I’m releasing a new free crochet pattern every week through December. Each one can be made with 3 skeins of yarn or less, and would make a great gift (for someone else, or as a reward to yourself for all of your holiday crafting!). The Gradient Shells Scarf is a shell stitch scarf crocheted with self-striping yarn to make the colorwork easy.

 This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.The yarn for the sample was generously provided by WeCrochet.

I love my shell stitch scarf patterns to include stripes so the shells are more visible, but I don’t love all the color changes and weaving in ends. The Gradient Shells Scarf is a great last minute gift. It’s crocheted with two skeins of WeCrochet Chroma Worsted, a self-striping yarn. The yarn does all the work of striping the scarf for you, so you don’t have to change colors or weave in lots of ends.

Unlike many shell stitch pattern scarves, this one has straight edges on both sides, making it a great unisex pattern.

I wanted to keep it to a two-skein project. Since this scarf ended up a little shorter than most, I thought I’d try some styling variations. I checked out the Scarf Knot Master List on Scarves.net, and tried The Girly Windsor…

…and the Scarf Boa.

I think both look great, as does the traditional wrap…

…and the over-the-shoulder wrap.

This colorway, Parakeet, is no longer available, but there are many other fabulous colorways available in WeCrochet Chroma Worsted. Chroma is also available in a fingering weight version!

If you make your own Gradient Shells Scarf, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Gradient Shells Scarf to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.

Gradient Shells Scarf

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

This gender-neutral, shell stitch scarf pattern works up quickly with self-striping yarn. 

Finished Size

• Adult: 6.5” (16.5 cm) wide x 53” (134.5 cm) long.

Materials

• WeCrochet Chroma Worsted yarn (70% wool/30%n nylon, 3.5 oz/100 g, 198 yd/181 m) – 2 skeins in 26181 Parakeet, or approximately 390 yd (357 m) in any medium weight, self-striping yarn.
• US I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.

Gauge

• 17 sts x 8.5 rows in pattern = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• dc5tog – double crochet 5 stitches together (decreases 4 sts, worked over 5 sts) – [Yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 5 times, yo and draw through 6 loops.
• ea – each
• rep – repeat
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• yo – yarn over
• * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
• [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• For best results, start the scarf at the beginning of a color repeat. When adding on a new skein of yarn, start at the beginning of the same or next color repeat to continue striping pattern.

Pattern Instructions

Scarf

• Ch 32 (or any multiple of 6 sts, + 2 sts).
• Row 1: Turn, sk 1, sc in next ch and ea ch across. (31 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * across.
• Row 3: Turn, ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 2 dc in same st, *sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts,** 5 dc in next; rep from * across to last 6 sts, rep from * to ** once, 3 dc in last st.
• Rep Rows 2-3, 56 times, or until scarf measures approximately 52” (132 cm).
• Row 4: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 2, dc5tog, ch 2, sc in next st; rep from * across.
• Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in ea st across. Fasten off.

Finishing

• With yarn needle, weave in ends. Spray block if necessary.

© 2014, 2020 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2014/11/28/free-pattern-gradient-shells-scarf-with-styling-suggestions. Thanks for supporting indie designers!