Lifted-Float Honeycomb Scarf

Skill level: Advanced
Construction: Worked flat in an allover 6-row slip-stitch texture.

A worsted-weight scarf with a honeycomb of slipped stitches and lifted floats. The 6-stitch, 6-row repeat is reversible in spirit (textured on both sides) with a slight RS bias after blocking.

Sizes

One size: approximately 9½" (24 cm) wide × 65" (165 cm) long, blocked.

Yarn

Worsted weight wool or wool blend.
400 yd (366 m) — about 2–3 skeins depending on put-up.
Sample assumption: 100 g / 200 yd (183 m) skeins × 2.

Needles

US 8 (5 mm), or size to obtain gauge. Straight or circular.

Notions

Yarn needle; optional stitch markers every 6 sts after the first 4 sts; blocking wires or pins.

Gauge

19 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Lifted-Float Honeycomb, blocked.
Measure in pattern, not stockinette. Floats must stay loose or the fabric will pull in.

Abbreviations (US)

BO — bind off
CO — cast on
k — knit
p — purl
RS — right side
sl — slip stitch(es) purlwise
st(s) — stitch(es)
WS — wrong side
wyib — with yarn in back
wyif — with yarn in front
edge — selvedge: knit every row (or slip first st purlwise wyif, knit last st — be consistent)

Lift-3 (advanced): With RS facing, insert right needle from bottom to top under the 2 loose float bars in front of the fabric, then into the center stitch of the 3 previously slipped stitches, and knit the 2 bars together with that stitch as one knit stitch.

Stitch multiple

6 sts + 3 for symmetry + 2 edge sts = 6n + 5.
This pattern uses n = 7 → 47 sts.

Cast-on check: 6 × 7 + 5 = 47 ✓

Chart A — Lifted-Float Honeycomb

47 sts shown conceptually as: 1 edge | 3 + (6-st repeat × 7) | 1 edge
Only the pattern panel is charted (45 sts); work 1 edge st each side.

Read RS rows (1, 3, 5) left ← right as written left to right in the key sense: charts below are written right to left for RS in standard knitting (stitch 1 at right).

Row 6 (WS):  p across panel
Row 5 (RS):  k4, Lift-3, * k5, Lift-3; rep from * to last 4 panel sts, k4
Row 4 (WS):  p across panel
Row 3 (RS):  k across panel
Row 2 (WS):  k3, * sl 3 wyib, k3; rep from *
Row 1 (RS):  p3, * sl 3 wyif, p3; rep from *
Row 0      :  p across panel (setup, worked once)

Repeat width: 6 sts (after the opening p3 / k3).
Repeat height: Rows 1–6.

Symbol key

How it sits in the width:
[1 edge] [p3 / k3 / k4…] [6-st modules × 7] [symmetry 3] [1 edge] = 47 sts.

Pattern

Cast on

CO 47 sts.

Setup

Row 0 (WS): 1 edge, purl to last st, 1 edge.

Repeat (Rows 1–6)

Row 1 (RS): 1 edge, * p3, sl 3 wyif; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, 1 edge.
(Do not tighten the floats.)

Row 2 (WS): 1 edge, * k3, sl 3 wyib; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, 1 edge.

Row 3 (RS): Knit all sts (including edges as established).

Row 4 (WS): 1 edge, purl to last st, 1 edge.

Row 5 (RS): 1 edge, k4, Lift-3, * k5, Lift-3; rep from * to last 5 sts, k4, 1 edge.
(There are 7 Lift-3 stitches: one for each slipped trio. Count remains 47 ✓.)

Row 6 (WS): 1 edge, purl to last st, 1 edge.

Repeat Rows 1–6 until piece measures about 64" (163 cm) from CO, or 1" short of desired length, ending after Row 6.

Bind off

BO all sts knitwise on RS, loosely (use a larger needle if needed).

Finishing

Weave in ends along selvedges or within purl bumps.
Block: Wet block. Pin to 9½ × 65" (24 × 165 cm) without crushing the honeycomb; let dry completely. Steam only lightly if using superwash — do not flatten the floats.

Notes

• If floats look tight, slip more loosely on Rows 1–2; the Lift-3 will not form a clear cell.
• Markers: place after edge + 4 sts on Row 5 until the Lift-3 rhythm is automatic.
• To widen/narrow: change n in 6n+5 (e.g. n=6 → 41 sts; n=8 → 53 sts). Recalculate yardage (~+12% per extra inch of width).