Inside: Free pattern for the needle knit Seafarer’s Dickie, a slipover scarf/cowl hybrid that stays tucked in. Includes written instructions and tutorial videos.
Ahoy! My Seafarer’s Dickie stays put during all your winter fun. It’s the perfect hybrid of a scarf and a cowl because it slips over your head, but the front also lies flat under a sweater or jacket. This pattern uses a combination of garter stitch and 4×4 ribbing for the dickie and a three needle bind off to seam it together. It’s an easy pattern making it perfect for donations or gifts.
Pattern contains written instructions and links to fully-captioned tutorial videos showing the unique bind off method for both right and left handed knitters.
This pattern is based on the Seafarer’s Scarf pattern by The Seamen’s Church Institute that provides hats and scarves to seamen and mariners all over the world through their Christmas at Sea program.
Seafarer’s Dickie
By Kristen Mangus
A downloadable PDF of this pattern is available in my Etsy store or from Ravelry at the links below:
MATERIALS
(Materials list may contain affiliate links to products I used to make this project. Using these links costs you nothing, but helps support GKK.)
Yarn
Medium (#4) weight yarn
Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek (5oz/142 g / 232 yds/ 213 meters) in color Red used in sample.
Needles
US-7 (4.5 mm) circular needle with 16-20” cable
Knitter’s Pride Mindful Collection Interchangeable Lace Tips with 16” swivel cord used in sample.
Tapestry needle
ABBREVIATIONS
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
P = Purl
Pat = Pattern
Rep = Repeat
RS= Right Side
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS= Wrong Side
New to knitting? I’ve got a How to Knit Beginner Video Series to teach you ALL the basics.
GAUGE
19 sts x 39 rows in 4” (10 cm) in garter st
SKILL LEVEL Easy+
MEASUREMENTS
6.75” x 38” (total length before seaming/bind off)
NOTES
Three needle bind off – This bind off method involves picking up a stitch along the last garter ridge on the wrong side of the fabric, then knitting that stitch with the next live stitch on your needle. This binds off and seams the dickie at the same time. Since we’re picking up stitches you don’t actually need a third needle for this variation.
To make this child size, shorten the both the garter st section and ribbing section.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cast on 32 sts
Garter st section
Row 1 (WS): Knit all.
Rep Row 1. Place marker on RS Row.
Rep Row 1 in garter stitch patt until piece measures 14” (approx 134 rows) ending after a WS row.
4×4 Ribbing section
Row 2 (RS): *K4, P4. Rep from * to end of row.
Rep Row 2 until ribbing section measures 24” (38” total length) ending after a RS row.
Preparing to bind off
Since the 4×4 ribbing has wide knit and purl columns, it’s important to seam your dickie correctly. If you lay the dickie out flat with the RS facing you you will notice a raised knit column on one side and curled purl column on the opposite side. You want to seam your dickie so the knit column is on the inside neck edge when you’re wearing it.
Lay your dickie in front of you with the RS facing up and the garter section away from you. Fold the ribbing section in half so your needle with the live stitches is lined up with the last row of garter stitches. From the edge opposite your working yarn, pick up the bottom layer (garter st section) and flip it over. Do not flip over the entire piece; just the bottom layer. Now line up your needle with the live sts along the last garter row and continue with bind off.
Three needle bind off
With main needle pick up first purl bump of last garter st row (looks like a smile). K2tog. Pick up next purl bump from garter stitch row. K2tog. Bind off 1 st.
*Pick up next purl bump, k2tog, bind off 1 st. Repeat from * until 1 st rem.
Cut yarn tail and pull through final st to fasten off. Weave in tails. Flip ribbing inside out so seam is on the WS.
PIN IT!
Needle Knit Seafarer’s Dickie Helpful Video Tutorials
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If you’re newer to knitting or just need a refresher the following lessons from my How to Knit for Complete Beginner’s will teach all the other skills you need to make this pattern:
- Garter Stitch (includes casting on)
- Ribbing (NOTE: Video does not include 4×4 ribbing specifically, but the method is the same. Just be sure to count your knit and purl and stitches correctly in this pattern.)
The following tutorial videos teach you how to work a three needle bind off using only 2 needles. This technique allows you to bind off the end while seaming it to the back of the dickie at the same time.