Halfway home on METRO NORTH

A Traveling Scarf

A crochet pattern by Betty McKnit

I designed this scarf while riding Metro North from my home in the Hudson Valley to New York City. Taking the train is a great break from driving and it’s the perfect time to get a little crochet done. This is a great portable project and who doesn’t feel super cool taking the train to NYC?

I wrote this pattern to be adaptable. You control the size of your garment by beginning the decreases at the halfway point. The piece is slightly asymmetrical, and the side where you begin the first decrease row will be the long point of the scarf/shawl. You can measure the side edge to determine your halfway point, and use the suggested measurements we give you, or you can use the Halfway Home method, which involves weighing the yarn and using half of the yarn by weight before beginning the decreases.

HALFWAY HOME

Halfway Home requires being okay with not knowing exactly how large your completed piece will be, but it is an efficient way to use all of your yarn. Weigh your chosen yarn and work the first part of the pattern until you have 1/2 of your yarn by weight remaining, then begin the decreases. You will have enough yarn to complete your project, including the edging.

Test crocheters found that when they added a lot of texture rows, particularly the filet stitch, they did not have quite enough yarn to complete the scarf and edge if they used 1/2 of the yarn before beginning the decreases. So if you add a lot of texture to your scarf, then begin decreasing before the halfway point of your yarn. Begin decreasing somewhere around the 3/8 mark.

Stripes and texture will show off the unique off-set chevron (inspired by Find Your Fade by Andrea Mowry). You choose when to change colors, which texture stitches and how many rows of them to add.

MATERIALS
#3 DK/Light Worsted Yarn (shown in Lion Brand Mandala)

*Note: the Halfway Home method may not be accurate with other weights of yarn.

Bandana – 230 yards
Scarf – 590 yards (One Mandala Version)
Shawl – 1000 yards

Blarf (that means blanket scarf) – 1200 yards
Appropriate hook for your chosen yarn (I used a 4mm Furls Odyssey with the Mandala)

SKILL LEVEL

Easy

GAUGE

Varies

ABBREVIATIONS
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
edc = extended double crochet sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
sts = stitches
dec dc2tog over 3 = decrease double crochet 2 together over 3 stitches

dec dc2tog = decrease double crochet 2 together
dec dc3tog = decrease double crochet 3 together
2dc cable = 2 double crochet cable

SPECIAL STITCHES

edc: yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through one loop on the hook, yarn over and pull through two loops on the hook twice.
dec dc2tog over 3: decrease by yarning over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, leave the rest of the stitch unworked.
sk the next st
Yarn over, pull up a loop in the next stitch, yarn over and pull through two loops. Yarn over and pull through all remaining loops. Dec dc2tog over 3 complete.
dec dc2tog: decrease by yarning over, pulling up a loop, pull through two loops, repeat. Complete the decrease by yarning over and pulling through all loops on the hook.
dec dc3tog: decrease by yarning over, pulling up a loop, pull through two loops, repeat in the next two sts. Complete the decrease by yarning over and pulling through all three loops on the hook.
2dc cable: *sk next st, dc, dc in skipped stitch. Repeat from *
picot: ch 3, sl st in first ch

INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1: ch 3, [edc, dc edc] into first ch
Turn
Row 2: ch 3 (does not count) edc, 2 dc in next st, edc
Turn
Row 3: ch 3, edc, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, edc
Turn
Row 4: ch 3, edc, 3 dc in next st, dec dc2tog, 3 dc in next st, edc
Turn
Row 5: ch 3, edc, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, dec dc2tog over 3, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, edc

Turn
Row 6: ch 3, edc, 2 dc into each of next 2 sts, dc until one st before the decrease on the row below, dec dc2tog over 3 sts, (the decrease stitch in the row below should be the skipped stitch) dc until 3 sts before the end of the row, 2 dc into each of next 2 sts, edc

TEXTURE ROWS
You can add as many or as few texture rows as you like to your scarf/shawl, starting from row 6. Keeping the first and last 3 sts of the row and the decrease rows in pattern (work the same as you did for regular rows), but replace the dc stitches with texture stitches.

Texture Option 1: 2 dc cable: *sk next st, dc, dc in skipped stitch. Repeat from *

Texture Option 2: simple filet: *dc, ch1 sk1, repeat from *. On the following row, work dc’s into the dc’s and ch sp.

These pattern stitches are worked over an even number of stitches, but I don’t check first to see if the row I want to add texture to is an even number or not. I just add the rows when I want to and I fill in any extra stitches with regular dc before or after the increase or before the increases at the end of the row.

Experiment with other texture stitches if you like, such as working in front, back, or third loop, or post stitches. You can add textured rows in a planned sequence, or throw them in when you feel like it like I do. This pattern was made to be adaptable.

BACK TO THE PATTERN
Repeat row 6 until the side of the work is approximately 21” (36”, 40”) or 1/2 desired finished length of your scarf, OR until you have used about 1/2 of your yarn (or a little less than half if you’ve added a lot of texture rows.)

BEGIN DECREASING
Row 7: Ch 3 (does not count) dec dc2tog working into the very first stitch in the row and the one next to it. Dc until one stitch before the decrease on the row below, dec dc2tog over 3 sts, (the decrease stitch in the row below should be the skipped stitch) dc until 3 sts before the end of the row, 2 dc into next 2 sts, edc.
Turn

Row 8: Ch 3, edc, 2 dc into next 2 sts, dc until 1 st before the decrease on the row below, dec dc2tog over 3 sts, (the decrease stitch in the row below should be the skipped stitch) dc until 2 sts before the end of the row, dc2tog.
Turn

Repeat rows 7 and 8 until there are either 2 or 3 stitches remaining on the end of the row before the decrease stitch.

Row 9: ch 2, dec dc2tog or dec dc3tog, sk 1, dc until 3 sts before the end of the row, 2 dc into next 2 sts, edc.

EDGING
Rotate the work clockwise to crochet along the long edge, sc by working into the sides of the edc and the turning chains along the side of the work. Work under two threads of the edc or chain and leave one stitch unworked, spacing the stitches evenly. I don’t necessarily make the same number of scs in each stitch.

Working along the short edges, work 5 sc, picot around.

Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Halfway home on Metro North A Traveling Scarf
Pattern tested by Danielle DiPietro, Marianne Killackey, Elizabeth Miotke, Jenny Owens, Laurie Reinmann, and Hannah Bloom Scarpati.

Samples crocheted by Blythe Lee.

This pattern contains affiliate links. If you click these links and buy something on the page they take you to, I may, at no additional cost to you, earn a commission. I only affiliate with products and companies I feel good about. Thank you for your support!

The shape and striping of this pattern was inspired by the knitting pattern Find Your Fade designed by Andrea Mowry. All other aspects of this pattern are 100% original and the intellectual property of Betty McKnit/Beth Elliott. Halfway Home on Metro North and derivative works are protected by copyright. Publishing translations, corrections, variations, or tutorials of this pattern, online or elsewhere without written permission from the owner is a violation of copyright.

Items created with this pattern may be used for commercial sale with credit to Betty McKnit in your listing.

Be sure to tag @bettymcknit in your social media posts so I can enjoy your beautiful creations.

Updated November, 2021

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