purlJam

# TITLE
**Little Explorer Garter Stitch Scarf**
A cosy, beginner-friendly scarf knitted in classic garter stitch — perfect for keeping your son warm on chilly days. Reversible, hard-wearing, and a wonderful first project.

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# MATERIALS

- **Yarn**: Approx. 200–250 g of worsted weight (Aran) yarn in your son's favourite colour
  - Suggested fibre: a soft wool/acrylic blend or superwash merino for easy laundering
  - Approx. 400–500 m total
- **Needles**: 1 pair of 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight knitting needles
  - *Use 5.0 mm if you knit tightly*
- **Notions**:
  - Tapestry/darning needle for weaving in ends
  - Scissors
  - Tape measure
  - Optional: stitch marker to mark right side

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# TENSION (GAUGE)

**19 sts × 38 rows = 10 cm (4") square in garter stitch** on 4.5 mm needles, after gentle blocking.

> **Tip**: Knit a small swatch of about 25 sts × 40 rows to check your tension before starting. Adjust needle size up if your swatch is too small, down if too big.

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# FINISHED SIZE

- **Width**: approx. **18 cm (7")**
- **Length**: approx. **120 cm (47")**

*Easy to adjust: knit longer or shorter to suit your son's height. A good rule is roughly the child's height in length.*

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# ABBREVIATIONS

| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k | knit |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side |
| CO | cast on |
| BO | cast (bind) off |
| cm | centimetres |

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# PATTERN

### Step 1 — Cast On
Using 4.5 mm needles, **cast on 34 stitches** using the long-tail cast-on (or your preferred method).

> **Math check**: 34 sts ÷ 19 sts per 10 cm × 10 = **17.9 cm ≈ 18 cm wide** ✓

### Step 2 — Work in Garter Stitch
**Row 1**: Knit every stitch to the end of the row. (34 sts)
**Row 2**: Knit every stitch to the end of the row. (34 sts)

**Repeat Row 1 (knit every row)** until the scarf measures approximately **120 cm (47")** from the cast-on edge, or your desired length. Stretch the scarf gently on a flat surface to measure.

> **Math check**: 120 cm × 3.8 rows per cm = approx. **456 rows** total (228 garter ridges). Don't count — just measure! ✓

> **Tip for tidy edges**: Give the first stitch of every row a gentle tug after knitting it. This helps prevent loose edge loops.

### Step 3 — Cast Off
With RS facing, **cast off all 34 stitches knitwise** loosely. If your cast-off feels tight, use a needle one size larger for this row.

Cut yarn, leaving a 15 cm tail, and pull through the final loop to secure.

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# FINISHING

1. **Weave in ends**: Using a tapestry needle, weave the cast-on and cast-off tails into the garter ridges on the wrong side for about 5 cm. Trim any excess.
2. **Block (optional but recommended)**:
   - Soak the scarf in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes.
   - Gently squeeze out water (do not wring) and roll in a towel to remove excess moisture.
   - Lay flat on a clean towel, pat into shape (18 cm × 120 cm), and leave to dry completely.
3. **Optional fringe** (if your son would like one):
   - Cut 24 lengths of yarn, each 25 cm long.
   - Group into 12 bundles of 2 strands each.
   - Fold each bundle in half, use a crochet hook to pull the folded loop through a stitch at the scarf's short edge, then thread the tails through the loop and pull snug.
   - Repeat evenly across both short edges (6 tassels per end). Trim to a tidy length.

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**Care Instructions**: Check your yarn label. Most superwash and acrylic blends can be machine-washed on a gentle wool cycle and laid flat to dry.

Enjoy knitting — and seeing your son wear his handmade scarf! 🧶