Dovetail: Plaid Crochet Scarf Pattern

Dovetail is a lightweight, large, fluffy crochet scarf with a colourful check pattern.

The contrasting colours are worked double stranded and blend together to create marled shades in the central column of the scarf.

The name Dovetail describes how the colours interlock into one another like a high quality wooden dovetail joint

You can purchase a premium, print-optimised, ad-free version of this pattern from Etsy or Ravelry.

The premium PDF version of the pattern includes additional guidance on selecting your colour combinations and a pattern chart of the colour combinations. Read on for the free, ad-supported version of the pattern.

Crochet Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list where applicable)
• Numbers at the end of a row indicate the number of stitches in that row and are only given at the start of a section or where there is a change to the stitch count
• Turning chains do not count as stitches
• Unless otherwise indicated, stitches should be worked in consecutive stitches
• The first stitch of each row should be worked into the top of the last stitch from the previous row
• Wrong and Right sides are nominal 

Construction

• The pattern is worked flat in rows holding two strands of yarn together throughout
• The length or the row represents the width and the number of rows the length of the scarf
• The colourwork is grid based and can be broken down into ‘blocks,’ with each block being made up of three squares wide by one tall
• The scarf is three squares wide and 14 blocks /squares long

Skills Used

• Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
• You will use chainless foundation stitches to start, changing colours along the row (see special stitches)
• The pattern uses extended single crochet worked in rows (see special stitches) 
• You will work with two strands of yarn held double, changing the colours of one of the strands twice each row
• You do not carry yarns through your work

Yarn Requirements

You will need approximately 900m of lace weight yarn split over 5 colours. You’ll use twice the amount of Yarn A and B than of Yarns C, D and E.

The sample uses Kaos Organic Brushed Alpaca (now called Halo Brushed Alpaca), 55% Baby Alpaca, 45% Suri Alpaca. 25g ball = 225m. (I purchased mine from The Fibre Yard)

Shades:

• 2 balls Yarn A: Genuine, shade 2008 (brown) – I used just over 1 ball 
• 2 balls Yarn B: Natural, shade 2001 (cream) – I used just over 1 ball 
• 1 ball Yarn C: Bubbly, shade 2044 (pink)
• 1 ball Yarn D: Gorgeous, shade 2022 (orange)
• 1 ball Yarn E: Brilliant 2065 (turquoise)

Because you will be working with two strands held double, I balled up yarns C, D and E splitting the ball roughly in half. 

Yarn Substitution Options

Two strands of laceweight yarn with a significant halo would be a good substitute for the Kaos Halo. Look for a fluffy lace yarn that offers between 200-225m per 25g.

In the sample I used brushed alpaca, but a mohair silk blend would be a suitable option.

Below are some suggested yarn substitutes, including Alpaca and Mohair Silk options:

• Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk, 77% Alpaca, 23% Silk
• Fyberspates Cumulus, 74% Alpaca, 26% Silk
• Rico Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk 70% Mohair, 30% Silk
• Debbie Bliss Angel 72% Mohair, 28% Silk
• KnitPicks Aloft Superkid Mohair 72% Mohair, 28% Silk
• Drops Kid Silk, 75% Mohair, 25% Silk

The pattern uses two strands of laceweight yarn with a significant halo. It is important to note this because the halo ‘fills in the gaps’ between the stitches to create the blended texture. If you use a lace weight yarn with no halo, the work will have a very different texture and density to the sample.

Different fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result. You may find this post useful when choosing yarn.

Other Materials & Notions

Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure

I recommend you block this project using a Blocking Board and pins. Learn more about blocking here

How to purchase a Dora Does crochet pattern:

I sell my PDF crochet patterns in my Etsy, Ravelry and Love Crafts stores. You can purchase this pattern on any of these platforms, depending on your preference. Simply click the relevant links throughout this pattern page to be taken to the listing, or visit the store homepages in the links at the start of this paragraph.

Measurements & Finished Size

The finished scarf measures 30cm wide and 140cm long, after a gentle spritz and steam blocking.

