“Bufanda” – Convertible Neck Muff/Hooded Scarf

Show off your chunky handspun yarn with this super-fast neckwarmer. It’s simple (in order to highlight the yarn) yet interesting to knit, because of the techniques involved.

It just takes two balls of handspun (try Colinette Point 5 or Malabrigo Aquarella), plus a titch of yarn in a contrasting color.

This scarf is knitted sideways, with shaping to make it large in front and small in the back. It is then seamed up with Kitchener stitch and a contrasting color.

“Bufanda” Convertible Neck Muff Pattern by Liat Gat

Size: one size fits all
Measurements:

• 15 inches wide at widest point, 9 inches wide at narrowest point.
• Circumference: 20 inches around.

Materials

Yarn: 200 g (100 yards) super-bulky-weight thick-and-thin wool in main color (MC) and 4 yards of the same wool in a contrasting solid or variegated color (CC)
Gauge: 2-3 sts/in in Stockinette stitch (varies because of yarn thickness)
Needles: US size 15 (10 mm) straight needles
Notions: measuring tape, tapestry needle, scissors

Abbreviations:
CO: cast on
K: knit
P: purl
St st: Stockinette stitch
Sl 1: move stitch from left needle to right needle without knitting it
M1L: make 1 left (M1)
M1R: make 1 right
SSK: slip, slip, knit
K2tog: knit 2 together
P/u and knit: pick up and knit
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
Work even: continue in the same stitch without increasing or decreasing

Notes:
This neck warmer is worked lengthwise and the joined at the end with Kitchener stitch.

You begin knitting at the front of the neck, decrease towards the back of the neck, and then increase for the front of the neck.

Pattern Instructions:
Using MC and the long-tail cast-on, CO 34 sts.
Row 1 (WS): P across.
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k across.
Continue in St st for 4 ½ in, slipping the first stitch of every row.

Decrease for back of neck:
Row 1: Sl 1, SSK, k to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain.
Work even until scarf measures 13 ½ in from CO edge.

Increase for front of neck:
Row 1: Sl 1, M1L, k to last st, M1R, k1.
Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 34 sts on needle.
Work even until scarf measures 19 ½ in from CO edge, ending with a P row.
Do not bind off.
Leaving needle in work, proceed to next section.

Seam scarf:
Using other needle and CC, p/u and knit 34 sts across cast-on edge of scarf, making sure the RS is facing you.

Break yarn, leaving a 5-FOOT-LONG tail for seaming. Thread tail onto tapestry needle.
Turn work and bring edges together with the RS facing out (needle-points will be facing to the right).

Using kitchener stitch, seam up scarf. Be sure not to pull yarn too tight or to leave yarn too loose – watch the size of your “Kitchener” stitches to make sure they match your other stitches.

Finishing:
Using tapestry needle, weave in ends.

Wear around your neck with the widest part in front – covering your nose and ears, or down around your neck only.

Alternatively, turn the bufanda around so that the wide part is in back, then pull up over the back of your head like a hood!