I am pleased to share another free pattern in collaboration with Galler Yarns!
I actually finished this keyhole scarf around Thanksgiving, but have been waiting to release the pattern before sharing pictures. (I took these pictures in Central Park on the same day as my Chubby Sheep free pattern photos, so you may see some background similarities.)
I love keyhole scarves. I commute on the subway and share a work space (and coat rack) with many people, so I don’t like carrying around a lot of big stuff in the winter because there is no place to keep it. If you’ve been to New York City in January, though, you know you still need to bundle up in the winter. A keyhole scarf is my compromise because it keeps you warm but is small enough to stuff in your pocket when you hang up your coat. (Hint: It is also a great last minute gift, since it is much faster to make than a full length scarf!)
This post contains affiliate links.
I made this keyhole scarf using Galler’s Heather Prime Alpaca. This yarn is a DK/sport/#3 weight superfine alpaca grown from Peru. I love alpaca yarns, and Heather Prime Alpaca is super soft. Somehow, even though I didn’t pick the color myself, the folks at Galler Yarns must have known that I love everything in the purple family because they sent me color 207, which is a heather purple. The yarn skein is so large (0.5 lbs or 600 yards!) that you can make two of these keyhole scarves with one skein, and still have some yarn to spare.
I really have to thank my pattern testers, Daynawithay, patriciaelizabeth, soxvixen, and ss9904 on Ravelry, for all of their great suggestions, including the one about reducing the size of the keyhole in the final pattern.
I really had a lot of fun with this stitch…
… but it was hard to explain. So I included a photo tutorial in the pattern.
Twisted Crocodile Stitch Keyhole Scarf
Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
This keyhole scarf is made using a variation on the crocodile stitch to create a ruffled “scaled” texture.
Finished Size:
- Adult (4” x 27”/10 cm x 69 cm)
Materials:
- Galler Yarns Heather Prime Alpaca yarn (8 oz/227g/665 yds/608 m/100% superfine alpaca/light weight) – Color 207, or approximately 300 yds (274 m) in any light weight yarn.
- H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge:
- Row width = 4” (10 cm). Follow the pattern for 4” (10 cm) in length before measuring gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- rep – repeat
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- V-st – V-stitch – (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same st or sp
- WS – wrong (back) side
- yo – yarn over
- * Repeat from asterisk as indicated
Keyhole Scarf
- Ch 20.
- Row 1: (WS) Turn, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch, *ch 2, sk 2 ch, V-st in next ch, ch 2, sk 2 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across.
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in sc, *sk 2 ch, 6 dc around post of first dc of next V-st, working from top to bottom of post, ch 1, 6 dc around post of second dc of same V-st, working from top to bottom of post. (Tip: Rotating your work towards your hook until the post is horizontal makes this easier. See photos tutorial below for details.) Sk 2 ch, sc in sc; rep from * across.
- Row 3: Turn, ch 1, sc in sc, *ch 2, sk 6 dc, V-st in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 6 dc, sc in next sc; rep from * across.
- Rep Rows 2 & 3 until scarf measures approximately 22” (56 cm), ending on Row 2. Do not fasten off.
Shape left side of keyhole opening.
- Row 4: Turn, ch 1, sc in sc, ch 2, sk 6 dc, V-st in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 6 dc, sc in next sc.
- Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in sc, sk 2 ch, 6 dc around post of first dc of next V-st, working from top to bottom of post. Ch 1, 6 dc around post of second dc of same V-st, working from top to bottom of post. Sk 2 ch, sc in sc.
- Row 6: Rep Row 4. Fasten off.
Shape right side of keyhole opening.
- Row 7: With WS facing and Rows 4-6 on your right (on your left if left-handed), sk Rows 4-6, 6 dc, ch-1 sp, and 6 dc. Join with sl st to next sc, ch 1, sc in sc, ch 2, sk 6 dc, V-st in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 6 dc, sc in next sc.
- Row 8: Rep Row 5.
- Row 9: Rep Row 4.
Join keyhole opening.
- Row 10: Turn, ch 1, *sc in sc, sk 2 ch, 6 dc around post of first dc of next V-st, working from top to bottom of post. Ch 1, 6 dc around post of second dc of same V-st, working from top to bottom of post, sk 2 ch, sc in sc,** ch 5; rep from * to ** once.
- Row 11: Turn, ch 1, sc in sc, *ch 2, sk 6 dc, V-st in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 6 dc, sc in next sc,** ch 2, sk 2 ch, V-st in next ch, sk 2 ch. Rep from * to ** once.
- Rep Rows 2 & 3 until scarf measures approximately 27” (69 cm), ending on Row 2.
- Fasten off. Using yarn needle, weave in ends.
Twisted Crocodile Stitch Tutorial
6 dc around post of first dc of V-stitch, working from top to bottom of the post.
The completed set of 6 dc will look like this.
Rotate your work until the next dc of V-st is horizontal. This will make it easier to crochet the next group of stitches.
6 dc around post of second dc of V-stitch, working from top to bottom of the post.
Rotate work back to original position.
Continue to work in pattern.
Hi! I love keyhole scarves too and wondering if you have easier patterns for beginners.
Roxanne, thanks for asking. I do have many patterns that are for beginners, but not beginner keyhole scarves right now.