Swiss Cheese Scarf
Monday, 26. February 2007
I’ve had a few inquiries in regards to the Swiss Cheese Scarf over the last few weeks and figured maybe others in blogland may be interested in making one for themselves. This is mindless knitting to the nth degree, but the results are beautiful (if I may say so) and a staple to anyone’s wardrobe.
The general idea is simple: Knit a few rows, bind of a few stitches, cast on the sts that you bound off the previous row, and knit some more. Rinse and Repeat. Pattern: Swiss Cheese Scarf, my own.
Materials: Sz 3 needles, about 800-1000 yds of laceweight yarn
Gauge: not important, but my scarf is about 10-12″ wide after blocking.
Recipe as follows:
CO 110 sts
Rows 1-6: Knit
Row 7: K5 (BO10, K8) 5 times, BO 10, K5
Row 8: K5 (CO10, K8) 5 times, CO 10, K5
Rows 9-14: Knit
Row 15: BO6, K8, (BO10, K8) 5 times, K6
Row 16: BO6, K8, (CO10, K8) 5 times, CO6
Row 17: Knit to end, CO6
Repeat Rows 2-17 until desired length, then BO all sts.
All rights reserved by me. Please use this pattern for your own enjoyment ONLY. Not for resale or distribution unless authorized by me.
I wanted an airy feel to this scarf, and just happened to have a bunch of laceweight yarn sitting in my stash. The same idea can be applied to any weight yarn, but you’d have to cast on fewer number of sts and play with the CO/BO number.
Edit: I’ve received a number of emails due to the holes not lining up properly. Apologies for those who have experienced frustration with this pattern, and special thanks to my readers for spotting the error. Thanks!
The scarf pattern in a downloadable pdf file is now available in the “Patterns” page.
Enjoy!

Amy Says:
It’s really pretty. Thank you for sharing the pattern!
Leslie Says:
To me, your Swiss Cheese Scarf is awesome on the level of the Clapotis. Simple, ingenious, and original. Give yourself the credit you deserve! It’s definitely going on my to-do list, albeit probably for next year.
Agnes Says:
Very cute … very special! Thanks for sharing.
FaeryCrafty Says:
Very cool
thanks for the pattern!
Stacey Says:
so pretty! a great alternate use for laceweight yarn!
Elli Says:
gorgeous! Thanks for the pattern!
Alex Says:
Ohh, that’s wonderful. Thank you for the pattern! It’s so cool that simply binding off one row and casting on the next will form those big Os.
Daphne Says:
Simple but very well-executed. Thanks for sharing!
carrie Says:
think i’m gonna have to try this one…. so lovely!
elizabeth Says:
Oooh pretty. Thanks for the pattern!!
Jesse Says:
That is beautiful – I’m definitely going to make one. I love your use of a fine yarn for a stitch that’s usually associated with something chunkier.
Erin Says:
Wow! Thanks for the pattern. I happen to have a huge skein of laceweight languishing in the stash. I must have started, then ripped out, dozens of traditional lace motifs.
But this Swiss Cheese will do quite nicely.
Lola and Ava Says:
I’m bookmarking this page. I have a ton of laceweight in the stash, but can’t bring myself to knit lace patterns. Thanks!
-Lola
Jennifer Says:
That scarf is too cool. It’s great.
Thanks for sharing.
joy Says:
STRANGER!
*hug*
i’m in a funk too. hopefully i can get out of it.
Anonymous Says:
Glad to see you back in blogland. I really like the projects you choose – I kept checking your blog periodically to see if you had posted anything new…
(from a fellow yarn fiend)
JD Says:
A great and very mod pattern! Thanks for sharing it!
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pamela wynne Says:
awesome! I’m so excited to have a pattern for this!
Yifaa Says:
I haven’t stopped by in a long while- your stuff looks great! i love the hole-y scarf and the argyle vest. very nice.
. . . Lisa and Robb . . . Says:
May I ask your method of casting on around the holes?
Medina Says:
Thank you for the pattern. I’m going to get started right away, but I’m wondering about row 16. If I start out with a BO 6, aren’t I going to be decreasing by 6 stitches every 16 rows. All the other BO’s and CO’s balance out except for the BO in row 16. Is it a little mistake or am I just not getting it?
Helen Says:
Looove the scarf! I just happen to have some lace-weight alpaca that will do the job right well.
Many thanks for the pattern.
Mette Says:
Thanks for sharing this pattern – so simple yet so effective, I love it!
judy Says:
Did you ever make any changes or corrections to this pattern. I can’t get the numbers to work with off setting the holes. It a cute idea.
Seanna Lea Says:
Thank you so much for the fix! I had gotten there on Sunday, but it is good to see that my changes were correct.
This is a lot of fun to knit!
cindy Says:
Can you tell me if row 16 is correct as written in your blog entry?
Thanks for such a lovely pattern!
Anonymous Says:
This scarf is great and how kind of you to share the pattern. In your edit note you mentioned that there had been an error. Is it corrected in the pattern printed ?
thanks
Steffi Says:
This scarf looks fantastic, really interesting. Thanks for taking the time to post it. Methinks a two-tone version might just be a go-er…
diane Says:
i join the crowd in agreement that your scarf is utterly wonderful!!! i just had to get to knitting it up .. and then i got to line 8 and realized that i dont know how to cast on on a wrong side row .. apparently you dont cable cast on cause that must only work on the right side rows. help .. i cant find on the internet how to cast on in the middle of a wrong side row. thanks so much
diane
Elayne Says:
Just what I was looking for! Something for long drives and for when I need to look interested while watching sports with my hubby.
Thanks so much.
melusine_tricote Says:
Lovely scarf !!!
Joy Says:
I LOVE!
Spurver & kanoner Says:
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Karen Says:
Hi,
I completed the bind off row (#7) but then noticed I had 4 stitches on one end and 6 stitiches on the other. As a result I do not know how to handle row 8 since it starts off with knit 5 but then there is one stitch left. HELP!! I love the scarf and have beautiful yarn. How have you made this work??
Karen from Hamburg
Judi Pfancuff Says:
Thought you might like to know, Winnie, that the Northcoast Knitter’s Guild is developing a ballot of patterns we are planning to do as a knit-along, and your Swiss Cheese Scarf is a very strong contender! It’s my personal favorite!