Black & White Pixel Scarf

Beginner Machine-Knitting Pattern (Standard Gauge)

A simple rectangular scarf featuring a bold black-and-white pixel motif. Worked flat in two-color fair isle on a single-bed machine. The visual grid is supplied as a separate attached stitch chart—do not recreate it from text.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (approx. 9 wpi), wool or wool-blend recommended for blocking
  – MC (White): 280 yd (256 m)
  – CC (Black): 180 yd (165 m)
• Machine: Standard-gauge (4.5 mm) single-bed machine (Brother, Knitking, Silver Reed/Studio, or equivalent). Punchcard or electronic. No ribber required.
• Tools: Cast-on comb, claw weights or ribber weights, ravel cord, waste yarn, transfer tool, latch tool, tapestry needle, scissors, steam iron or blocking wires.
• Optional: Punchcard (if not electronic) prepared from the attached chart, or electronic pattern loaded as a 40-stitch motif.

Tension / Gauge

• Tension dial: T8 (main bed) for both MC and CC
• Gauge: 5.5 sts and 7.5 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) measured over fair-isle stockinette after steaming
• Always knit a 40-st × 60-row swatch with the motif and steam before starting. Adjust tension dial up or down ½ point if needed to match gauge.

Finished Size

One size: 8 in wide × 60 in long (20 cm × 152 cm) after blocking.

Abbreviations & Machine Terms

• MC = Main Color (White)
• CC = Contrast Color (Black)
• COR / COL = Carriage on Right / Left
• RC = Row Counter
• ND(s) = Needle(s)
• WP = Working Position
• NWP = Non-Working Position
• Fair isle = Two-color slip/knit selection (end needle selection ON)
• T8 = Tension dial 8
• BO = Bind off

Pattern Notes

• Scarf is worked flat, right side facing you as the fabric hangs.
• End needle selection must be ON so edge stitches knit every row and prevent unraveling floats.
• Attached stitch chart is a 40-stitch-wide pixel motif. Work the chart on the center 40 needles; the outer 2 needles each side are always knit in MC (side borders).
• Floats longer than 5 stitches: use a single-prong transfer tool to catch the float on the reverse every 4th–5th stitch.
• Change colors only at the carriage side indicated; cut and restart only when a long stretch of one color appears (see chart notes).
• Beginner tip: Hang claw weights every 20–25 stitches and move them up every 20 rows so the motif stitches knit cleanly.

Attached Stitch Chart

Use the separate attached chart panel that accompanies this pattern (normally placed immediately after the written instructions or in the pattern’s chart appendix). Do not rely on any inline grid—none is provided here.

How to read the chart for machine knitting

• Each square = 1 stitch / 1 row.
• White squares = MC (White); Black squares = CC (Black).
• Chart is worked from bottom to top.
• Row 1 and all odd rows: COR → COL (leftward pass).
• Row 2 and all even rows: COL → COR (rightward pass).
• The chart shows the 40-stitch motif only. On the machine the motif sits on needles 21–60 if you have numbered the bed with needle 1 at the far left of your 44-needle work (or center the 40-st motif on your needle bed and keep 2 MC border stitches each side).
• Electronic machines: load the 40-st motif and set to mirror or repeat as needed for length. Punchcard machines: punch the 40-st design and use an appropriate card reader setting for fair isle.
• Color changes: follow the chart; both yarns remain in the color changer or yarn mast and are selected automatically by the card/electronics. Manual machines: select needles by hand according to the chart each row.
• Stitch-count integration: Cast on 44 sts total → 2 MC border + 40 motif sts + 2 MC border. Every chart row is knit across all 44 needles; the two edge needles are forced to knit MC (end needle selection or manual cancel).

Machine Setup

1. Main bed only. Ribber not used.
2. Bring 44 consecutive needles to WP.
3. Thread MC in the main feeder / yarn mast.
4. Tension dial T8. Carriage settings: stockinette (both part buttons OUT), end needle selection ON.
5. Set RC to 000. COR.

Instructions

Waste-yarn cast-on

• With waste yarn and ravel cord, cast on 44 sts using your preferred closed cast-on (e-wrap or comb + ravel cord).
• Knit 8–10 rows waste yarn.
• Knit 1 row ravel cord.
• COR. RC 000. Join MC.

Lower border (MC only)

• RC 000. COR.
• Knit 12 rows MC stockinette (T8).
• RC 012. COR.

Begin pixel motif (Fair Isle)

• RC 012. COR.
• Introduce CC into the second feeder (or color changer). Set carriage for fair isle (MC in feeder 1, CC in feeder 2).
• Work the attached stitch chart across the center 40 stitches for a total of 60 chart rows (= 60 machine rows).
  – Maintain the 2-st MC border on each edge every row.
  – Move weights up every 20 rows.
  – Catch any float longer than 5 sts on the reverse with a transfer tool.
• At end of chart Row 60: RC 072. COL or COR according to chart (even row ends COR).

Repeat motif for length

• Continue repeating the 60-row attached chart until fabric measures approximately 56 in (142 cm) from cast-on edge, ending after a full motif repeat.
• Typical total motif rows: 420 rows (7 full repeats).
• RC will read 012 + 420 = 432. COR.

Upper border (MC only)

• Drop CC; return carriage to single-color stockinette with MC only.
• Knit 12 rows MC.
• RC 444. COR.

Bind-off

• Latch-tool bind-off loosely around the gate pegs, or back-stitch bind-off with a tapestry needle.
• Remove waste yarn and ravel cord carefully.
• Secure both yarn ends.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends on the reverse with a tapestry needle, following the pixel shapes so ends stay hidden.
2. Steam-block: pin scarf to 8 in × 60 in (20 cm × 152 cm) on a blocking board. Hover steam iron; do not press flat or you will lose stitch definition.
3. Allow to dry completely.
4. Optional: add 2 in (5 cm) fringe of mixed MC/CC to each short end if desired (cut 8 in strands, lark’s-head through edge stitches).

Inline Math Validation

• Cast-on: 2 border + 40 motif + 2 border = 44 sts ✓
• Width: 44 sts ÷ 5.5 sts/in = 8 in ✓
• Lower border 12 rows + 420 motif rows + upper border 12 rows = 444 rows ✓
• Length: 444 rows ÷ 7.5 rows/in = 59.2 in ≈ 60 in after blocking ease ✓
• Motif repeats: 420 ÷ 60 = 7 exact repeats ✓

Enjoy your crisp black-and-white pixel scarf!