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A Charlotte Mason Knitting Homeschool Scarf: the complete free pattern

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This free Charlotte Mason knitting homeschool scarf pattern is made in one simple stitch: knit. It’s a great beginner project for kids to knit in your Charlotte Mason curriculum. Directions to make this scarf longer or shorter are included, along with how to easily schedule this knitting project into your homeschool term.

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Hello, wonderful homeschool moms! Are you ready to teach your child to knit with this free Charlotte Mason knitting homeschool scarf pattern?

First and foremost, let me say a warm and heartfelt welcome to this exciting new adventure of knitting. If you’re reading this, you’re probably contemplating adding knitting into your Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum, or perhaps you’re just curious about how to begin this charming craft with your children.

Whether you’re an experienced knitter or completely new to this world, knitting a scarf can be a delightful way to engage with your children, introduce them to a valuable life skill, and create beautiful, tangible projects together.

I am a second generation homeschool mother, and I have taught half of my four young children how to knit so far. We follow Charlotte Mason’s philosophy for home education, and I believe in teaching my kids how to correctly knit beautiful and useful things. I have been knitting for over 13 years, and 10 of those years have been spent as a knitting small business owner and designer.

>>Free Term one Homeschool knitting curriculum outline!<<

why knitting?

Knitting isn’t just about making cozy scarves or hats; it’s about teaching patience, enhancing fine motor skills, and fostering creativity. For homeschooling families, knitting can also become a meaningful part of your educational journey.

Knitting teaches patience, careful work, and the joy of creating something beautiful. As a Christian mom, you might also see it as a great example of the loving, detailed work that goes into raising your kids.

This Charlotte Mason knitting homeschool scarf is broken down into simple steps, making it great for homeschool in a term. You can turn each part of the project into a short, easy lesson that fits into your weekly routine. Each new step helps your kids learn something new and feel proud of their progress. Plus, knitting can be a calming break in your busy homeschooling schedule.

Getting children started with knitting

Before we dive into the specifics of your scarf knitting project, let’s touch on some knitting basics. The fundamental elements of knitting include casting on, knitting, and binding off. If these terms sound unfamiliar, don’t worry! They’re quite easy to learn with a bit of practice.

  • Casting On: This is the process of creating the initial stitches on your needle. Think of it as setting the stage for your knitting project.
  • Knitting: This is the basic stitch you’ll be using for the majority of your scarf. It involves pulling yarn through loops on your needles.
  • Binding Off: This step finishes your project by securing the final stitches so they don’t unravel.

For a visual guide on these techniques, I’ve included some fantastic YouTube videos in the links below. These will provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help you get comfortable with knitting:

Scheduling Your Knitting Lessons as a Charlotte Mason handicraft curriculum

Integrating knitting into your homeschooling routine can be a fun and rewarding experience. To make it manageable, consider breaking it down into small, achievable goals. Here’s a simple approach to scheduling:

  • Introduction and Preparation: Start by familiarizing yourself and your kids with knitting tools and materials. Spend a session discussing different yarns and needles, and practice the basic knit stitch.
  • Weekly Lessons: Dedicate one or two sessions a week to knitting. For instance, you could have your child spend Mondays learning a new technique, and Fridays checking in with mom on their progress.
  • Project Progress: Set weekly goals for the scarf. For example, aim to complete a certain number of rows or practice for a certain number of minutes each week.
  • Reflection and Adjustments: Regularly check in with your children about their progress and experiences. This will help you adjust the lessons as needed and keep the knitting sessions enjoyable and stress-free.

For more detailed advice on scheduling knitting lessons, check out these helpful resources:

Should you add knitting to your homeschool curriculum?

Practical knitting lessons to loop through in your homeschool

The Bigger Picture: A Year of Knitting Projects

Your scarf project is just the beginning of an exciting journey into knitting. This year, you’ll be guiding your children through a series of three knitting projects:

  1. Term One: The Scarf – Start with a simple scarf. This project will teach your children the basics of knitting and give them a sense of accomplishment. You can find that pattern for free below, or as a printable PDF here.
  2. Term Two: The Headband – Building on the skills learned with the scarf, the headband introduces new techniques and adds a bit of flair. This project can include some decorative elements, making it a great way to explore creativity. This pattern and video series is coming soon!
  3. Term Three: The Hat – Finally, tackle the hat. This project will bring together all the skills learned from the previous projects and provide a satisfying conclusion to your knitting journey. This pattern and video series is coming soon!

By the end of the year, your children will not only have a set of beautiful hand-knitted items but also a solid understanding of knitting techniques and a newfound appreciation for handiwork.

Why This Matters

Knitting is more than just creating a scarf; it’s about the connections you make with your children and the skills they develop. It’s a perfect blend of craft, patience, and practicality that aligns beautifully with the values of nurturing and growth you cherish as a homeschooling mom.

As you embark on this knitting journey, remember that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn along the way. Embrace the process and enjoy the moments of creativity and learning with your kids. And most importantly, have fun!

