Slipster Slackscarf

It’s a fabric of 100% slip stitches — an elementary (and often underestimated) crochet stitch. This antique form of crochet is often called “Bosnian Crochet” but is found in many cultures by many names, and created with sometimes unusual crochet hooks. (See my article about this fascinating technique.)

For some reason, the slip stitch in English-language crochet books is very rarely featured as a stitch for making fabric, even as late as 2017. An all-slip stitch fabric is simply wonderful. Stretchy and buttery-soft.

Skill Level

It’s an Advanced Beginner pattern because of the stitch and simple design. (It’s mindless enough that I can make it while talking on the phone.) The looser gauge with a larger-than-normal hook size might be challenging at first.

Pattern is written with metric as well as Imperial measurements, instructions for customizing dimensions, and optional stitch refinement tips. No pattern abbreviations were used. Clickable hyperlinks take you to helpful articles, and to an exclusive set of images for this design.

After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

• How to make the simplest fabric-quality slip stitch
• The importance of a hook-led stitch gauge (an intermediate skill)
• How to begin with a locking vs. adjustable slip knot
• A fun, quick way to use single skeins of silky sock yarns
• How to work into the foundation chain so that both long edges of the scarf look identical.

I love what this quick one-skein scarf feels like: drapey, stretchy, and flat–not the crochet some people expect, and not like traditional Slip Stitch/Bosnian Crochet either. My favorite way to wear it is wrapped 2 or 3 times as a headband. It looks casually chic.

Finished Dimensions

54 inches/138cm long and 3 inches/7.5cm wide (measured while hung)

Materials

• Crochet Hook: size 8mm/L/US11
• Yarn: One skein (at least 200yd/187m) of just about any “sock yarn” (#1 fingering weight) yarn. The best would be those with some drape, such as some bamboo, milk, soy, rayon, or even enough silk or alpaca content. Yarn pictured: Crystal Palace Maizy Print (82% corn, 18% elastic nylon; 204yd/187m per 1.76oz/50g skein): 1 full skein
• Stitch Marker, optional

For this simple stitch, a yarn with some color or surface texture variation is ideal. In person, the pictured scarf looks sueded with shades of mossy green and khaki. These qualities add to its funky casual look.