Everybody should have a fling at least once in their lives. No big commitment, no strings—just a short encounter that’s fun and leaves you with happy memories.*
Fling is a striped boa that is simple to make and easy to wear. It’s an excellent in-between project, or an easy challenge for beginning knitters. Unlike traditional scarf construction (worked from the bottom to the top), this project is worked from one side to the other. The subtle bias pattern results in elegantly pointed ends.
Flings often happen between two people who wouldn’t normally end up together. Think about that when you’re choosing colors for this project. Here are some color schemes that might get you going: olive + magenta; tangerine + ruby; chocolate brown + candy pink or chartreuse + black.
The version shown here is made with lace-weight silk/mohair, but the basic pattern could easily be adapted for other yarn weights and fibres.
* Note: romantic flings are not recommended for people already in committed relationships. Knitted Flings, however, can be started and finished while you have other, more committed project on other needles.
** Warning: exercise caution while wearing Fling around paper shredders, blenders, sewing machines, scooters, motorcycles, printing presses, chain saws or airplane propellers.
One size. Finished measurements: approximately 82 inches/ 208 cm long x 2.5 inches / 6.5 cm wide
Materials:
- Rowan Kidsilk Haze 70% Mohair / 30% silk, 210m / 25 g ball.
- Shown in MC Villain, CC Mist. *less than a quarter of a ball of each colour is needed.
- The longest 5mm / US8 circular needle you have (at least 24 inches so you have room for all those stitches)
- tapestry needle
Gauge:
16 st / 36 rows = 4 inches/10cm in garter stitch after steam blocking. However, gauge is not really that important for this project.
Pattern Notes:
Cable cast-on: for instructions, see this helpful article in Knitty. Don’t let the cable cast-on put you off; it’s not that daunting if you remember that you only have to knit 21 more rows to finish (also, you really need to do it to give the boa a bit of stability and balance the bound-off edge).
Changing colours: No cutting! When it is time to change yarn colours, just drop the yarn you are working with and pick up the other colour. Always pick up the other colour from underneath the yarn you just dropped. In this way you will carry the yarns up the side of your work and won’t have any extra tails to weave in at the end (which is a good thing, because this piece is pretty airy and any extra weaving will be pretty obvious).
M1: Make 1 stitch: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through back loop. 1 stitch increased.
Instructions:
Using MC and the cable cast-on method, CO somewhere between 275 and 325 stitches (the more stitches you CO, the longer your Fling will be). The version shown uses 325 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): knit all stitches
Row 2 (RS): Using CC, K1, K2Tog, K to last stitch, M1, K
Row 3: K all stitches
Row 4: Using MC, K1, K2Tog, K to last stitch, M1, K
Row 5: K all stitches
Repeat rows 2 to 5 four more times (you should have 11 stripes). BO loosely using MC.
Weave in ends.
Steam block.
Now fling it on, and you’re done!
Thank you for the pattern, it’s lovely! I’m thinking Cheshire Cat colors, Pink and deep purple. 🙂
I like your enthusiasm and “carefreeness”!
i noticed on row 2 there is an m1 stitch. what is an m1 i am an experienced knitter and i don’t remember ever seeing this.
I love your pattern and anxious to try it. Please explain what M1 means. Do I have to use the cable cast on method that I have never done before. Also where can I purchase the suggested yarn or what substitute can I use?
Thank you for your help
For the Fling scarf what does it mean to M1?
Hello,
I’m just starting this project and am enjoying so far. Can you suggest any other patterns using Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn? This yarn is simply yummy!!!! Thanks.
Beverly
Fresno, CA
I LOVE Kidsilk Haze, too. Can you imagine a bathtub full of it? Check out Ravelry.com for tons of pattern ideas that use this gorgeous yarn.
Nice project can’t wait to start on it.
Shouldn’t there be a YO in the second row to maintain stitch count?
A YO would leave a hole, and this is not a lacy scarf so I chose to use M1 to increase a stitch instead.
Looks lovely, but can this pattern be correct? If you K1 K2Tog across the row, will you end up with a scarf that looks like this?
You K1, K2Tog (once), and then just K to the end of the row. You’re only decreasing one stitch. And you’re adding one at the end to even things out. This is what gives the scarf its biased edges.
What is the M1 part of the M1, K part of the instuctions at the end of the even numbered rows?
Do you think this would look nice if I used one color in lightweight washable wool? I have been trying to find one skein patterns because the yarn I usually buy is only available in one skein and one color. It’s 3.5 oz and 183 yards. I usually get stuck half way during a scarf pattern because I run out of the one color yarn that I use and then rip it out and start over on something else. I am always looking for new and inspiring projects. This scarf that you have made looks very pretty and the pattern is definitely easy. I never really use circular needles for scarves and am looking forward to starting this one. Thanks for making sense in your directions. 🙂
You could definitely make this with one colour of yarn, although somehow I feel, (in my clearly biased opinion), it’s the stripes that make it interesting . . .
What does the M1 stand for in rows 2 and 4?
Thanks for you help.
M1 means “make one” (stitch)–you are increasing one stitch. You can do this by knitting into the front and back of the stitch, or by inserting left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle and knitting this stitch through back loop.
I just had to compliment you not only on this great pattern that I can’t wait to try with two mohair skeins that were given to me (one cream and one turquoise) but on your patience for all the people who ask you the same question over and over and over who obviously didn’t thoroughly read the pattern – seriously?