Should you wish to adjust the size of the scarf you can do so as follows:

• To adjust the width; adjust the stitch count by a multiple of 3 and work the same number of stitches in each colour combination. If you adjust the width, you may also wish to adjust the row count in each block to keep the squares square.
• To adjust the length; There are two approaches to adjusting length. You could adjust the number of blocks used, making sure you are still happy with the colour order. Or you can change the number of rows in each block, bearing in mind this will change the dimensions of the ‘squares.’ I would only adjust the row count in each block if I was also adjusting the stitch counts.

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• ch = chain
• esc = extended single crochet (UK extended double crochet) – see special stitches
• fsc = foundation single crochet (UK foundation double crochet) – see special stitches
• rep = repeat
• ss = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• yo = yarn over

Special Stitches 

Extended Single Crochet (esc)

Insert hook, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through one loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through two loops to complete the stitch.

You can find a full tutorial for the extended single crochet stitch here

Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)

Ch2, insert hook into second chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through one loop (this creates the base chain of the next fsc), yo and pull through two loops to complete the st.

*To start the next st, insert the hook under the ‘v’ of the base chain you just created, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through one loop (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through two loops to complete the st; repeat from * for required number of sts.

You can find more details on chainless foundation rows here, including a video tutorial.

Gauge

12 sts and 10 rows in 10cm of blocked extended single crochet using a 5.5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Note that the stitch gauge did not change much with blocking (maybe half a stitch), but the row gauge changed from 12 rows to 10, which is quite a big shift. This is largely due to the nature of the extended single crochet stitch in combination with a fluffy yarn and a larger hook for the yarn weight.

Variation in your gauge will lead to variations in the finished size of your project. 

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here

Managing and Changing Colours

You will be working with two strands of yarn held double throughout the project. You will only change colour of one strand at a time, dropping the other strand (and picking it back up on the return row).

I recommend that you introduce the new yarn on the last pull through of the stitch just before the change.

In the pattern you will start each row working with 2 strands of the same colour for 12 sts. The 13th st will be worked with one strand of each of two colours. I changed colour on the last pull through of the 12th stitch so I’m ready to start the 13th stitch with the new colours – this ensures the top of that next stitch will have the correct colours. You’ll work the middle 12 sts in the combined colours, change colour again, in the same way, and work the last 12 sts in two of the same colour.

For the instructions, I refer to the colours by the yarn letters so AA means two strands of Yarn A, AB means one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B and so on.

You will only ever work with two strands at once.

First Block

In the first block, you will use Yarns A and B

Holding two strands of Yarn A together to start

Row 1: In AA, make 12fsc, drop one strand of A and join one strand of B, in AB, make 12 fsc, drop the remaining strand of A and join a second strand of B, in BB, make 12fsc. 36 sts

Row 2: In BB, ch2 (does not count as a st throughout), 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of B, pick up A, in BA make 1esc in next 12 sts, drop B, pick up A, in AA make 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 3: In AA,  ch2, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of A, pick up B, in AB, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop A, pick up B, in BB, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 4: In BB, ch2, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of B, pick up A, in BA, make 1esc in next 12 sts, drop B, pick up A, in AA, make 1esc in each st to end, turn

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3 and 4

Fasten off all yarns

This completes the first block of three squares – a square of AA, AB and BB.

Second Block

For the second block you will use Yarns B and C

Holding two strands of Yarn B together to start

Row 1: In BB, ch2, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of B and join one strand of C, in BC, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop the remaining strand of B and join a second strand of C, in CC, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 36 sts

Row 2: In CC, ch2, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of C, pick up B, in CB, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop C, pick up B, in BB make 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 3: In BB, ch2, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop one strand of B, pick up C, in BC, 1esc in next 12 sts, drop B, pick up C, in CC, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 4: As Row 2

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3 and 4

Fasten off all yarn

This completes the second block of three squares – a square of BB, BC and CC.

Blocks 3-14

Repeat the instructions for the Second Block, changing the yarn colours used in each block as outlined below:

• Block 1 (as above): AA – AB – BB
• Block 2 (as above): BB – BC – CC
• Block 3: CC – CA – AA
• Block 4: AA – AD – DD
• Block 5: DD – DB – BB
• Block 6: BB – BE – EE
• Block 7: EE – EA – AA
• Block 8: AA – AC – CC
• Block 9: CC – CB – BB
• Block 10: BB – BD – DD
• Block 11: DD – DA – AA
• Block 12: AA – AE – EE
• Block 13: EE – EB – BB
• Block 14: BB – BA – AA