It is well and truly scarf season and I love to see all the different fashions that people are wearing. Reversible scarf knitting patterns are a personal favorite, because I don’t have to fuss with the way it drapes or worry about the unsightly “wrong side” rearing its ugly head.
The neat thing about knitting scarves, in general, is that in addition to keeping you cozy they also serve as a compliment magnet. Plus, it can be a great way to find other knitters out in the wild. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of being able to answer “yes!” when someone asks you if you made your scarf yourself. And trust me when I say that these reversible knitting patterns are here to impress.
Whether you are a beginner knitter or a seasoned pro you are sure to find inspiration in this curated selection of free reversible knitting patterns for scarves. We are featuring designs with an excellent range of difficulty levels today so there really is something for everyone. You can stick to the basics or go crazy with the cablework. The choice is up to you!
Don’t worry if you have trouble deciding on a design, because you can always make more than one, right? After you’ve made one for yourself, you might as well make another for a loved one. Reversible knitting patterns for scarves also make for excellent donations to charity. Are you ready to see all of these stunning scarf designs for yourself? Well, you better start scrolling down then!
What are the Most Common Reversible Knitting Stitches?
You will find that a lot of reversible knitting projects are made with the seed stitch, fisherman’s rib, mock cables and a ribbed cable stitch. You will also find a simple lace pattern is often reversible.
Find 25 reversible knitting stitches here!
Also, check out my recommendations for the best yarn for scarves here.
Now, on to our patterns!
Trapezoid Scarf
Keep it simple with garter stitch in this cozy looking Trapezoid Scarf. But you wouldn’t want it to be so simple that you fall asleep while knitting, so the pattern has you work garter stitch on the bias rather than in basic back and forth rows. You’ll increase on one side of the row and decrease on the other to make the ends of your scarf taper to jaunty points on either side.
Designer: Tina Hauglund
Yarn: Rauma Finull (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Swish Scarf
Have you been wanting to learn brioche knitting? Here’s an excellent opportunity for you to do so! This scarf pattern will teach you how to knit 2 color brioche. You’ll be even more proud to wear your new scarf when you can say that you’ve mastered this visually stunning knitting technique.
Designer: Tanis Fiber Arts
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts PureWash DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Farrow Rib Scarf
Many reversible knitting patterns for scarves involve some sort of rib stitch. If 1×1 or 2×2 rib stitch sounds a bit too basic for you, then you might like to try the farrow rib stitch instead. It involves slip stitches and some knitting through the back loop only. The result is highly textured, satisfyingly squishy, and oh-so-cozy too.
Designer: Settlers Grove Designs
Yarn: Valley Yarns Northampton (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free scarf knitting pattern!
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The Classic Scarf
Beginner knitters this one’s for you! This detailed scarf photo tutorial includes instructions for everything from the slip knot to the bind off, which means that you might be able to pull it off even if you’ve never picked up a pair of knitting needles before. It calls for stockinette stitch in the round.
Designer: Crochet by KG
Yarn: Zeeman Julia (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free pattern!
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The Glacier Scarf
Intarsia colorwork might not spring to mind when you think of reversible knitting patterns for scarves, but maybe it should! The organic shapes of The Glacier Scarf look much the same from the back and from the front of the work. Plus, they are much more forgiving of mistakes than exacting geometric designs.
Designer: Ahna Bartlett
Yarn: Wool and the Gang Feeling Good (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free reversible pattern!
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Brushwork Scarf
The hazy hues of the Brushwork Scarf look like they were hand painted on there, but it’s really just the lovely variegated yarn. In fact, the pattern calls for 2 strands of yarn held together – one lace weight and one fingering weight. The seed stitch pattern is knit on the bias, which gives a great balance between too complicated and too easy.
Designer: Beata Jezek
Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Kidsilk Lace (Lace Weight #0) and Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free simple knit pattern!
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Chromata
Elongate the lines of your scarf by knitting lengthwise. This effect is heightened even further when you switch colors every row to create long skinny stripes. Other than these two fun little quirks, the pattern is straightforward garter stitch knit in 4 colors.
Designer: Kirsten Hipsky
Yarn: Quince & Co. Lark (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Angular Scarf
I’ve seen boomerang shapes similar to this one in shawl designs before, but never in a scarf. I like the organic shape of this design and the playfulness that the color palette and color block bring to the table. You can make one for yourself using mostly knit stitches since the main part is garter.
Designer: Sean Sheep
Yarn: Sean Sheep Flowerdale (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Wander Scarf
The Wander Scarf is perfect for all of life’s adventures. The 1×1 ribbing and simple cable stitches keep things interesting while the touch of tweed in the yarn adds a nice rustic touch. The generous length is great for making a statement or for wrapping around your neck multiple times to get extra warm and cozy.
Designer: Faith Schmidt for Knotions
Yarn: Knit Picks Woodland Tweed Bare (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beginner’s Frills Scarf
Good things take time! Slow it down with this stunning scarf knit with 2 thin strands of yarn – one fingering weight yak and one lace weight mohair. The scarf is knit in the round like one long tube so it’s doubly thick and twice as warm. A picot stitch cast on and bind off gives the edges of the scarf their distinctive frills.
Designer: Slow Knits
Yarn: Qing Fibre Yak Single (Fingering Weight #1) and Sandnes Garn Tynn Silk Mohair (Lace Weight #0)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Shinrin-yoku Scarf
Shinrin-yoku means forest bathing in Japanese. The gorgeous earth tones of this scarf are sure to make you feel more connected to nature and it does look like a nice scarf to have around when you go for a hike. It is knit in 2 color brioche and it features a bold color block layout of shades of brown.
