arrange the finished piece in several different ways around the neck and shoulders.

Despite its unusual finished shape, Pfeilraupe is primarily a garter-stitch project, making the construction much more approachable than the finished shawl might initially suggest.

The original Pfeilraupe knitting pattern is currently available as a free download from the designer through Ravelry.

Design: Alpi Alpenrose. Featured project photo: christa-l.

Pfeilraupe Shawl Pattern Overview

• Pattern: Pfeilraupe
• Designer: Alpi Alpenrose
• Publisher: Alpenrose Designs
• Published: August 2015
• Project type: Shawl / wrap
• Shape: Elongated asymmetrical triangle
• Yarn weight: Sport
• Yardage: Approximately 571 yd / 522 m
• Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm
• Gauge: 21 stitches × 48 rows = 4 in / 10 cm
• Finished size: Approximately 160 × 45 cm
• Size: One size
• Main fabric: Garter stitch
• Pattern availability: Free

What Makes Pfeilraupe Different?

At first glance, Pfeilraupe looks like an unusual asymmetrical shawl, but its most recognizable feature becomes clearer when you look at the openings worked into the wider section of the fabric.

These knitted slots allow the narrow end of the shawl to pass through the fabric.

That simple idea gives the shawl a practical advantage: it can stay wrapped around the wearer without relying entirely on a shawl pin or constant readjustment.

A Versatile Asymmetrical Shawl

Pfeilraupe is shaped as a long, stretched triangle rather than a traditional symmetrical triangular shawl.

The unusual proportions and strategically placed openings provide several possibilities for draping the finished piece.

It can be worn loosely over the shoulders, wrapped more closely around the neck, or arranged with the narrow end passing through one of the openings.

This versatility is one of the characteristics that made the design stand out among garter-stitch shawls.

Mostly Garter Stitch

The visual shape of Pfeilraupe may look complicated, but the basic knitted fabric is refreshingly simple.

The designer describes the shawl as essentially simple garter-stitch knitting with a few clever details.

Because garter stitch is created by knitting every row when working flat, much of the project has a comfortable repetitive rhythm.

The construction details and shaping provide the interest while the basic fabric remains straightforward.

Yarn and Yardage

The published pattern information lists approximately:

571 yards / 522 meters of sport-weight yarn.

The designer's original version was made using handspun yarn, which helps explain the organic texture and character of the original shawl.

A yarn with good stitch definition can help emphasize the horizontal garter ridges and the distinctive openings.

As with any shawl substitution, differences in fiber, elasticity and gauge may change the final dimensions and drape.

Needle Size

The published pattern calls for:

US 4 / 3.5 mm knitting needles.

Choose a needle type that is comfortable for holding the growing number of stitches. A circular needle can be convenient even though the shawl itself is worked flat.

Gauge

The listed gauge is:

21 stitches × 48 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm.

For a shawl, exact gauge is generally less critical than it would be for a fitted sweater, but it still affects the finished dimensions, fabric density and amount of yarn required.

If your gauge is substantially looser than the designer's, you may need more yarn than the amount listed in the pattern.

Finished Size

Using the designer's handspun yarn, the approximate finished dimensions after washing, without blocking, were:

• Length: approximately 160 cm
• Width: approximately 45 cm

Treat these measurements as a useful reference rather than a guarantee. Different yarns and individual knitting tension can produce different final dimensions.

The Signature Slots

The openings are the feature that transforms Pfeilraupe from a simple garter-stitch triangle into a highly recognizable shawl.

They are incorporated into the knitting rather than cut into the fabric afterward.

Once the shawl is finished, the narrow end can be threaded through a chosen opening to create different wrapped arrangements.

This means the openings serve both a decorative and functional purpose.

Shaping the Shawl

The elongated triangular shape develops through increases and shaping as the shawl progresses.

The design also uses short-row techniques to help create its distinctive geometry.

Although the main fabric is garter stitch, it is important to follow the designer's instructions carefully when you reach the shaping and slot sections.

Useful Skills for Pfeilraupe

It is helpful to be comfortable with:

• Casting on
• Knit stitches
• Garter stitch
• Increasing stitches
• Short-row shaping
• Binding off and casting on stitches within a row
• Following repeated shaping instructions
• Binding off
• Weaving in yarn ends

Choosing Yarn for Pfeilraupe

Because the pattern creates a long shawl with several openings, yarn choice affects both appearance and function.

A yarn that produces a very loose or extremely slippery fabric may behave differently when the narrow end is passed through one of the slots.

