Earthworm Scarf Tutorial

Please meet Thunderclaw! He is a male three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis to be precise). He lives in a raised garden bed in my backyard full of lettuce and his favorite food of all: worms! While dreaming and straightening yarn one day, I saw the most perfect color for an earthworm and I just had to make a huge one to remind me of my little companion.

Materials: 
1 skein Malabrigo Worsted in Polvoriento
Double pointed needles in sizes 4 and 6 
a tapestry needle

Earthworm ridge pattern:
Purl one round
Knit three rounds

You will turn the piece inside out before tying off the end. The pattern will be reversed but you get to knit more and purl less.

Begin!

CO 6 stitches onto size 4 needles.
KFB in each stitch (12 stitches)
K 1 round
KFB in each stitch (24 stitches)
P 1 round
K 3 rounds, KFB (25 stitches)
P 1 round
K 3 rounds, KFB (26 stitches)
P 1 round
K 3 rounds, KFB (27 stitches)
P 1 round
K 3 rounds, KFB (28 stitches)
Work earthworm ridge pattern until piece measures 6”.

Switch to size 6 needles.
Knit every round for 6” then switch back to smaller needles.
Work earthworm ridge pattern until piece measures 16”.
At this point, your worm will get gradually thinner. Work earthworm ridge pattern, but after every three or four ridges, work a k2tog somewhere in a knit round. At 28”, you should shoot for 24 stitches.

Keep working in earthworm ridge pattern, always deceasing in this organic manner until 6 stitches remain. The sample measures 52" total and weighs 88 grams, but your worm will be perfect however long it is.

When 6 stitches remain on a knit round, turn entire piece inside out, break yarn leaving a 6” tail, then run tail through remaining stitches and gather tightly. Tie a knot and send the yarn back into your earthworm’s body. Ouch! Go finish the other end.

We can't wait to see all the new worm friends that will be born soon! Share your makes with #fancywormscarf!