Designer: Alexandra Boonstra
Yarn: Durable Forest and Durable Soqs (Sport Weight Yarn #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Reversible Heart Scarf
Whether you have Valentine’s Day on the brain or you just want to show someone that you care, this reversible heart scarf is a thoughtful gift. The design is actually finger knit with loop yarn. It’s a great first project for anyone looking to make the foray into finger knitting and for learning how to read basic graphs for color changes.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Reversible Nordic Snowflake Scarf
Here’s another one of our reversible knitting patterns for scarves that uses loop yarn and finger knitting. I’ve included this second design to show the wide range of complexity that you can achieve through the humble technique of finger knitting. Just look at those stunning snowflakes! This scarf is sure to make a statement.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It (Super Bulky Yarn #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Five-Shade Chiaroscuro Wrap
If you want to make a scarf that you (or your intended gift recipient) will actually wear, then you need to pay attention to the drape. A thinner yarn weight can do wonders for the drape of the work. Just look at the lovely movement that can be achieved with this gorgeous color block scarf design! It is knit in a soothing seed stitch.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Purl Soho Cygnet (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Sagebrush Scarf
Have you tried knitting on the bias before? You decrease on one end of the row and increase on the other end so that each row. The diagonal lines of the work add so much interest – especially when you throw color changes into the mix. Try it out with this simple garter stitch design. It has a thin purl stitch border along all 4 sides.
Designer: Merceds Pisano
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220® (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Winona Scarf
Choosing a nice neutral color for your scarf is a great way to ensure that it will never clash with your outfit. This delightfully thick and squishy scarf is made using mistake rib stitch. The generous length allows you to wrap it around your neck multiple times and still have plenty leftover to artfully drape.
Designer: Michael Vloedman
Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Skyland (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Big Brioche Scarf
Many brioche designs feature clean and crisp lines to really emphasize the color shifts. Using a fluffy mohair yarn gives the brioche technique a whole different effect. The softened color changes are much less abrupt and the pairing of a solid yarn with a variegated one makes this scarf look like a watercolor work of art.
Designer: cowgirlblues
Yarn: cowgirlblues Fluffy Mohair (Aran Weight Yarn #4)
Click here for the free knit scarf pattern!
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Dottie Cashmere
You’ll feel pretty as a picture with this cute little scarf. An array of delicate polka dots mark the surface. One side of the scarf is white with gray dots and the other side has the reverse – a clever trick achieved through double knitting. Actually, the pattern is a good introduction to double knitting if you are new to the technique.
Designer: Originally Lovely
Yarn: Lion Brand Touch of Cashmere (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Green River Cabled Scarf
The dazzling jewel tone of this scarf is sure to turn some heads – especially with that touch of rustic tweed. Of course, the real star of the show is the gorgeous cablework. It gives the design so much texture and life. Plus it’s delightfully squishy and oh so fun to wear!
Designer: Shannon Dunbabin for Cascade Yarns
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Eco+ Hemp (DK Weight Yarn #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Imprint Scarf
Knit and purl stitches are used to create a subtle chevron pattern that grows in size as the work increases. The asymmetry isn’t immediately apparent but it is a fun little detail that makes the knitting of it less repetitive.
Designer: Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarn
Yarn: Universal Yarn Wool Pop (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Elbac Scarf
Loose and wide cable stitches give the Elbac Scarf its impressive dimension. The surface of the scarf almost seems alive – the cablework gives it so much movement. You don’t need any sort of fringe or tassels on a scarf like this. I think leaving them off gives it more of a distinctive and sophisticated air.
Designer: Shannon Dunbabin for Cascade Yarns
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® 128 Superwash® (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Hollow Miters Knit Scarf
Now I know you must be thinking that a scarf with holes in it doesn’t sound very cozy, but it’s plenty cozy if it doesn’t get too terribly cold where you live. Plus, the unique construction is well worth the knit. It really is a fun and quick little project that also just so happens to be great for yarn scraps. Each mitered garter stitch motif is attached to the previous motifs as you knit by picking up stitches along the sides.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Caron Skinny Cakes (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Meander
The 14 row repeat of this scarf pattern is sure to keep you on your toes. Special stitches include yarn overs, slip slip knits, knit 2 togethers, and purl 3 togethers. It’s a little shorter and wider than your average scarf, so you can get plenty of volume when you wrap it around your neck.
Designer: Berroco Design Team
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Wool DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ripples Scarf
A much beloved stitch for blankets, the classic ripple design can also make a really cute scarf. I think it’s especially effective with the variegated yarn that they’ve chosen for this project. The classic fringe finish is the cherry on top!
Designer: Emily Kintigh for Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Muse Hand Painted Aran (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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I also absolutely loved this easy reversible scarf video tutorial. One row stitch pattern and it doesn’t curl!
Final Thoughts on Reversible Scarf Knitting Patterns
Now comes the hard part – picking which pattern to make! I hope this list of reversible scarves has inspired your next knitting project. The nature of the reversible stitch patterns really takes a scarf to the next level, because it doesn’t matter which side you see it from – they both look great!
Don’t forget, sharing is caring! Send this free knitting pattern round-up to all your knitting friends so they can join in on the fun too! Bookmark this page or save the link to your Pinterest board for amazing knitting patterns.
I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
