The rainy, gray, dreary falls, winters and springs we have in the Pacific Northwest really need to be spiked with color to make them more bearable. That is what inspired me to create this scarf, crocheted in 5 bright colors of Lion Brand LB Collection Cotton Bamboo. The bulk of the scarf is plain single crochet, perfect for crocheting in front of the TV or, if long winters get to you like they do me, for soothing, meditative crochet-as-therapy. Each color spikes into the next using simple, fun spike stitch in staggered intervals. This creates a color lifeline from one color to the next and creates a gentle wavy effect that makes the scarf look a lot more complicated than it is.

The yarn is very soft, so it’s perfect for something next-to-skin and won’t irritate already wind-chapped cheeks. The fabric it creates is warm while being cool to the touch. Being made from cotton and bamboo and completely wool-free, it’s also a perfect gift for the wool-allergic people in your life.

The scarf is 8 feet long, making it a dramatic, wrappable scarf. You could make it shorter, or you could buy extra yarn and keep crocheting and turn it from a scarf into a blanket!