This post is part of my monthly charity spotlight series where I highlight a charity that accepts crochet or knit donations and share a free pattern, so read on for details!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for the sample were generously provided by Denise and Kraemer Yarns.
Featured Charity: Foster Care to Success (The Red Scarf Project)
Since 1981, Foster Care to Success (formerly known as the Orphan Foundation of America) has helped to support young adults transitioning out of foster care into independent living. In most states, children “age out” of foster care at age 18 or upon graduating from high school. Foster Care to Success steps in and provides the type of support and structure that other young adults may get from their families, including college and career guidance, advice and training in personal finance, and academic and financial support for college and training programs.
The Red Scarf Project is one program of Foster Care to Success (FCS). Every February, FCS sends Valentine’s Day care packages to the students in its program. These packages include goodies like snacks, gift cards, and personal care items, along with handmade red scarves.
Since 2005, over 25,000 red scarves have been distributed to young adults in colleges and training programs across the United States. You can learn more about The Red Scarf Project on the FCS website here. Scarves can be mailed to The Red Scarf Project office in Sterling, Virginia. Due to storage limitations, scarves are only accepted from September 1 through December 15 annually.
Tips for Making Great Red Scarf Project Donations
Foster Care to Success distributes scarves to young adults in their program. Scarves must be made with red yarn, predominantly red multicolor yarn, or include red stripes. The style should be unisex and they ask that each scarf drape and tie easily. Fringe is optional but welcome. To ensure that scarves are warm and provide adequate neck coverage for young adults of various sizes, scarves must measure at least 60” (152.5 cm) long and 5” (13 cm) to 8” (20.5 cm) wide. Yarn tails should be securely woven in and handmade tags including care instructions are much appreciated.
You can find The Red Scarf Project guidelines along with links to free crochet and knitting patterns here. Remember that scarf donations are only accepted from September 1 through December 15 due to space restrictions.
About the Tunisian Extended Knit Scarf
Back in June, I went to Washington, D.C. for The National NeedleArts Association summer show and I met the lovely ladies who work at Denise as well as the team from Kraemer Yarns. (Longtime readers know that I love my Denise interchangeable crochet hooks, so I was thrilled to learn about the Denise2Go Crochet for a Cure 2-Hook Set.) After the show, I received a set of the hooks to try out as well as some Perfection Super Bulky from Kraemer, and the idea for this scarf started to come together.
The Perfection Super Bulky is an easy care yarn (and let’s face it, most college students are doing laundry in a rush!). It actually comes in several shades of red, so it’s perfect for The Red Scarf project. I wanted to create a very warm project because I knew some of the students would probably rely on this scarf as their primary winter wear. Tunisian crochet is great for ultra warm winter projects since it can create a dense fabric, but sometimes it can be too dense. That’s why I wanted to pair the super bulky yarn with my Denise2Go kit since it has a broad range of hook sizes. I used the N-15/10 mm hook for the sample, but I tend to have tight tension, which is why I recommend the M-13/9 mm hook for most crocheters. If you’re new to Tunisian crochet, don’t worry! I’ve included a complete video tutorial at the end of the pattern.
If you’re looking for other projects that would make great donations to The Red Scarf Project, try my free crochet pattern for the Color Blocked Co-Ed Scarf.
If you make your own Tunisian Extended Knit Scarf, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter on on Instagram 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 private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Tunisian Extended Knit Scarf
Tunisian Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
This stitch creates a warm and elegant pattern that resembles the stockinette stitch in knitting. The Tunisian Purl Stitch borders and the Extended Knit Stitch make this Tunisian crochet project unlikely to curl. This scarf is designed to meet the donation requirements of the Red Scarf Project.
Finished Size
- Teen/Adult: 6.75” (17 cm) wide x 65.5” (166.5 cm) long.
Materials
- Kraemer Perfection Super Bulky yarn (70% acrylic/30% Merino wool, 5.25 oz/150 g/90 yd/82 m) – 4 skeins in Crimson, or approximately 290 yd (265 m) in any super bulky weight yarn.
- US Size M-13/9 mm Tunisian crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge. (I used the Denise2Go Crochet for a Cure 2-Hook Set.)
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- 8.5 sts x 5.5 rows in EKS pattern = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- ch – chain
- ea – each
- EKS – Tunisian extended knit stitch – Insert hook from front to back through center of next vertical bar, yo and draw up a loop, leave loop on hook, ch 1. A video tutorial for this stitch and all stitches used in the pattern is available below the Pattern Notes.
- rep – repeat
- Return Row – Ch 1, *yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across. A video tutorial for this stitch and all stitches used in the pattern is available below the Pattern Notes.
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- TPS – Tunisian purl stitch – Bring yarn to front, insert hook under next vertical bar, yo and draw up a loop, leave loop on hook. A video tutorial for this stitch and all stitches used in the pattern is available below the Pattern Notes.
- yo – yarn over
- * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- Tunisian crochet rows are worked in 2 parts (forward and return) without turning.
- First vertical bar of each row (underneath first chain on hook) is always skipped.
- A video tutorial for the special stitches is available below.
If you can’t see the video tutorial above, click here to watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Scarf
- Ch 16 (or any multiple of sts).
- Base Row: Forward Row: Skip first ch, *insert hook in next ch, yo and draw up a loop, leave loop on hook; rep from * across. Rep Return Row.
- Row 1: Forward Row: TPS in next st and ea st across. Rep Return Row.
- Row 2: Rep Row 1 Forward and Return.
- Row 3: Forward Row: EKS in next st and ea st across. Rep Return Row.
- Rep Row 3 until scarf measures 64.5” (164 cm) long, or approximately 1” (2.5 cm) shorter than desired length.
- Rows 4-5: Rep Row 1 Forward and Return twice.
- Bind Off Row: *TPS in next st, yo and draw through both loops on hook; rep from * across. Fasten off.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.
I think this would be a perfect scarf for anyone, from my kids to my husband–thanks so much for sharing the pattern with us!
The video makes it much easier.
I just picked up Tunisian crochet again after a few years. I tried this pattern. It goes quickly, it’s easy, and even looks good on both sides! Thanks for this one.