Before you print, please read the note at the bottom of the page.

Chinook is part of a series that explores curves worked on the bias. There are currently 2 patterns in this series, available individually or a set.

1. Chinook. A scarf, with waves that are curvier than its counterpart. Waves lean to the left.
2. Zephyr. A wrap, with waves that are long and languid, leaning to the right.

The pictured garment was made with Madelinetosh DK yarn in Ink (body) and Arctic (applied color).

Chinook’s written pattern uses a creative, nontraditional format geared towards visual thinkers. Traditional knitting instructions are also available if you prefer. Either way, once you get the hang of the rhythm it is a relaxing and mesmerizing knitting experience.

Knitters generally use stitch markers to help them navigate this pattern, but every knitter seems to have a different opinion about where they should go. So although I do suggest stitch markers, I’ll leave it up to you to figure out what placement you like best.

For a general idea about the format of the Leeward series, you can take a look at its ancestor: Rosetta Stone, a free mini-pattern. The format has evolved quite a bit in the years since this little freebie was released, but you may find it useful to see where it all started.

Color is applied to the garment after it is knitted. Color application is optional, and application techniques are not explicitly taught in the pattern because there are limitless ways to apply color and so many freely available resources.

Below are three suggested starting points for color application. Each method uses only basic skills, and shows a different way to secure a strand of yarn to a finished garment. The pictured garment uses method 2. To see examples of methods 1 and 3, please visit Zephyr.

1. Crochet chains. Visit my demo video. Requires a crochet hook.
2. Bindoff chains. See Purl Soho’s video on picking up and knitting stitches along an edge. Pick up stitches anywhere in the garment that you want a path of color -- you are not limited to doing this only at the edge. Work a bindoff over these stitches on the next row. The resulting applied color is like a crochet chain but thicker and more elastic. No additional tools are needed, only the needles used to knit the garment.
3. I-cords. View Cheltenham Yarn Shop’s demo on working an I-cord bindoff using a tool called a Cordsmith. As with #2 above, pick up and knit stitches anywhere you want a path of color through your garment, then work applied I-cord over those stitches. Requires a Cordsmith or similar tool. You can buy one at https://byautumn.com/cordsmith/.

Printing the pattern - Some of the pages in this pattern are in landscape orientation. Some printers default to printing everything in portrait. Please check your printer settings and verify that it prints pages in both portrait and landscape.

You should see two files for each design: 1) main pattern, 2) printer-friendly traditional instructions. If not, please get in touch.