A sport-weight yarn that creates a comfortable but reasonably stable garter-stitch fabric is a good starting point.

Before beginning, check that you have enough yarn to complete the full shawl, especially if you plan to alter the size.

Blocking and Finishing

After knitting, weave in the yarn ends securely and wash or block the shawl according to the care requirements of your chosen yarn.

Blocking can help settle the garter-stitch fabric and improve the overall shape, but avoid stretching the piece more aggressively than your yarn can comfortably tolerate.

The designer's published measurements were taken after washing without blocking, so your finished dimensions may differ depending on your finishing method.

Why Pfeilraupe Is Worth Knitting

Pfeilraupe is a good example of how a relatively simple knitted fabric can become an unusual finished accessory through thoughtful construction.

The garter stitch provides relaxed knitting, while the asymmetrical shaping, short rows and signature openings keep the project interesting.

The result is not simply another triangular shawl. The built-in slots give the finished piece multiple styling possibilities and help keep it securely wrapped.

Get the Free Pfeilraupe Knitting Pattern

The original Pfeilraupe pattern by Alpi Alpenrose is currently available as a free Ravelry download.

Use the designer's original pattern for the complete stitch counts, short-row sequence, slot construction and finishing instructions.

Get the Free Pfeilraupe Pattern →

More Free Shawl Knitting Patterns

Looking for another shawl project? Explore our collection of free shawl knitting patterns:

Explore 7 Free Shawl Knitting Patterns →

Pattern Availability

Amazing Knitting links readers to legitimate designer or publisher sources whenever possible. Pattern prices, download locations and availability can change after an article is published.

Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →

Amazing Knitting is an independent pattern discovery and project-guide site. Pfeilraupe and its original knitting instructions remain the intellectual property of Alpi Alpenrose. This guide provides project information and directs knitters to the designer's authorized pattern source rather than reproducing the complete pattern.

Pfeilraupe Shawl - Free Knitting Pattern

Photos above © Alpenrose

Pfeilraupe by Alpi Alpenrose is an unusual asymmetrical knitted shawl with a clever series of decorative openings that also become part of the way the shawl can be worn.

First published in 2015, this distinctive design remains available today as a free knitting pattern.

✓ Free Pattern Available

The original Pfeilraupe pattern by Alpi Alpenrose is currently available as a free Ravelry download, including an English version.

Pfeilraupe at a Glance

Pattern: Pfeilraupe

Designer: Alpi Alpenrose

Published: August 2015

Project: Shawl / Wrap

Yarn Weight: Sport

Yardage: About 571 yd / 522 m

Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm

Gauge: 21 sts × 48 rows = 4 in

Approx. Size: 160 × 45 cm

Availability: Free download

What Makes Pfeilraupe Different?

Pfeilraupe is much more than a simple triangular shawl. Its asymmetrical shape and elongated openings give it a distinctive sculptural appearance.

Those openings are not only decorative. They also make it possible to pull one end of the shawl through the fabric, creating several different ways to arrange it around the neck and shoulders.

An Interesting Short-Row Project

The shape is created partly through short-row knitting, making Pfeilraupe an interesting project for knitters who want to move beyond basic rectangular scarves.

Much of the fabric has a simple textured appearance, allowing the unusual shaping and openings to become the main features of the design.

Choosing Yarn for Pfeilraupe

Alpi's original pattern calls for approximately 522 m / 571 yd of sport-weight yarn and 3.5 mm (US 4) needles.

A yarn with some texture and enough structure to hold the openings clearly can work particularly well for this design.

The pattern is also an attractive choice for hand-dyed or subtly variegated yarn because the relatively simple fabric lets the yarn remain visible without competing with a complicated stitch pattern.

Finished Size

The designer gives an approximate finished measurement of 160 cm long × 45 cm wide after washing without blocking, based on her handspun version.

As with many shawls, the final dimensions can vary with yarn, gauge and finishing.

Get the Free Pfeilraupe Pattern

The original pattern is available directly from Alpi Alpenrose on Ravelry and includes an English translation along with several other languages.

Get the Free Pfeilraupe Pattern →

More Shawls on Amazing Knitting

• Birds Nest Shawl - Free Knitting Pattern
• Begonia Swirl - Free Lace Shawl Pattern
• June Bunnies Shawl - Free Knitting Pattern

Pattern credit: Pfeilraupe was designed by Alpi Alpenrose of Alpenrose Designs. Amazing Knitting provides this independent pattern guide and links to the designer's original free pattern rather than reproducing the complete instructions.