So, grab your needles, select your yarn, and let’s start knitting a scarf together. It’s a small project with a big impact, and I’m excited to guide you through each stitch of this wonderful adventure.

Happy Knitting!

homeschool scarf knitting pattern

Please read this pattern along with your child. This pattern can be broken down into 12 weekly lessons, which you can pre-watch here at this playlist before instructing your child. You can also download the free breakdown of the term into weekly lessons here.

Materials:

Size:

One size fits all, instructions to adjust height and width are below

Gauge:

31 sts/32 rows= 4″ in garter stitch

Pattern notes:

This pattern is for a worsted weight scarf using a pair of US 7 (4.5mm) 9″ straight needles. I chose to knit with bamboo needles. You can use another type of needle you find most comfortable. I also used the long tail cast on, but you can use a different method if you choose!

You can knit with any worsted weight yarn, as long as the gauge matches. To make your scarf longer or shorter, add or decrease the number of rows you knit. The pattern is written for one size as it fit my 8 year old. I recommend knitting the scarf the length of the child. If you need the scarf to be more narrow, cast on less stitches. If you need the scarf to be wider, cast on more stitches. Start small and cast on one more or one less and then test it. Remember to take your time setting it up for the correct size you want!

You will cast on your stitches to the needle, knit one long rectangle and then bind off the needles. Then, you can follow the instructions for adding fringe to the ends if you like!

Make sure you watch my Knitting Basics playlist to see how to cast on, knit, and bind off. I also wrote a post for beginners learning to knit! If you would like to adjust the scarf’s length, keep in mind that you’ll need to increase or decrease the number of rows you knit. Tip: Check out this video on how to count rows as you knit in garter stitch.

free Charlotte Mason knitting homeschool scarf pattern abbreviations (US) and skills:

co- cast on

k- knit

st(s)- stitch(es)

rep- repeat

homeschool scarf: A free Charlotte Mason curriculum and knitting pattern

CAST ON edge

CO 25 sts using the long-tail cast on. You can watch this tutorial on how to cast on using the long tail method. If your child is having difficulty with that, try this fun video and rhyme!


We’re going to knit with a simple garter stitch, which means we will knit both sides of the scarf to create rows that have the look of a three dimensional ridge.


SCARF 


We will now work the scarf with the garter stitch. 
Row 1: K all sts as you come to them across the scarf.

Switch your needles so that your right hand holds the empty needle at the end of each row.

Rep Row 1 for 376 rows (47″) or until it reaches the length you want. You can count how many rows you have knit easily with this tutorial. 

BINDING OFF


You will be taking the stitches off your needle one stitch at a time until the last stitch following this three step process:

  • Step 1: K 1 st
  • Step 2: K 2nd st
  • Step 3: Using your left needle, pass the first st on the right needle over the second st on your right needle, and off the right needle. You will now have 1 st on your right needle.

Repeat these three steps until you have one st left on your left needle and no sts on your right needle. You can follow this tutorial if needed. 

Next, you will pull your last st on your left needle to loosen it a bit. Carefully taking your st off your needle, cut a 2-3″ tail of your yarn. Pull the tail through the last st that you pulled off your needle and pull the tail to tighten and close the st loop. You can follow this tutorial if needed. 


 weave in ends


Now we are going to weave in the yarn ends to finish both ends of the scarf. If you needed to join a new ball of yarn, this is a great tutorial for making it unnoticeable in the middle of the scarf.

Following the weaving in ends tutorial for the sides of your scarf from this video here, choose which end you are going to weave in first.

Thread your yarn needle with the tail of yarn and following the horizontal bumps of the row, weave the tail up and down down the row. I recommend going 1-2″ and then turning back the other direction 3-4 stitches.

Cut any of your tail that’s left. Repeat for the other end of your scarf. 

finishing


You may choose to add finishing details, such as sewing on buttons, seaming the ends of the scarf to make a loop, or adding fringe or pom poms to the ends. In this example, we are going to add fringe of the same yarn (~16-20 yards total yarn needed).

  1. Cut 50 pieces of yarn measuring 14″
  2. Folding the yarn in half, thread your yarn needle with the folded side of yarn
  3. Working from right to left, weave the yarn needle into the cast on or bind off edge and pull yarn partway through
  4. Pull the two tails of yarn through the loop and tighten.
  5. Rep across all 25 sts.

Note: Before you add fringe to the other end of your scarf, flip the scarf over. This way you can still weave in your needle from right to left and the fringe will have the same look as the other side, instead of looking β€œinside out” on one side. 

You are ready to enjoy the cozy warmth of your new scarf! Your Charlotte Mason knitting homeschool scarf is complete!

Pin it for later:

If your child makes his or her own Homeschool Scarf I’d love to see it! Feel free to tag me on Instagram @fiberandfellowship and #homescoolscarf. You can also email me at [email protected]

More free knitting patterns:

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